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| ===Death=== | ===Death=== | ||
| Malam Bacai Sanhá died on 9 January 2012 in ], ] from an undisclosed illness. The President of the National People's Assembly, ], becomes the acting president; he had already been serving as interim president during Sanhá's illness.<ref>Allen Yero Embalo, , AFP, 9 January 2012.</ref> | |||
| Malam Bacai Sanhá died on 9 January, 2012.<ref name="death"/> | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 19:37, 9 January 2012
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| Malam Bacai Sanhá | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of Guinea-Bissau | |
| In office 8 September 2009 – 9 January 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Carlos Gomes |
| Preceded by | Raimundo Pereira (Acting) |
| In office 14 May 1999 – 17 February 2000 Acting | |
| Prime Minister | Francisco Fadul |
| Preceded by | Ansumane Mané (as Chairman of the Supreme Command of Military Junta) |
| Succeeded by | Kumba Ialá |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1947-05-05)5 May 1947 Dar Salam, Portuguese Guinea (now Guinea-Bissau) |
| Died | 9 January 2012(2012-01-09) (aged 64) |
| Political party | African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde |
Malam Bacai Sanhá (5 May 1947 – 9 January 2012) was a Guinea-Bissau politician who was President of Guinea-Bissau from 8 September 2009 to 9 January 2012. A member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Sanhá was President of the National People's Assembly from 1994 to 1999 and then served as acting President of Guinea-Bissau from 14 May 1999 to 17 February 2000, following the ouster of President João Bernardo Vieira. Standing as the PAIGC candidate, he placed second in the 1999–2000 presidential election as well as the 2005 presidential election before winning the June–July 2009 presidential election.
Life and career
Sanhá was born in Dar Salam (Darsalame) in the Quinara region. A long-time member of PAIGC, Sanhá served as governor of the Gabú and Biombo regions and held several cabinet ministries before becoming President of the National People's Assembly in 1994. A Civil War broke out in June 1998 between elements of the army loyal to General Ansumane Mane and those loyal to President João Bernardo Vieira; on November 26, 1998, Sanhá addressed the first session of the National People's Assembly since the beginning of the war. Although he was critical of both the rebels and Vieira, he focused more of his criticism on Vieira. Following the ouster of Vieira on May 7, 1999, Sanhá was appointed as acting President by the military junta led by Mane on May 11. His appointment to succeed Vieira was intended to be in accordance with the constitution, and he was to serve until new elections could be held later in the year. Sanhá was sworn in on May 14, promising peace and an end to political persecution.
In the first round of the subsequent presidential election, held on 28 November 1999, Sanhá finished second with 23.37% of the vote. In the run-off, held on 16 January 2000, he won only 28.0% of the vote against Kumba Ialá's 72.0%. The military junta led by Mane supported his candidacy.
Following a 2003 military coup that ousted Ialá and a period of transitional rule, a new presidential election was held on 19 June 2005, in which the three former presidents (Sanhá, Vieira and Ialá) were the main candidates. Sanhá, running again as the PAIGC candidate, finished first with 35.45% of the vote. Former head of state João Bernardo Vieira finished second with 28.87% of the vote. Despite the lead in the first round, Sanhá lost to Vieira in the run-off that took place on July 24, 2005, 47.65% to 52.35%. He refused to accept the results, however, vowing to take the matter to the Supreme Court.
Sanhá challenged PAIGC President Carlos Gomes Junior for the party leadership at PAIGC's Seventh Ordinary Congress in June–July 2008. Gomes was, however, re-elected at the end of the congress on July 1–2, receiving 578 votes against 355 for Sanhá.
In the 2009 presidential election, Sanhá placed first in the first round of voting, then defeated Kumba Ialá in the second round. He was sworn in as President on 8 September 2009. On that occasion he promised to investigate the March 2009 killings of Army Chief of Staff Batista Tagme Na Waie and President Vieira, and he also vowed to fight crime, drug trafficking, and corruption.
Sanhá was a diabetic. In early December 2009, he was due to visit Portugal but delayed the visit due to health problems. After fainting, he was taken to Dakar and then Paris for medical treatment. While in Paris, he said that he had suffered a drop in hemoglobin; although he insisted that his diabetes was "not as serious as people want to make out", he also said that he intended to be more attentive about his health. Sanhá spent ten days in Paris and subsequently stayed in the Canary Islands for a time before returning to Bissau on 30 December 2009. His chief of protocol stated that he had recovered and was in good condition.
Death
Malam Bacai Sanhá died on 9 January 2012 in Paris, France from an undisclosed illness. The President of the National People's Assembly, Raimundo Pereira, becomes the acting president; he had already been serving as interim president during Sanhá's illness.
References
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau: Biography of presidential candidate Sanha", PANA, January 18, 2000.
- "National radio: Ill president of tiny West African nation of Guinea-Bissau has died", Associated Press, 9 January 2012.
- European Union, Election Observation Mission Guinea-Bissau 2005.
- http://www.gov.gw/files/downloads/Biographie_President_2009_07_30.pdf
- "Bissau parliament holds first session since June uprising", Portuguese TV (nl.newsbank.com), November 26, 1998.
- "Guinea-Bissau: Mane appoints acting head of state, new army chief", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), May 11, 1999.
- "Guinea-Bissau's acting president details plans", Radio France Internationale (nl.newsbank.com), May 12, 1999.
- "Guinea-Bissau: Speaker appointed transitional head, Benin troops to leave", Africa No 1 radio (nl.newsbank.com), May 11, 1999.
- "Guinea Bissau's new president pledges peace, no persecution", RTP Internacional TV, Lisbon (nl.newsbank.com), May 14, 1999.
- ^ Elections in Guinea-Bissau, African Elections Database.
- Andrea E. Ostheimer, "The Structural Crisis in Guinea-Bissau's Political System", African Security Review, Vol. 10, No. 4, 2001.
- "GUINEA-BISSAU: Vieira officially declared president", IRIN, August 10, 2005.
- "L’ancien Premier ministre bissau guinéen Carlos Gomis, réélu président du PAIGC", African Press Agency, July 2, 2008 Template:Fr icon.
- "Sanha makes his pledge", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 9 September 2009.
- "Sanha is back after extended medical trip", Sapa-AFP (IOL), 31 December 2009.
- Allen Yero Embalo, "Guinea-Bissau leader Malam Bacai Sanha dies in Paris", AFP, 9 January 2012.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded byAnsumane Mané | President of Guinea-Bissau Acting 1999–2000 |
Succeeded byKumba Ialá |
| Preceded byRaimundo Pereira Acting |
President of Guinea-Bissau 2009–2012 |
Succeeded byRaimundo Pereira Acting |
| Presidents of Guinea-Bissau | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
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