GOVERNMENT
On August 10, 2005 Joao Bernardo Vieria was declared the winner of a July 24 presidential runoff election over Malam Bacai Sanha in an election judged by international observers to be free and fair. President Vieria was inaugurated on October 1, 2005. Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Junior refused to accept Vieira's victory, and on October 28, Vieira dismissed Gomes and his government. Five days later, he installed former PAIGC official Aristide Gomes as Prime Minister.
Throughout 2006, President Vieira struggled to maintain control over the
National Assembly and the general operations of the government. In early March
2007, the three main political parties--the PAIGC, the PRS, and the PUSD--agreed
to push for a "government of consensus" in the interests of parliamentary stability. President Vieira refused to accept the decision, and on March 19 the National Popular Assembly passed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Aristide Gomes. President Vieira was then faced with the decision of dissolving the government and calling for new elections or appointing a new prime minister. Prime Minister Gomes resigned on March 29. In early April 2007, after much resistance, President Vieira accepted the appointment of Martinho Ndafa Cabi as the new Prime Minister.
In February 2008, the PAIGC withdrew support of Prime Minister Martinho Ndafa Cabi, and the March legislative elections were postponed. By July, the PAIGC pulled out of the political "government of consensus" coalition days before the Supreme Court ruled that the extension of parliament's mandate was unconstitutional, thus triggering President Vieira to dissolve parliament and remove Prime Minister Cabi. President Vieira appointed Carlos Correia as new Prime Minister.
On November 16, 2008 Guinea-Bissau held successful legislative elections that
were praised by the international community as well-organized and transparent.
PAIGC won the majority of seats in the National Assembly. Carlos Gomes Junior
was appointed Prime Minister. The new parliament has called for a fight against
drug trafficking. This is especially important given the recent increase in news
media reports examining Guinea-Bissau's role in the West African regional drug
trade.
On March 1, 2009 Armed Forces General Batista Tagme Na Wai was killed in a bomb
blast at the military headquarters. The following morning President Vieira was
killed by a group of soldiers at the presidential palace. National Assembly
Speaker Raimundo Pereira--the constitutionally-designated interim
President--took the oath of office on March 3 during a special session of
parliament. In concert with support from the international community, the United
States is contributing $300,000 toward the June 28, 2009 presidential elections.
Principal
Government Officials
Interim President--Raimundo Pereira
Prime Minister--Carlos Gomes Junior
Ambassador to the UN--Alfredo Cabral
Guinea-Bissau
does not have official representation in Washington, DC. For routine
information, travelers can contact Guinea-Bissau’s representative
in Washington, Henrique Da Silva, at P.O. Box 33813, Washington,
DC 20033, (301) 947-3958 main/fax. The Mission of Guinea-Bissau
to the United Nations does not have a physical office in New York
City.
Government
Type: Republic, multi-party since 1991.
Independence: September 24, 1973 (proclaimed unilaterally); September 10, 1974 (de jure from Portugal).
Constitution: Adopted 1984. The National Assembly adopted a new constitution in 2001, but it was neither promulgated nor vetoed by the President.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state), prime minister (head of government) and Council of State, ministers and secretaries of state. Legislature--National Popular Assembly (ANP), 100 members directly elected in 2004. Judicial--Supreme Court and lower courts.
Administrative subdivisions: Autonomous sector of Bissau and eight regions.
Political parties: In the March 2004 parliamentary elections, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won 45 seats; the Social Renovation Party (PRS) won 35 seats; and the United Social Democratic Party (PUSD) won 17 seats. In addition to these three major parties, there are numerous other political parties.
Suffrage: Universal at 18.
