Artur Sanhá
Encyclopedia
António Artur Sanhá is a politician in Guinea-Bissau
. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
from 28 September 2003 to 10 May 2004 and also served as Secretary-General of the Party for Social Renewal
(PRS).
Following the election of PRS leader Kumba Ialá
as President, Sanhá was appointed as Minister of Internal Administration
in the government named on 19 February 2000, under Prime Minister Caetano N'Tchama
. In March 2001, the PRS wanted Ialá to appoint Sanhá, the Secretary-General of the PRS, as Prime Minister to replace N'Tchama, but Ialá resisted this, considering Sanhá too radical; he appointed Faustino Imbali
as Prime Minister instead.
Sanhá was removed from his position as Interior Minister by Ialá in August 2001 following suspicions regarding the death of a woman, Florinda Baptista, with whom Sanhá was said to have been romantically involved, although Ialá did not give a reason for Sanhá's dismissal. Sanhá said that he did not know the woman, but her family said that people close to Sanhá had forced her into having an abortion.
After Ialá was ousted in a military coup on 14 September 2003, the military junta chose Sanhá as Prime Minister of the transitional government, although its choice of Sanhá was opposed by 15 of the 17 involved political parties because Sanhá was not a political independent; concerns also remained about the 2001 incident. Sanhá was nevertheless sworn in as Prime Minister on 28 September in Bissau
. His transitional government, which was planned to govern for six months prior to a new parliamentary election
, was sworn in on 3 October. Following the parliamentary election, which was held in March 2004, a report accused Sanhá of interfering in the election and thereby causing disorganization to worsen; he defended himself by saying he had gotten involved "only after things began to go wrong". A new government under PAIGC leader Carlos Gomes Júnior
took office in May.
In June 2005, during protests by Ialá's supporters alleging fraud in the first round of the presidential election
, in which Ialá officially took third place, police fired on the protesters and arrested Sanhá, who was leading the march and was found by police to be carrying a loaded gun.
Sanhá was angered by the failure of the PRS to place his name at the top of the party's candidate list for the November 2008 parliamentary election, and he resigned in October 2008. At a press conference on 21 October, he stated that he could "no longer endure the injustice that prevails within the PRS", arguing that it was "adrift because of some opportunists".
Guinea-Bissau
The Republic of Guinea-Bissau is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Senegal to the north, and Guinea to the south and east, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west....
. He was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
Heads of government of Guinea-Bissau
-Prime Ministers of Guinea-Bissau :-Affiliations:-See also:*Guinea-Bissau**List of heads of state of Guinea-Bissau**List of colonial heads of Portuguese Guinea...
from 28 September 2003 to 10 May 2004 and also served as Secretary-General of the Party for Social Renewal
Party for Social Renewal
The Party for Social Renewal is a political party in Guinea-Bissau. It is one of the country's leading parties and is currently the main opposition party....
(PRS).
Following the election of PRS leader Kumba Ialá
Kumba Ialá
Kumba Ialá, also spelled Yalá , is a Guinea-Bissau politician who was President of Guinea-Bissau from 17 February 2000 until he was deposed in a military coup on 14 September 2003. He belongs to the Balanta ethnic group and is the President of the Social Renewal Party...
as President, Sanhá was appointed as Minister of Internal Administration
Interior minister
An interior ministry is a government ministry typically responsible for policing, national security, and immigration matters. The ministry is often headed by a minister of the interior or minister of home affairs...
in the government named on 19 February 2000, under Prime Minister Caetano N'Tchama
Caetano N'Tchama
Caetano N'Tchama is a Guinea-Bissau politician and former Prime Minister. He held that position from 19 February 2000 to 19 March 2001 and is a member of the Social Renewal Party ....
. In March 2001, the PRS wanted Ialá to appoint Sanhá, the Secretary-General of the PRS, as Prime Minister to replace N'Tchama, but Ialá resisted this, considering Sanhá too radical; he appointed Faustino Imbali
Faustino Imbali
Faustino Fudut Imbali is a Guinea-Bissau politician who was Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 21 March 2001 to 9 December 2001.Imbali ran as an independent candidate in the November 1999 presidential election and placed third, winning 8.22% of the vote...
as Prime Minister instead.
Sanhá was removed from his position as Interior Minister by Ialá in August 2001 following suspicions regarding the death of a woman, Florinda Baptista, with whom Sanhá was said to have been romantically involved, although Ialá did not give a reason for Sanhá's dismissal. Sanhá said that he did not know the woman, but her family said that people close to Sanhá had forced her into having an abortion.
After Ialá was ousted in a military coup on 14 September 2003, the military junta chose Sanhá as Prime Minister of the transitional government, although its choice of Sanhá was opposed by 15 of the 17 involved political parties because Sanhá was not a political independent; concerns also remained about the 2001 incident. Sanhá was nevertheless sworn in as Prime Minister on 28 September in Bissau
Bissau
Bissau is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. The city's borders are conterminous with the Bissau Autonomous Sector. In 2007, the city had an estimated population of 407,424 according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística e Censos...
. His transitional government, which was planned to govern for six months prior to a new parliamentary election
Guinea-Bissau legislative election, 2004
A legislative election was held in Guinea-Bissau on March 28, 2004. The election had been repeatedly postponed due to political and financial chaos in the country, and due to the coup d'état which overthrew President Kumba Ialá in September 2003....
, was sworn in on 3 October. Following the parliamentary election, which was held in March 2004, a report accused Sanhá of interfering in the election and thereby causing disorganization to worsen; he defended himself by saying he had gotten involved "only after things began to go wrong". A new government under PAIGC leader Carlos Gomes Júnior
Carlos Gomes Júnior
Carlos Domingos Gomes Júnior is the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau. He was previously Prime Minister from 10 May 2004 to 2 November 2005, and he was again appointed to that post on 25 December 2008...
took office in May.
In June 2005, during protests by Ialá's supporters alleging fraud in the first round of the presidential election
Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2005
Guinea-Bissau held a presidential election on 19 June 2005, and a second round run-off vote was held on 24 July. The election marked the end of a transition to democratic rule after the previously elected government was overthrown in a September 2003 military coup led by General Veríssimo Correia...
, in which Ialá officially took third place, police fired on the protesters and arrested Sanhá, who was leading the march and was found by police to be carrying a loaded gun.
Sanhá was angered by the failure of the PRS to place his name at the top of the party's candidate list for the November 2008 parliamentary election, and he resigned in October 2008. At a press conference on 21 October, he stated that he could "no longer endure the injustice that prevails within the PRS", arguing that it was "adrift because of some opportunists".