Francisco Mendes
Encyclopedia
Francisco Mendes, nom de guerre Chico Té (February 7, 1939 – July 7, 1978) was a Guinea-Bissau
politician. He was the country's first Prime Minister
and held that position from September 24, 1973 until his assassination on July 7, 1978 under suspicious circumstances.
In early 1960s PAIGC launched an armed struggle against Portuguese imperialism which would last more than a decade. After negotiations between Portugal
and PAIGC in early 1974, Portugal granted independence to Guinea Bissau despite PAIGC having declared unilateral independence nearly a year prior.
The PAIGC-led government was headed by Luis Cabral
, half-brother of the PAIGC co-founder Amilcar Cabral
whose assassination in Conakry on January 20, 1973 remains a mystery. Francisco Mendes was appointed the country's first Prime Minister and in this role in the newly UN-member, Francisco Mendes was responsible for a series of Socialism-inspired development programs, and a four-year strive toward national reconciliation.
Although the causes behind his death on July 7, 1978 are still disputed, it is mostly accepted that PAIGC was involved in it. A widely accepted theory – though unverifiable as of 2006 – is that dissent among PAIGC leadership may have led to his assassination.
As an African nationalist and a national figure in the struggle for independence, Francisco Mendes has been honoured both in Guinea-Bissau
and Cape Verde
. In addition to his face being featured in 100 Pesos Guineense, many schools and streets bearing his name can be seen throughout Guinea-Bissau
, and Francisco Mendes International Airport
in Praia
, Cape Verde was named in his honour.
He left four children behind: Osvaldo Mendes, Valentina Mendes, Fanta Luisa da Silva Mendes, and Abel Augusto Mendes.
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....
politician. He was the country's first Prime Minister
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...
and held that position from September 24, 1973 until his assassination on July 7, 1978 under suspicious circumstances.
In early 1960s PAIGC launched an armed struggle against Portuguese imperialism which would last more than a decade. After negotiations between Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and PAIGC in early 1974, Portugal granted independence to Guinea Bissau despite PAIGC having declared unilateral independence nearly a year prior.
The PAIGC-led government was headed by Luis Cabral
Luis Cabral
Luis Cabral may refer to:*Luis Cabral , a Portuguese Protestant evangelist*Luís Cabral, president of Guinea-Bissau*Luis Cabral , paraguayan footballer who plays for Club Sol de América...
, half-brother of the PAIGC co-founder Amilcar Cabral
Amílcar Cabral
Amílcar Lopes da Costa Cabral was a Guinea-Bissauan and Cape Verdean agricultural engineer, writer, and a nationalist thinker and politician. Also known by his nom de guerre Abel Djassi, Cabral led the nationalist movement of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde Islands and the ensuing war of independence...
whose assassination in Conakry on January 20, 1973 remains a mystery. Francisco Mendes was appointed the country's first Prime Minister and in this role in the newly UN-member, Francisco Mendes was responsible for a series of Socialism-inspired development programs, and a four-year strive toward national reconciliation.
Although the causes behind his death on July 7, 1978 are still disputed, it is mostly accepted that PAIGC was involved in it. A widely accepted theory – though unverifiable as of 2006 – is that dissent among PAIGC leadership may have led to his assassination.
As an African nationalist and a national figure in the struggle for independence, Francisco Mendes has been honoured both in Guinea-Bissau
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....
and Cape Verde
Cape Verde
The Republic of Cape Verde is an island country, spanning an archipelago of 10 islands located in the central Atlantic Ocean, 570 kilometres off the coast of Western Africa...
. In addition to his face being featured in 100 Pesos Guineense, many schools and streets bearing his name can be seen throughout Guinea-Bissau
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....
, and Francisco Mendes International Airport
Francisco Mendes International Airport
Francisco Mendes International Airport was an airport located on Santiago Island in Cape Verde. It was opened in 1961, and was named after African nationalist Francisco Mendes. It was located about 2 km east of central Praia in the southeastern part of the island of Santiago.In late 2005, the...
in Praia
Praia
Praia , is the capital and largest city of Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean west of Senegal. It lies on the southern coast of Santiago island in the Sotavento Islands group. It is the island's ferry port and is home to one of the nation’s four international airports...
, Cape Verde was named in his honour.
He left four children behind: Osvaldo Mendes, Valentina Mendes, Fanta Luisa da Silva Mendes, and Abel Augusto Mendes.