Helder Proença
Encyclopedia
Helder Proença was a Guinea-Bissau
an politician
who served as the country's former Minister of Defense during the administration of former President João Bernardo Vieira
.
On June 5, 2009, Proença, who was a member of the National People's Assembly
at the time, was shot
and killed by government security forces
on a road connecting the northern town of Bula
and with Bissau
, the capital city of Guinea-Bissau
. Baciro Dabó
, a politician and presidential candidate in the June 2009 presidential election
, was also killed by government soldiers on the same day. A third politician, former Prime Minister Faustino Imbali
, was also arrested. Proença's driver and bodyguard
were also killed in the attack.
In a statement, the Interior Ministry of Guinea-Bissau accused Proença, Dabó and Embali of being part of the alleged coup plot.
Portugal
's state-run news agency
, Lusa – Agência de Notícias de Portugal, SA, reported that Proenca's body was taken to the morgue at the Simao Mendes Hospital in Bissau following his killing.
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....
an politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who served as the country's former Minister of Defense during the administration of former President João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo Vieira
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira was the President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1999 and again from 2005 to 2009. After seizing power in 1980, Vieira ruled for 19 years, and he won a multiparty presidential election in 1994. He was ousted at the end of the 1998–1999 civil war and went into exile...
.
On June 5, 2009, Proença, who was a member of the National People's Assembly
National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau
The unicameral National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau is the country's legislative body.The current National People's Assembly, formed following elections held on 28 March 2004, has a total of 102 seats. 100 members are elected through a system of party-list proportional representation...
at the time, was shot
Shooting
Shooting is the act or process of firing rifles, shotguns or other projectile weapons such as bows or crossbows. Even the firing of artillery, rockets and missiles can be called shooting. A person who specializes in shooting is a marksman...
and killed by government security forces
Security Forces
Security Forces can refer to:*United States Air Force Security Forces*Iraqi security forces...
on a road connecting the northern town of Bula
Bula
Bulă is a fictional Romanian, an important stock character of Romanian humor.Bulă, a buffoon and coward, was "born" during the Nicolae Ceauşescu regime of Communist Romania...
and with 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...
, the capital city of 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....
. Baciro Dabó
Baciro Dabó
Major Baciro Dabó was a Guinea-Bissauan politician. Considered to have been a close ally of President João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, he served as Minister of Territorial Administration and was standing as a candidate in the June 2009 presidential election when he was killed by security forces,...
, a politician and presidential candidate in the June 2009 presidential election
Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2009
A presidential election was held in Guinea-Bissau on 28 June 2009 following the assassination of President João Bernardo Vieira on 2 March 2009...
, was also killed by government soldiers on the same day. A third politician, former Prime Minister 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...
, was also arrested. Proença's driver and bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
were also killed in the attack.
In a statement, the Interior Ministry of Guinea-Bissau accused Proença, Dabó and Embali of being part of the alleged coup plot.
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...
's state-run news agency
News agency
A news agency is an organization of journalists established to supply news reports to news organizations: newspapers, magazines, and radio and television broadcasters. Such an agency may also be referred to as a wire service, newswire or news service.-History:The oldest news agency is Agence...
, Lusa – Agência de Notícias de Portugal, SA, reported that Proenca's body was taken to the morgue at the Simao Mendes Hospital in Bissau following his killing.