Malam Bacai Sanhá
Encyclopedia
Malam Bacai Sanhá is a Guinea-Bissau
politician
who has been President of Guinea-Bissau
since 8 September 2009. 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
.
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 is 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 haemoglobin; 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.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
who has been President of Guinea-Bissau
Heads of state of Guinea-Bissau
-Presidents of Guinea-Bissau :-Affiliations:-Latest election:-See also:*Guinea-Bissau**List of heads of government of Guinea-Bissau...
since 8 September 2009. A member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde or PAIGC is a political party that governed Guinea-Bissau from the independence of the then Portuguese Guinea in 1974, until the late 1990s, and from 2004 to 2005. Currently it is the party with the largest number of seats in the...
(PAIGC), Sanhá was President 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...
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
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...
. Standing as the PAIGC candidate, he placed second in the 1999–2000 presidential election as well as the 2005 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...
before winning the June–July 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...
.
Life and career
Sanhá was born in Dar Salam (Darsalame) in the QuinaraQuinara Region
Quinara is a region in central Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Buba.Quinara is divided into 4 sectors:*Buba*Empada*Fulacunda*TiteSee also:*Regions of Guinea-Bissau*Sectors of Guinea-Bissau...
region. A long-time member of PAIGC, Sanhá served as governor of the Gabú
Gabú Region
Gabú region is the eastern-most region in Guinea-Bissau. Its capital is Gabú. The region borders Senegal to the north, Guinea to the east and south and the Guinea-Bissau regions of Tombali and Bafatá to the east. It covers an area of 9,150 km2, making it the largest of Guinea-Bissau's...
and Biombo
Biombo Region
Biombo is a region in western Guinea-Bissau, with an area of 840 km2. Its capital is Quinhámel. Its population in 2004 was 63,835, compared with 60,400 at the 1991 Census. The region is Governed by Mr...
regions and held several cabinet ministries before becoming President of the National People's Assembly in 1994. A Civil War
Guinea-Bissau Civil War
The Guinea-Bissau Civil War was triggered by an attempted coup d'état against the government of President João Bernardo Vieira led by Brigadier-General Ansumane Mané in June 1998...
broke out in June 1998 between elements of the army loyal to General Ansumane Mane
Ansumane Mané
Ansumane Mané was a Guinea-Bissau soldier who led a 1998 uprising against the government of President João Bernardo Vieira, which caused a brief, but bloody Civil War....
and those loyal to 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 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
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...
'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
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...
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
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
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
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...
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
Batista Tagme Na Waie
General Batista Tagme Na Waie, also transliterated as Batista Tagme Na Wai was chief of staff of the army of Guinea-Bissau until his assassination in 2009.Na Waie was born in Catió...
and President Vieira, and he also vowed to fight crime, drug trafficking, and corruption.
Sanhá is 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
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
and then Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for medical treatment. While in Paris, he said that he had suffered a drop in haemoglobin; 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
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
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.