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Guinea-Bissau - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS 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 N'Dafa Cabi as the new Prime Minister. Cabi has called for a 'relentless' fight against drug trafficking and vowed to instill fiscal discipline in the Government of Guinea-Bissau. Principal Government Officials President--Joao Bernardo Vieria Prime Minister--Martinho N'Dafa Cabi Ministers Minister of Economy--Abudacar Demba Dahaba Minister of Finance--Issufo Sanha Minister of Defense--Marciano Silva Barbeiro Minister of Justice--Carmelita Barbosa Rodrigues Pires Minister of Foreign Affairs--Carmelita Barbosa Rodrigues Pires Ambassador to the UN--Alfredo Cabral Ambassador to the U.S.--vacant Guinea-Bissau does not have official representation in Washington, DC.