Carlos Correia

Infobox Prime Minister
name = Carlos Correia

---

order = Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
president = João Bernardo Vieira
term_start = 05 August 2008
term_end =
predecessor = Martinho Ndafa Kabi
successor =
president2 = João Bernardo Vieira
term_start2 = 06 June 1997
term_end2 = 03 December 1998
predecessor2 = Manuel Saturnino da Costa
successor2 = Francisco Fadul
president3 = João Bernardo Vieira
term_start3 = 27 December 1991
term_end3 = 26 October 1994
predecessor3 = Victor Saúde Maria
successor3 = Manuel Saturnino da Costa
birth_date = November 6 1933
birth_place = Bissau
party = Independent

Carlos Correia (born November 6 1933José Sousa Dias, [http://noticias.sapo.pt/lusa/artigo/7f297e7d5c326acef93ce4.html "Guiné-Bissau: Carlos Correia - Perfil"] , Lusa news agency, August 6, 2008 pt icon.] ) is a Guinea-Bissau politician. He was appointed as Prime Minister on August 5 2008; previously, he was Prime Minister from December 27 1991 to October 26 1994 and again from June 6 1997 to December 3 1998.

Correia was born in Bissau. He was trained in East Germany as an agricultural engineer. During Guinea-Bissau's war for independence, Correia was a member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which ruled the country until 1999. In the administration of Francisco Mendès in the 1970s, Correia was Minister of Finance. In the 1980s, he was a member of the Politburo of the PAIGC and responsible for agriculture and fishery in the state council.

After the office of Prime Minister was created again after having been abolished in 1984, Correia became Prime Minister on December 27, 1991 under President João Bernardo Vieira. After the first multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections in July 1994, which the PAIGC won, Manuel Saturnino da Costa succeeded him as head of government on October 27.

After da Costa's discharge on May 26, 1997, Correia became Prime Minister once again on June 6. However, in October of the same year the highest court of the country ruled that Correia's nomination was unconstitutional, ["Guinea-Bissau: Suprme Court rules prime minister's appointment unconstitutional", Radio France Internationale (nl.newsbank.com), October 7, 1997.] because parliament had not been consulted. A week later, his nomination was approved. Correia's work as Prime Minister was well-regarded by the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Correia's second term in office, which lasted until December 3, 1998, was overshadowed by the rebellion of Ansumane Mané. Mané was dismissed as chief of staff of the armed forces in June 1998, which led him to rebel against the government and start the civil war, which lasted until a peace agreement between the government and rebels in November 1998. The agreement lasted for six months.

After Vieira was overthrown in May 1999, Attorney-General Amin Saad announced on July 27 1999 that Correia and 14 other supporters of Vieira had been arrested and charged with inciting warfare and providing financial support to Vieira; [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=8319 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Fifteen former officials arrested"] , IRIN, 28 July 1999.] however, he was only incarcerated for a short time.Fact|date=February 2008 At a PAIGC congress in September 1999, he was expelled from the party, along with Vieira and five other former ministers. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=9028 "GUINEA-BISSAU: PAIGC chooses new chairman, expels Vieira"] , IRIN, 10 September 1999.] ["Guinea-Bissau: PAIGC party expels former leaders", Africa No 1 radio (nl.newsbank.com), 7 September 1999.] After Kumba Ialá took office as President, Correia was arrested, along with da Costa and four other former ministers, in February 2000. It was alleged that two government bonds were issued without parliamentary approval three years prior; according to Correia and da Costa, who were released on bail, the bonds were intended to provide funds for national development. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/661570.stm "High-level arrests in Guinea Bissau"] , BBC News, 29 February 2000.] He was acquitted of embezzlement in June 2003. ["Guinea-Bissau: Court acquits eight ex-governors, others charged with fraud", RDP Africa web site (nl.newsbank.com), June 5, 2003.]

In February 2003, Correia and four other members of the PAIGC were arrested for the execution of five people after a failed coup in 1986, but he was released after four days. [ [http://web.amnesty.org/report2004/gnb-summary-eng Amnesty International report on Guinea-Bissau in 2003] .]

In 2005, he was shortly considered as presidential candidate for his party, but Malam Bacai Sanhá was nominated instead. Sanhá later lost to Vieira in a run-off vote.

Vieira dissolved the National People's Assembly and appointed Correia as Prime Minister again on August 5 2008, replacing Martinho Ndafa Kabi. Correia is tasked with leading the government as it prepares for a legislative election in November 2008. [ [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=79660 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Uncertain future as President dissolves government"] , IRIN, August 6, 2008.] [ [http://www.french.xinhuanet.com/french/2008-08/06/content_686062.htm "Le président bissau-guinéen nomme un nouveau Premier ministre"] , Xinhua, August 5, 2008 fr icon.] A new government headed by Correia was appointed on August 9; aside from Correia himself, it included 21 ministers and seven secretaries of state. [http://apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=72113 "Guinea-Bissau gets 21 new cabinet ministers"] , African Press Agency, August 10, 2008.] [http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=por016470&dte=09/08/2008 "Novo primeiro-ministro bissau-guineense forma Governo"] , Panapress, August 9, 2008.] This government was dominated by Vieira loyalists [http://ww1.rtp.pt/noticias/?article=358216&visual=26&tema=2 "Guine-Bissau: Novo PM divulga lista completa do seu Governo"] Lusa (rtp.pt), August 9, 2008 pt icon.] and members of PAIGC, including PAIGC dissidents who were supporters of Vieira. The Party for Social Renewal (PRS) was given five posts in the government, while the Republican Party for Independence and Development (PRID) and the United People's Alliance (APU) were each given a single post.

References

*German|Carlos Correia|July 14, 2006

External links

*pt icon [http://www.paralelo14.com/p14/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=557&Itemid=49 Paralelo 14] about his possible presidential candidacy