Politics of Guinea-Bissau

Politics of Guinea-Bissau takes place in a framework of a semi-presidential representative democratic republic in transition, whereby the President is head of state and the Prime Minister is head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the National People's Assembly. Since 1994 the party system is dominated by the socialist African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde and the Party for Social Renewal.The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature.

Recent political developments

In Guinea-Bissau in 1989, the ruling African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde(PAIGC) under the direction of President João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira began to outline a political liberalization program which the People's National Assembly approved in 1991. Reforms that paved the way for multi-party democracy included the repeal of articles of the constitution, which had enshrined the leading role of the PAIGC. Laws were ratified to allow the formation of other political parties, a free press, and independent trade unions with the right to strike.

Guinea-Bissau's first multi-party elections for president and parliament were held in 1994. Following the 1998-99 civil war, presidential and legislative elections were again held, bringing opposition leader Kumba Ialá and his Party for Social Renewal to power. Ialá was ousted in a bloodless coup in September 2003, and Henrique Rosa was sworn in as President.

Former President Viera was once again elected as President in July 2005. The government of Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Júnior was elected in March 2004 in a free and fair election round, but was replaced by the government of Prime Minister Aristides Gomes which took office already in November 2005. Aristides Gomes lost a no-confidence vote and submitted his resignation in March 2007. Martinho Ndafa Kabi was proposed as prime minister by a coalition composed of the PAIGC, the Social Renewal Party (PRS), and the United Social Democratic Party (PUSD). On April 9, it was announced that President João Bernardo Vieira had rejected the choice of Kabi, but the coalition said that they maintained him as their choice and later on the same day, Vieira appointed Kabi as the new prime minister. He took office on April 13, and his government, composed of 20 ministers (including eight from the PAIGC, eight from the PRS, and two from the PUSD) was named on April 17.

Guinea-Bissau's transition back to democracy is complicated by its crippled economy, devastated in the civil war.

Executive branch

President
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira
Independent
1 October 2005
-
Prime Minister
Carlos Correia
Independent
5 August 2008

The president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. The prime minister is appointed by the president after consultation with party leaders in the legislature.

Legislative branch

The National People's Assembly (" _pt. Assembleia Nacional Popular") has 102 members, elected for a four year term in multi-member constituencies.

Political parties and elections

Judicial branch

The Supreme Court (" _pt. Supremo Tribunal da Justiça"), consists of nine justices who are appointed by the president and serve at his pleasure, final court of appeals in criminal and civil case. There are Regional Courts, one in each of nine regions, first court of appeals for sectoral court decisions, hear all felony cases and civil cases valued at over $1,000 and 24 Sectoral Courts, judges are not necessarily trained lawyers, hear civil cases under $1,000 and misdemeanor criminal cases.

Political parties and leaders:African Party for the Independence of Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde or PAIGC [Carlos GOMES Junior] ; Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea or FLING [Francois MENDY] ; Guinea-Bissau Resistance-Ba Fata Movement or RGB-MB [Helder Vaz LOPES] ; Guinean Civic Forum or FCG [Antonieta Rosa GOMES] ; International League for Ecological Protection or LIPE [Alhaje Bubacar DJALO, president] ; National Union for Democracy and Progress or UNDP [Abubacer BALDE, secretary general] ; Party for Democratic Convergence or PCD [Victor MANDINGA] ; Social Renovation Party or PRS [Kumba YALA] ; Union for Change or UM [Jorge MANDINGA, president, Dr. Anne SAAD, secretary general] ; United Platform or UP [coalition formed by PCD, FDS, FLING, and RGB-MB] ; United Social Democratic Party or PUSD [Francisco Jose FADUL] .

Administrative divisions

Guinea-Bissau is divided in 9 regions (" _pt. regioes", singular - " _pt. regiao"); Bafata, Biombo, Bissau, Bolama, Cacheu, Gabu, Oio, Quinara, Tombali.
"note:" Bolama may have been renamed Bolama/Bijagos

International organization participation

ACCT (associate),
ACP,
AfDB,
ECA,
ECOWAS,
FAO,
FZ,
G-77,
IBRD,
ICAO,
ICFTU,
ICRM,
IDA,
IDB,
IFAD,
IFC,
IFRCS,
ILO,
IMF,
IMO,
Intelsat,
Interpol,
IOC,
IOM,
ITU,
NAM,
OAU,
OIC,
OPCW,
UN,
UNCTAD,
UNESCO,
UNIDO,
UPU,
WADB (regional),
WAEMU,
WFTU,
WHO,
WIPO,
WMO,
WToO,
WTrO

Flag description

Two equal horizontal bands of yellow (top) and green with a vertical red band on the hoist side; there is a black five-pointed star centered in the red band; uses the popular pan-African colors of Ethiopia.

See also

* Guinea-Bissau