Carlos Gomes Júnior

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Carlos Domingos Gomes Júnior (born December 19, 1949^[1]) was the Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 10 May 2004^[2] to 2 November 2005. He is widely known as "Cadogo".^[1]

Gomes, who was first elected to parliament in 1994,^[2] is the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), which controlled the country from independence in 1974 until the ouster of President João Bernardo Vieira in 1999. Gomes was elected president of the party in 2002.^[1] He is a banker and businessman, reputed to be the richest man in Guinea-Bissau. PAIGC won the most seats in parliamentary elections conducted in March 2004, and Gomes became prime minister in May.^[2]

Prior to the victory of former president Vieira in the mid-2005 presidential election, Gomes said that he would resign if Vieira was elected, referring to the latter as a "bandit and mercenary who betrayed his own people".^[3] After Vieira's election, Gomes initially refused to recognize the result, but he also moved away from his earlier threat to resign.^[4] Vieira took office on 1 October 2005, and almost two weeks later he and Gomes had a meeting, with Gomes anticipating that the two would be able to work together.^[5] However, on 28 October Vieira announced the dissolution of Gomes's government, and a long-time ally of Vieira, Aristides Gomes, was appointed Prime Minister on 2 November 2005.^[6]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Biography on PAIGC website (in Portuguese).
2. ^ ^{a b c} "Young technocrats prominent in new elected government", IRIN, May 13, 2004.
3. ^ "Kumba Yala to back Nino Vieira in second round of presidential election", IRIN, July 4, 2005.
4. ^ "Prime minister says doesn't recognise new president but won't resign", IRIN, August 23, 2005.
5. ^ "President, prime minister try to iron out tension, avert crisis", IRIN, October 13, 2005.
6. ^ "President appoints controversial new prime minister", IRIN, November 2, 2005.