Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2005

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Guinea-Bissau

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Guinea-Bissau held a presidential election on 19 June 2005, and a second round run-off vote was held on 24 July. The election marks 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 Seabra.

Contents

[edit] Post Coup Transition

Following the coup, a civilian government was nominated to oversee the transition on 28 September 2003. Henrique Rosa was appointed interim president following talks with military, political, and civil society leaders while Artur Sanhá was named prime minister.

Legislative elections, delayed numerous times during the presidency of Kumba Ialá, took place on 28 March 2004. The poll was declared free and fair by election observers and the former ruling party, African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) won a plurality of the seats. Ialá's Social Renewal Party (PRS) placed second followed by the United Social Democratic Party (PUSD). Carlos Gomes Júnior of the PAIGC took office as prime minister in May 2004.

The transitional period has been one of increased political and national stability. The caretaker government has managed to improve Guinea-Bissau's human rights record, as evidenced in the most recent U.S. State Department Country Reports on Human Rights Practices entry for Guinea-Bissau (released 28 February 2005, which says "The [Transitional] Government generally respected the human rights of its citizens; however, there were problems in some areas". The previous report (released 25 February 2004) stated "The [Ialá] Government's human rights record remained poor, and it continued to commit serious abuses".

The biggest threat to stability came on 6 October 2004 when a mutiny by soldiers---instigated by unpaid wages---turned violent. General Veríssimo Correia Seabra and his lieutenant were killed by the revolting soldiers. Despite this setback, the tense relations between the government and the military improved with the signing of a memorandum of understanding.

[edit] Candidates

On 10 May 2005, the Supreme Court published a list of candidates that will contest the election. Three previously barred candidates were allowed to contest the poll and appeared on the final list of candidates published on 18 May. The 13 candidates are:

Diplomats and political analysts say that the participation of the two ex-presidents Vieira and Ialá may exacerbate tensions among ethnic groups and the military that could destabilize the country. Ex-President Vieira has a troubled relationship with the armed forces. Ex-President Ialá, on the other hand, has a very poor reputation among potential donor countries and financial institutions, with the IMF and World Bank freezing aid to the country during his presidency. He has a considerable amount of support from the Balanta ethnic group which dominates the military, but has little support from the other groups. There are unconfirmed reports of the establishment of armed groups along ethnic lines in Bissau.

Four candidates who were approved to contest the election withdrew in the weeks leading up to the poll. They are:

  • Abubacar Baldé - National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP)
  • Iancuba Indjai - Solidarity and Labor Party (PST). Declared support for Malam Bacai Sanhá.
  • Ibraima Sow - Independent. Declared support for João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira.
  • Salvador Tchongó - Resistance of Guinea-Bissau - Bafatá Movement (RGB-MB)

[edit] Voting

[edit] First round

Voting took place peacefully on 19 June. Chief EU election monitor Johan Van Heck said his group noted no major irregularities, adding, "We have the impression that throughout the country everyone has had the chance to express themselves without being intimidated." The next day, Van Heck praised the fact that "the military forces abstained from intervening in the process and rather helped the conduct of the election." The EU observer added, "More than 90 percent of the polling stations were fully operational an hour after they had opened, and the secret ballot was guaranteed."

On 22 June, provisional tallies put Sanhá in first place, followed by Vieira and Ialá in third. Members of Ialá’s Social Renewal Party (PRS) deemed the results “false”.

On 24 June, at least two people died when police fired tear gas and live bullets at a crowd of Ialá supporters, who were protesting the released results.

Final results of the first round were released on 25 June. Malam Bacai Sanhá received 35.45% of the vote, João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira won 28.87%, and Kumba Ialá 25.00%. Ten other candidates split the remaining votes. Electoral commission head Malam Mané launched "a strong appeal for moderation and public-spiritedness." Voter Turnout for the first round was 87.3%.

Kumba Ialá accepted the results on 27 June, saying, "I won these elections but in the interest of democracy, of peace, I accept the results." In early July he announced that he supported Vieira's candidacy for the run-off. [1]

[edit] Second Round (Runoff)

The run-off between Sanhá and Vieira was conducted on 24 July 2005. Results were expected in about a week. [2], [3]

On July 28, the electoral commission reported that Vieira had garnered 20,000 vote more than Sanhá in run-off voting, however, the results were "provisional" since the PAIGC demanded a recount, citing irregularities in the capital and in the west. After the provisional results were announced, Vieira praised his rival Sanha, called him a democrat and said he hoped he would help unify the country. "From today, Guinea-Bissau will change in the right direction," he said. Sanha responded, "I congratulate my adversary. ... I hope that his experience and talent will serve for the unification, pacification and development of our country." [4]

[edit] Results

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 19 June and 24 July 2005 Guinea-Bissau presidential election results
Candidates - Nominating parties Votes
1st round		 %
1st round		 Votes
2nd round		 %
2nd round
Malam Bacai Sanhá - African Independence Party of Guinea and Cape Verde 158,276 35.45% 196,759 47.65%
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira - Independent 128,918 28.87% 216,167 52.35%
Kumba Ialá - Party for Social Renewal 111,606 25.00% - -
Francisco Fadul - United Social Democratic Party 12,733 2.85% - -
Aregado Mantenque Té - Workers' Party 9,000 2.02% - -
Mamadú Iaia Djaló - Independent 7,112 1.59% - -
Mário Lopes da Rosa - Independent 4,863 1.09% - -
Idrissa Djaló - National Unity Party 3,604 0.81% - -
Adelino Mano Queta - Independent 2,816 0.63% - -
Faustino Fadut Imbali - Manifest Party of the People 2,330 0.52% - -
Paulino Empossa Ié - Independent 2,215 0.50% - -
Antonieta Rosa Gomes - Guinean Civic Forum-Social Democracy 1,642 0.37% - -
João Tátis Sá - Guinean People's Party 1,378 0.31% - -
Total (turnout 87.6% / 78.6%) 446,493 412,926

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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