Carmen Pereira

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Carmen Pereira (1937- ) is a politician in Guinea-Bissau.

Pereira's political involvement began in 1962, when she joined the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, a revolutionary movement that sought independence for Portugal's two colonies in West Africa. Pereira and her husband were both active in the party, and she was eventually compelled to leave the country. She lived for a time in Senegal before travelling to the Soviet Union to study medicine.

Later, on her return to Guinea-Bissau, she was active both in health and political matters. She was elected to the People's National Assembly, and served as the Assembly's chair during the military rule of João Bernardo Vieira. In this capacity, she spent three days as Acting President when a new constitution was introduced in 1984, becoming the first female President in Africa and the only one in Guinea-Bissau as of 2006. Pereira continued to be chair of the Assembly until 1992, when Vieira dismissed her for alleged incompetence and irresponsibility.