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 has been the President of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) since 2002. He is widely known as "Cadogo".^[1]

Gomes was born in Bolama. He was a delegate of PAIGC to the party's Fifth Congress in December 1991, and in the first multiparty elections, held in 1994, he was elected to the National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau from the 26th Electoral District. In 1996, he was elected First Vice-President of the National People's Assembly, Second Secretary of the Interparliamentary Committee of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, and Vice-President of the Interparliamentary Committee of the West African Economic and Monetary Union. In the National People's Assembly, he also served as Chairman of the Committee for Economic Affairs and President of the Administrative Council. At PAIGC's Sixth Congress in May 1998, Gomes was elected to the party's Political Bureau, and at the party's Third Extraordinary Congress in September 1999 he was re-elected to the Political Bureau and also became the party's Secretary for Foreign Relations and International Cooperation.^[1]

Gomes was elected as President of PAIGC at the Fourth Extraordinary Congress in January-February 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]

Following the assassination of former navy commander Mohamed Lamine Sanha in early January 2007, Gomes accused Vieira of involvement in the killing in an interview with Lusa on January 8. A warrant was issued for Gomes's arrest on January 10, and when police tried to arrest him later that day he fled and took refuge in the United Nations building in Bissau. A spokesman for Gomes said that it would be unconstitutional to arrest him because he enjoyed immunity as a member of the National People's Assembly.^[7] A presidential spokesman accused Gomes of trying to destabilize the country.^[8] Gomes left the UN building on January 29, after the arrest warrant was dropped.^[9]

According to Gomes, he was misquoted in the interview that led to the arrest warrant. An investigating judge said that Gomes had not provided any proof for his claim of Vieira's involvement, and on December 20, 2007 it was announced that Gomes had been charged with false testimony and slandering the head of state.^[10]

Gomes is seeking re-election as President of PAIGC at the party's Seventh Ordinary Congress in April 2008. Malam Bacai Sanhá, the party's presidential candidate in 2000 and 2005, is challenging Gomes for the party leadership,^[11] as is Cipriano Cassama.^[12]

[edit] References

v • d • e Prime Ministers of Guinea-Bissau Mendes • Teixeira • Vieira • vacant, 1980-82 • Maria • vacant, 1984-91 • Correia • Costa • Correia • Fadul • N'Tchama • Imbali • Nhassé • Pires • Sanhá • C. Gomes • A. Gomes • Kabi