Background
Ethnicity:
Vieira was a member of the Papel ethnic group, which comprises approximately 5% of Guinea-Bissau's population.
Vieira was born in Bissau, then a city of Portuguese Guinea.
Ethnicity:
Vieira was a member of the Papel ethnic group, which comprises approximately 5% of Guinea-Bissau's population.
Vieira was born in Bissau, then a city of Portuguese Guinea.
He was the President of Guinea-Bissau from 1980 to 1984, for the second time from 1984 to 1999, and for the third time from 2005 to 2009. After seizing power in 1980, Vieira ruled for 19 years, and he won a multiparty presidential election in 1994. He was ousted at the end of the 1998–1999 civil war and went into exile. He made a political comeback in 2005, winning that year's presidential election. Vieira was killed by soldiers on 2 March 2009, apparently in retaliation for a bomb blast that killed Guinea-Bissau's military chief General Batista Tagme Na Waie. The military officially denied these allegations after Army officials claimed responsibility for Vieira's death. Vieira described himself as "God's gift" to Guinea-Bissau during his tenure in office.
Political Commissioner and Military Chief for the Catió Region (1961)
Vieira was a member of the Papel ethnic group, which comprises approximately 5% of Guinea-Bissau's population. By contrast, most of Guinea-Bissau's army officers, with whom Vieira had a tense relationship throughout his career, are members of the Balanta ethnicity, which dominates the country.
Joined Partido Africano da Independencia da Guine e Cabo Verde (PAIGC), 1960; political commissioner and military chief, Catio region, c. 1961-64; military commander, southern front, 1964; became member of PAIGC political bureau, 1964-65; Council of war, vice president, 1965-67; Southern front Political Bureau delegate, 1967-70; became member of war council executive committee, 1970-71; PAIGC permanent secretariat, 1973; named PAIGC deputy secretary- general, 1973; elected president of People's National Assembly, 1973-78; named minister of armed forces, 1973-78; prime minister, 1978-84; became president, 1980; gained control of defense and security cabinet posts, 1982; reelected president, 1989, 1994.
Political Bureau 1964-1965. Council of War, responsible for military operations 1970-1971. Exec! Committee and Council of War 1971-1973.
Perm. Seer, of PAIGC since 1973.
He is married Isabella Vieira
President of Guinea-Bissau