• Joao Bernardo Vieira was the President of Guinea-Bissau, one of Africa's smallest and poorest countries. He was assassinated outside his home in the early morning hours of March 2, 2009. Military officials say he was killed by a group of renegade soldiers in retaliation for the bombing murder of army chief of staff, General Batista Tagme na Waie, hours earlier. Vieira and Waie were rivals, both having accused the other of assassination attempts in the last several months.The New York Times: Soldiers Kill Guinea-Bissau's President After Death of Army Chief, Diplomats Say (March 2, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Joao Bernardo Vieira
  2. Birthdate: April 27, 1939Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  3. Nickname: NinoTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  4. Was the President of Guinea-Bissau until he was assassinated on March 2, 2009Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  5. Military says an isolated group of soldiers are responsible for the assassinationLos Angeles Times: Guinea-Bissau president assassinated (March 3, 2009)
  6. African Union statement called the murder "cowardly and heinous"Los Angeles Times: Guinea-Bissau president assassinated (March 3, 2009)
  7. Had been engaged in a power struggle with his army chief of staff, General Batista Tagme na WaieTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  8. General Batista Tagme na Waie was assassinated on March 1, 2009Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  9. Two men's stuggles fueled by their involvement with Columbia's cocaine tradeTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  10. In November of 2008 Vieira was accused of being the country's number one drug trafficker by former president Kumba YalaNew York Times: Guinea-Bissau Repels Attack on President (November 23, 2008)
  11. Central figure in Guinea-Bissau since the 1963 war against Portuguese ruleTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  12. Received military training in ChinaTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  13. Became President in 1980Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  14. He became the country's first democratically elected president in 1994Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  15. Overthrown in 1999Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  16. Returned to the country and was re-elected in 2005 on an independent ticketTimes Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)
  17. Survived a November, 2008 assassination attempt at his homeNew York Times: Guinea-Bissau Repels Attack on President (November 23, 2008)

• Background

  Joining the African Party in 1960, Joao Bernardo Vieira was a key figure in the history of Guinea-Bissau, which until 1974 was the Portuguese colony of Guinea. The African Party's liberation struggle began in 1963 and lasted 11 years, during which time Vieira rose through the ranks of the army, and in 1964 was commander of the rebels’ southern front. After the country was liberated in 1974, he became a close aid of the country's first President, Amilcar Cabral, whom he eventually overthrew in 1980 following the people's dissatisfaction with the government.Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)

• 1980-2005

  Joao Bernardo Vieira began his presidency by suspending the country's constitution and setting up a military council that he headed called the Council of the Revolution. There were problems from the start, however, due to the country's ethnic split between the dominant Balante and Vieira's Papel, which made up only five percent of the country's population. Amidst attempted coups by thr Balante to overthrow his government, his future nemisis General Batista Tagme na Waie was exiled for several years before Vieira allowed him to return, setting the stage for future struggles.Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)

  The country's growing political stability in the late 1980s led Joao Bernardo Vieira to hold the first democratic presidential election in 1994, which he won. After he dismissed his chief of staff in 1998 for weapon's smuggling, it triggered struggles which led to Vierira being overthrown and prompted him to escape to Lisbon. He returned in 2005 when the man in power had been overthrown, and was elected, once again, as President.Times Online: João Bernardo Vieira (March 4, 2009)

• The Assassination

  President Joao Bernardo Vieira was killed Monday morning at 5:00 a.m. in an attack outside his home by a group of army soldiers. It was allegedly in retaliation for the bombing murder of army chief of staff General Batista Tagme na Waie hours earlier.The New York Times: Soldiers Kill Guinea-Bissau's President After Death of Army Chief, Diplomats Say (March 2, 2009)Military officials said it was not a coup, but an isolated group of soldiers that were responsible, a statement backed up by the African Union. A preliminary autopsy showed Vieira had been severely beaten before being shot with several bullets in the thorax and the face.Telegraph: Guinea-Bissau president beaten before assassination (March 3, 2009)

  This was not the first assassination attempt on the Vieira, who narrowly escaped death at his home in November of 2008, prompting a security detail of 400 men. That detailed was removed in January after they were accused of trying to attack General Batista Tagme na Waie during an assassination attempt.The New York Times: Soldiers Kill Guinea-Bissau's President After Death of Army Chief, Diplomats Say (March 2, 2009)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Guinea-Bissau | African Union | Cocaine | Portugal

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