2012 Guinea-Bissau presidential election
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Presidential elections were held in
Background
Following the death of Malam Bacai Sanhá on 9 January 2012, an early presidential elections were scheduled to be held within 90 days, in accordance with the constitution.[4]
No president in the history of independent Guinea-Bissau has completed his term in office: Three presidents have been ousted, one was assassinated, and another died in office.[5]
Campaign
Ialá's support base was primarily based on his Balanta ethnic group. Gomes Júnior had indicated he wanted to reform the armed forces, with which he had a tense relationship.[8]
Campaigning for the second round was due to start on 13 April and end on 27 April.[2]
Conduct
Results
No candidate was able to attain a 50% majority in the first round. The leading two candidates, Carlos Gomes Júnior and Kumba Ialá were set to face each other in a runoff election to be held on 22 April.
Five of the first round candidates complained that the poll had been fraudulent despite independent, international observers stating that it was conducted fairly.[11]
Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Henrique Pereira Rosa | Independent | 17,070 | 5.40 | |
Baciro Djá | Independent | 10,298 | 3.26 | |
Vicente Fernandes | Democratic Alliance | 4,396 | 1.39 | |
Aregado Mantenque Té | Workers' Party | 3,300 | 1.04 | |
Serifo Baldé | Guinean Salvation Democratic Socialist Party–Young Party | 1,463 | 0.46 | |
Luís Nancassa | Independent | 1,174 | 0.37 | |
Total | 316,107 | 100.00 | ||
Valid votes | 316,107 | 96.85 | ||
Invalid/blank votes | 10,292 | 3.15 | ||
Total votes | 326,399 | 100.00 | ||
Registered voters/turnout | 593,765 | 54.97 | ||
Source: African Elections Database |
Aftermath
Despite a peaceful campaign, there were fears of possible violence or a coup d'état if the army did not approve of the winner. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a "peaceful, orderly and transparent" election.[5] Opposition leaders, led by Ialá, called for a boycott of the second round because they considered the election fraudulent,[12] with Ialá calling for new voter registration to take place and warned against campaigning.[13][14]
The Director General of the Judicial Police Joao Biague announced that the former head of intelligence, Samba Diallo, was assassinated shortly after the polls closed.
References
- ^ "Africa Review – Guinea Bissau presidential run off vote delayed to 29 April". Africareview.com. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ a b "AFP: Guinea-Bissau second round vote delayed to 29 April". Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "Bissau government to review Angola Bauxite deal, calls it unfair". Reuters. 23 August 2012.
- ^ "AFP: Guinea-Bissau leader Malam Bacai Sanha dies in Paris". 9 January 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Guinea-Bissau wraps up poll campaign". News24. 16 March 2012. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ UN Mission Pleased With Peaceful Election in Guinea Bissau VOA News, 17 March 2012
- ^ Elections in Guinea Bissau African Elections Database
- ^ a b "Guinea-Bissau counts presidential poll votes – Africa". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ Peter Clottey (18 March 2012). "UN Mission Pleased With Peaceful Election in Guinea Bissau". Voanews.com. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ Afua Hirsch (18 March 2012). "Guinea-Bissau votes to elect president but military overthrow feared". World news. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "BBC News – Guinea-Bissau set for presidential run-off". BBC. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ Guinea-Bissau candidate says won't do vote runoff Associated Press, 22 March 2012
- ^ "BBC News – Kumba Yala boycotts Guinea-Bissau presidential run-off". BBC. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau: Soldiers arrest Prime Minister in apparent coup bid". GlobalPost. Retrieved 15 April 2012.
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau poll marred by killing". M.news24.com. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2012.