Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Sousa (born 1958) served as the 11th prime minister of São Toméand Príncipe. She was a key figure in the Movement for the Liberation of São Toméand Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD) and became the first woman head of government in the country.
Maria das Neves received education as an economist in Cuba with specialization in public finances. Before becoming head of government,Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance,in the World Bank and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF). She married and when her two daughters had grown up,she held major government posts:Minister of Economics (1999–2001),Minister of Finance 2001/02[ citation needed ] and Minister of Trade,Industry,and Tourism (2002).
In 2001 Fradique de Menezes was elected president with support of the Centre Party. But there was no clear majority in parliament,and the result was an unstable cohabitation with a number of short-lived cabinets headed by the opposition. A three party coalition was formed under the socialist Gabriel Costa and das Neves was member of the government. [1]
She held the post of prime minister from 7 October 2002 until 18 September 2004,and was the nation's first female head of government. President Fradique de Menezes appointed das Neves as prime minister after the three-party Government of National Unity led by Gabriel Costa collapsed following complaints from the army over recent promotions. The country was in a difficult situation,being heavily indebted and dependent on aid. There were disagreements and power struggles. When an oil agreement was signed with Nigeria,there was a military coup on 16 July 2003. The president was abroad and the army and mercenaries took action,arresting das Neves and other government officials. The coup leaders complained about corruption and said that the forthcoming oil revenues would not be distributed fairly. Following international pressure,an agreement was reached and Menezes reinstated after a week. das Neves was hospitalized after suffering a mild heart attack. She resigned as prime minister,but accepted to continue when President Menezes reaffirmed his confidence in her. [2]
President Menezes dismissed her from the post on 15 September 2004 and asked her party to choose a new prime minister,after allegations of corruption were brought against her and members of her government. She denied participating in any corrupt practices. Three days after her dismissal,a new government led by Damião Vaz d'Almeida was sworn in. Das Neves was elected an alternate to parliament and became an MP.
Maria das Neves is a member of the Council of Women World Leaders,an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers,whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
The islands of São Toméand Príncipe were uninhabited at the time of the arrival of the Portuguese sometime between 1469 and 1471. After the islands were discovered by the explorers João de Santarém and Pêro Escobar,Portuguese navigators explored the islands and decided they would be a good location for bases to trade with the mainland.
Joaquim Rafael Branco is a São Toméan politician who was the 16th prime Minister of São Toméand Príncipe from 2008 to 2010. He is the President of the Movement for the Liberation of São Toméand Príncipe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP/PSD).
Fradique Bandeira Melo de Menezes is a São Toméan politician who was the third president of São Toméand Príncipe from 2001 to 2003 and again from 2003 to 2011.
The Movement for the Liberation of São Toméand Príncipe –Social Democratic Party is one of the main political parties in São Toméand Príncipe. Jorge Bom Jesus is the current president of the party.
Miguel dos Anjos da Cunha Lisboa Trovoada was the prime minister from 1975 to 1979 and second president of São Toméand Príncipe 1991 to 2001. On 16 July 2014,he was appointed the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS). Prior to this,he was the executive secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
Manuel Pinto da Costa is a Santomean economist and politician who served as the first president of São Toméand Príncipe from 1975 to 1991. He again served as president from 2011 to 2016.
The Independent Democratic Action is a political party in São Toméand Príncipe. It was established in 1994 by the then president Miguel Trovoada and is a politically centrist party.
Damião Vaz d'Almeida served as the 12th prime minister of São Toméand Príncipe and the vice-president of the Movement for the Liberation of São Toméand Príncipe-Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD). He became Prime Minister on 18 September 2004 after being chosen by his party,and confirmed by President Fradique de Menezes three days after Menezes had dismissed the government of Maria das Neves. D'Almeida had previously served as minister of labor,employment and solidarity in governments led by Gabriel Arcanjo da Costa and most recently,Maria das Neves.
Gabriel Arcanjo Ferreira da Costa is a Santoméan politician who was the tenth prime minister of São Toméand Príncipe from 12 December 2012 to 25 November 2014. He previously served as prime minister briefly in 2002.
Patrice Émery Trovoada is a São Toméan politician who is the 15th prime minister of São Toméand Príncipe since November 2022. He previously served as prime minister from February 2008 to June 2008,from August 2010 to December 2012 and again from November 2014 to December 2018.
São Toméand Príncipe –United States relations are bilateral relations between São Toméand Príncipe and the United States. The U.S. Ambassador based at the embassy in Libreville,Gabon was accredited to Sao Tome on a non-resident basis until 2022,when that role was designated to the U.S. Ambassador based at the embassy in Luanda,Angola. The Ambassador and Embassy staff make regular visits to the islands. The US State Department has described relations with São Toméand Príncipe as excellent.
Presidential elections were held in São Toméand Príncipe in 2011,the first round beginning on 17 July 2011 with a run-off held on 7 August 2011. Incumbent President Fradique de Menezes has served the maximum two terms and could not constitutionally seek a third term. The final result saw former president Manuel Pinto da Costa,aged 74,elected in a narrow victory against Speaker of Parliament Evaristo Carvalho.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs,Cooperation and Communities is a ministry of the Government of São Toméand Príncipe. The current minister is Edite Tenjua,appointed in 2020.
The 2003 São Toméand Príncipe coup d'état attempt was an attempted military coup in São Toméand Príncipe on July 16,2003. The coup was launched against the government of President Fradique de Menezes,and was led by Major Fernando Pereira. The coup leaders claimed that they had tried to overthrow the government to help stop poverty in the region.
Maria Alice Rodrigues Vera Cruz de Carvalho is a Santomean jurist who served as President of the country's Supreme Court from 2001.
The following lists events that happened during 2003 in the Democratic Republic of São Toméand Príncipe.
The following lists events that happened during 2004 in the Democratic Republic of São Toméand Príncipe.
The following lists events that happened during 2002 in the Democratic Republic of São Toméand Príncipe.