SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

      Keys events

1975 (12 July)

Proclamation of independence.

1975 (13 July)

First government formed.

1975 (12 December)

Dr Manuel Pinto da Costa (general secretary of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tomé and principe, MLSTP, the Marxist-orientated single party) is elected President of the Republic. Léonel d’Alva is elected President of the people’s Assembly, Miguel Trovoada Prime Minister.

1978 (February)

Threat of invasion by mercenaries. Angolan and Cuban troops come to provide support.

1979 (March)

Post of Prime Minister abolished. Chief of State becomes head of the government.

1979 (September)

Miguel Trovoada accused of preparing a coup d’état.

1980 (14 May)

Manuel Pinto da Costa re-elected president of the MLSTP.

1982 (January)

Colonel Daniel Lima dos Santos is dismissed from his position as Minister of Defence and National Security. He is replaced by the chief of State and the government.

1985 (30 September)

Mr Pinto da Costa is re-elected President of the Republic by the People’s Assembly.

1986 (20 March)

Creation of the democratic Opposition Coalition (CDO) comprising the national resistance Front of Sao Tomé and Principe (FRNSTP) and the Democratic and Independent Union of Sao Tomé and Principe (UDISTP).

1986 (11 May)

Resignation of the President of the FRNSTP.

1988 (29 January)

Post of Prime Minister re-established. Celestino Rocha da Costa is appointed.

1988 (7-8 March)

A dissident fraction of the FRNSTP led by Manuel Afonso dos Santos fails in an attempt to make a landing.

1988 (11 May)

Announcement of the withdrawal of the Angolan troops stationed on the island.

1990 (22 August)

Adoption by referendum of the draft Constitution to create a multi-party system.

1990 (17 October)

The MLSTP becomes the MLSTP-PSD (Social democratic Party).

1991 (20 January)

General elections. Victory of the opposition party, the Party of Democratic Convergence (PCD-GR)

1991 (3 March)

Miguel Trovoada elected President of the Republic. He was the only candidate, supported by the PCD-GR.

1992 (22 April)

Daniel Daio, Prime Minister, is dismissed.

1992 (11 May)

Norbert Costa Alegre (PCD) is appointed Prime Minister.

1993 (3 November)

Unlimited strike by civil servants working in the legal system.

1994 (2 July)

Nobert Costa Alegré sacked. Replaced by Evaristo Carvalho.

1994 (2 October)

General elections. Victory of the MLSTP-PSD.

1994 (25 October)

Appointment of Carlos da Graça, President of the MLSTP-PSD, as Prime Minister.

1995 (29 April)

Autonomy of the island of Principe.

1995 (15 August)

Military coup d’état. Mr Trovoada arrested.

1995 (21 August)

Putchists give up. Mr Trovoada returns to his position as Head of State.

1996 (January)

Armindo Vaz d’Almeida is appointed Prime Minister and forms a government of national union.

1996 (28 March)

Resignation of Prime Minister Armindo Vaz d’Almeida, which he withdraws two weeks later.

1996 (April)

Term of office of President Trovoada extended by 5 months.

1996 (11-21 July)

Miguel Trovoada re-elected President. Investiture on 3 September after a month of confusion due to protests against election results.

1996 (20 September)

Government of Armindo Vaz d’Almeida overthrown by the National Assembly voting by a majority for a no-confidence motion proposed by the MLSTP-PSD.

1996 (19 November)

Raul Bragança Neto appointed Prime Minister (deputy secretary of the MLSTP-PSD).

1998 (27 March)

Opening of the “Forum of Unity fro National Reconciliation” to find a solution to the political instability of the country. The delegates representing all the social classes unable to find a consensus.

1998 (8 November)

General elections. The MLSTP-PSD wins an absolute majority with 31 seats.

2000 (12 July)

Celebration of 25 years of independence.

Up-date currently in preparation.

Sources used

Afrique contemporaine, quarterly review (La Documentation Française)

AFP Afrique: daily news bulletin from Africa –Agence France Presse

Press Files from the CEAN Document Centre.

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