Kumba Ialá 616498 217598504 2008-06-06T19:26:57Z 79.130.55.224 [[Image:KumbaIala.jpg|125px|thumb|Kumba Ialá was President of Guinea-Bissau from 2000 to 2003.]] '''Kumba Ialá''' (also spelled '''Yala''') (born [[15 March]] [[1953]]) is a [[Guinea-Bissau]] [[politician]] and former [[List of Presidents of Guinea-Bissau|President]]. He held that post from [[17 February]] [[2000]] until he was deposed in a [[military coup]] on [[14 September]] [[2003]]. He is a [[Roman Catholic]] and belongs to the [[Balanta]] ethnic group. Unlike most Guinea-Bissauan Catholics, he doesn't have a Portuguese name. == Early life == Born to a farming family in [[Bula, Guinea-Bissau|Bula]], [[Cacheu Region]] on 15 March 1953, Ialá became a militant member of the [[African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde]] (PAIGC) during his teenage years. The PAIGC sought independence from [[Portugal|Portuguese]] colonial rule.<ref name="Afrol">[http://www.afrol.com/articles/16350 "Guinea-Bissau's Kumba Yala: from crisis to crisis"], ''Afrol.com'', [[May 17]], [[2005]].</ref> He studied [[theology]] at the Catholic University in [[Lisbon, Portugal]] and later studied [[philosophy]]. In Bissau, Ialá studied law. He speaks [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], [[Crioulo]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]] and [[English language|English]] and can read [[Latin]], [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]. After completing his education, he worked as a philosophy teacher.<ref name="Afrol"/> == Political career == Ialá was the head of a PAIGC delegation to [[Moscow]] in honor of the 70th anniversary of the 1917 [[Bolshevik Revolution]],<ref name="Afrol"/> but in [[1989]] he was expelled from the party for demanding greater [[democracy|democratic]] reform.<ref>[http://rulers.org/indexi.html#iala Kumba Ialá], biography from Rulers.org.</ref> In March [[1991]], alongside [[Rafael Barbosa]], Ialá helped found the [[Democratic Social Front]] (FDS). On [[14 January]] [[1992]], Ialá left the FDS and formed the [[Social Renewal Party (Guinea-Bissau)|Social Renewal Party]] (PRS).<ref name="Afrol"/> The first [[multiparty]] presidential election took place on [[3 July]] [[1994]]. Incumbent president and PAIGC candidate [[João Bernardo Vieira|João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira]] won 46.20% of the vote. Ialá finished second, capturing 21.88% of the vote. Since no candidate won the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory, a run-off was conducted on [[7 August]].<ref name=Elections>[http://africanelections.tripod.com/gw.html Elections in Guinea-Bissau], ''African Elections Database''.</ref> The opposition parties united behind Ialá,<ref>''Political Parties of the World'' (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, page 271.</ref> but Vieira nevertheless won by a 4% margin (52.02% to 47.98%).<ref name=Elections/> Although the election was declared generally free and fair by election observers, Ialá contested the results, claiming intimidation of his supporters. The Supreme Court rejected his claims and the results were validated. On [[20 August]], he accepted the results, but announced that the PRS would not participate in the new government. On [[28 November]] [[1999]], after a devastating [[Guinea-Bissau Civil War|civil war]] and the ouster of Vieira, a new presidential election was held. In the first round, Kumba Ialá placed first with 38.81% of the vote, followed by interim president and PAIGC candidate, [[Malam Bacai Sanhá]], who won 23.37%.<ref name="Elections"/> Ialá was briefly hospitalized on [[29 December]] [[1999]] due to high blood pressure, shortly before campaigning for the second round was to begin.<ref>"Bissau presidential candidate in hospital", RTP Internacional TV (nl.newsbank.com), December 29, 1999.</ref> He went to Lisbon for medical treatment on [[30 December]], and after returning to Guinea-Bissau in early January 2000, he launched his second round campaign on [[January 9]]; he said that he was in good health and challenged Sanhá to a debate.<ref>"Guinea-Bissau: Presidential candidate challenges acting president to public debate", PANA (nl.newsbank.com), January 11, 2000.</ref> The second round, held on [[16 January]] [[2000]], was easily won by Ialá, who received 72% of the vote.<ref name="Elections"/> He was sworn-in as President of Guinea-Bissau on [[17 February]].<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=23190&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Yala sworn in as president"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[February 17]], [[2000]].</ref> Ialá resigned as President of the PRS in May 2000, although he continued to play an influential role in the party.<ref>''Political Parties of the World'' (6th edition, 2005), ed. Bogdan Szajkowski, page 271.</ref> == The Ialá Presidency == Kumba Ialá's tenure as the country's head of state was characterized by sackings of ministers and other high officials, and poor financial management that led the [[World Bank]]/[[IMF]] to suspend aid. Ialá's relationship with General [[Ansumane Mané]], the leader of the rebellion that had toppled Vieira in the [[1998]]–[[1999|99]] civil war, was difficult. Ialá attempted to promote a number of military officers in [[November 2000]], but Mané said that Ialá's list of promotions was not the one Ialá had previously agreed to with Mané. Mané announced that he was taking control of the armed forces, revoking Ialá's promotions and replacing the chief of staff, [[Veríssimo Correia Seabra]]. An outbreak of fighting followed,<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=9113&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Focus on new source of instability"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[November 23]], [[2000]].</ref> and Mané was killed in a clash with government forces a week later, on [[November 30]].<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=8532&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Former military strongman shot dead, reports say"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[December 1]], [[2000]].</ref> Ialá did not [[veto]] or promulgate the draft constitution approved by the National Assembly in [[2001]], instead sending it back to parliament with recommendations for increased presidential powers.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=14859&SelectRegion=West_Africa "GUINEA-BISSAU: Focus on continuing instability"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[November 16]], [[2001]].</ref> Ialá's government claimed to have foiled a coup plot in early December 2001, although the opposition questioned its existence.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=17270&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Opposition want evidence of attempted coup"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[December 6]], [[2001]].</ref> In June [[2002]], he accused [[The Gambia]] of fomenting rebellion in Guinea-Bissau, a charge which the Gambian foreign ministry denied; Ialá even threatened an invasion of [[The Gambia]].<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=28385&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GAMBIA-GUINEA-BISSAU "GAMBIA-GUINEA: Government shocked by Guinea-Bissau coup claims"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[June 18]], [[2002]].</ref> He also began imprisoning domestic opposition activists that he accused of plotting against his government. Ialá dissolved parliament in November 2002, appointed [[Mário Pires]] as caretaker prime minister, and called early elections for February 2003.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=30964&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: New Prime Minister named"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[November 18]], [[2002]].</ref><ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=31115&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Elections set for February"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[November 26]], [[2002]].</ref> These elections were repeatedly postponed, however: first to April, then to July, then to October.<ref name="Coup">[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=36579&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Army ousts president who kept delaying elections"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[September 14]], [[2003]].</ref> Some suspected that Ialá sought to manipulate the law to ensure that he would remain in power.<ref name="Afrol"/> == 2003 Coup == On [[12 September]] [[2003]], the electoral commission announced that it would not be able to finish voter registration in time to hold parliamentary elections as planned on [[12 October]].<ref name="Coup"/> This together with a stagnant economy, political instability, and military discontent over unpaid salaries triggered a bloodless coup on [[14 September]]. Ialá was detained and placed under house arrest. General Veríssimo Correia Seabra, leader of the coup, referred to the "incapacity" of Ialá's government as justification for the takeover.<ref name="Coup"/><ref name="Resign">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3113572.stm Bissau junta set to step down], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', [[September 18]], [[2003]].</ref> Ialá publicly announced his resignation on [[September 17]],<ref name="Resign"/> and a political agreement signed that month prohibited him from participating in politics for five years. A civilian-led transitional government led by businessman [[Henrique Rosa]] and PRS secretary general [[Artur Sanhá]] was set up at the end of September.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3147570.stm "Interim government takes over Bissau"], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', [[September 28]], [[2003]].</ref><ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=36775&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Junta insists on Artur Sanha as prime minister"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[September 23]], [[2003]].</ref> On [[March 8]] [[2004]], ahead of [[Guinea-Bissau legislative election, 2004|legislative elections]], Ialá was released from house arrest. He announced that he would be participating in the PRS election campaign, despite the prohibition against his political activity.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=39944&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Ousted president freed ahead of end-of-March polls"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[March 9]], [[2004]].</ref> In the election, held on [[March 28]], the PRS won 35 out of 100 seats, making it the second largest party in the National People's Assembly, after the PAIGC.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=40413&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: PAIGC wins election, but lacks absolute majority"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[April 4]], [[2004]].</ref> == 2005 presidential election == On [[March 26]] [[2005]], he was chosen as the PRS candidate for the [[June 19]] [[Guinea-Bissau presidential election, 2005|presidential election]] by the party's national council, despite being officially banned from politics for five years.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=53611 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Main opposition party picks Kumba Yala as presidential candidate"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[March 28]], [[2005]].</ref> Ialá submitted his candidate application to the Supreme Court on [[April 11]], arguing that since he had signed his agreement to respect his ban from politics at his home and not in his office, it was invalid.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=53869 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Kumba Yala applies to run for president despite ban"], IRIN, April 12, 2005.</ref> The Supreme Court cleared him to stand in the election in its list of approved candidates published on [[May 10]], with five judges in favor of permitting his candidacy and one opposed. The decision was based on the fact that Ialá had resigned prior to the signing of the transitional charter which had barred him from politics, with the judges ruling that the charter should not be retroactively applied to Ialá in a way contrary to his interests.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=54350 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Vieira and Yala cleared to contest June presidential election"], IRIN, May 11, 2005.</ref> Soon afterwards, on [[May 15]], Ialá said that he was withdrawing his resignation as President and would resume office to serve out the remainder of his term.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4552721.stm "Bissau government promises calm"], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', [[May 16]], [[2005]].</ref> Although this increased the country's political tension, the declaration did not appear to lead to much immediate consequence; a rally of some of Ialá's supporters was held two days later and was dispersed by police with [[tear gas]].<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=47157&SelectRegion=West_Africa&SelectCountry=GUINEA-BISSAU "GUINEA-BISSAU: Demonstrators for peace vastly outnumber supporters of Kumba Yala"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[May 17]], [[2005]].</ref> In late May, ten days after declaring his resignation withdrawn, he occupied the presidential palace at night with a group of armed men for about four hours before leaving, according to an announcement by the army.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4578305.stm "Guinea-Bissau's army urges calm"], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', [[May 25]], [[2005]].</ref> According to official results he came in third in the [[June 19]] election with 25% of the vote, behind Malam Bacai Sanhá and Nino Vieira, and thus could not participate in the second round run-off. Ialá said that he actually came in first, with about 38% of the vote, and that the result was a fraud.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=55112 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Yala still refuses to accept defeat in presidential election"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[June 27]], [[2005]].</ref> At least four people were reported killed when Ialá's supporters clashed with police after the results were announced.<ref name=Accepts>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/4628633.stm "Ex-Bissau leader accepts defeat"], ''[[BBC News Online]]'', [[June 27]], [[2005]].</ref> Ialá went to [[Senegal]] for talks with Senegalese President [[Abdoulaye Wade]], along with Vieira and Sanhá, and on [[June 27]] he said at a news conference that he accepted the result in the interest of peace and democracy, while still claiming to have actually won.<ref name=Accepts/><ref name=Agrees>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55124 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Kumba Yala agrees to accept election defeat while insisting he won"], IRIN, June 28, 2005.</ref> Ialá said on this occasion that he "rejected violence on principle" and predicted that he would eventually regain the presidency, noting that his opponents were older than himself "and tomorrow they will disappear."<ref name=Agrees/> On [[July 2]], Ialá announced his support for Vieira's candidacy in the [[Two-round system|second round]]. He called Vieira "a symbol of the construction of the Guinean state and of national unity because he proclaimed our independence in the hills of Boe" and said that he could "be relied upon to defend our national independence, to oppose neo-colonialism, to build the republic and promote peace, stability and above all, national reconciliation". Given Ialá's sharp hostility to Vieira in previous years, this endorsement was viewed as surprising by many, and there was reportedly significant dissatisfaction with the decision among Ialá's supporters.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=55242 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Kumba Yala to back Nino Vieira in second round of presidential election"], ''[[IRIN]]'', [[July 4]], [[2005]].</ref> The second round, held on [[July 24]], resulted in Vieira's victory.<ref>[http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=55801 "GUINEA-BISSAU: Vieira officially declared president"], IRIN, August 10, 2005.</ref> On [[October 27]], [[2006]], Ialá returned to Guinea-Bissau after a year of voluntary exile in [[Morocco]]. On [[November 12]] he was elected as President of the PRS with about 70% of the vote at the party's third ordinary congress, defeating [[Alberto Nambeia]], although his re-election was disputed by opponents within the PRS.<ref>[http://www.panapress.com/freenewspor.asp?code=fre010667&dte=23/11/2006 "Des militants contestent le congrès du PRS en Guinée-Bissau"], ''Panapress'', [[November 23]], [[2006]] {{fr icon}}.</ref> He denounced the government of prime minister [[Aristides Gomes]] as "illegitimate and illegal" and said that it should be dissolved and early parliamentary elections should be held.<ref>[http://www.apanews.net/apa.php?page=show_article_eng&id_article=15019 "Kumba Yala désavoué par la CEDEAO"], ''African Press Agency'', [[November 17]], [[2006]] {{fr icon}}.</ref> In May 2007, following an appeal for the annulment of the third ordinary congress by a faction of the PRS opposed to Ialá, the Regional Court of Bissau cancelled the congress' resolutions and removed Ialá from the party leadership. On [[August 23]] [[2007]], however, the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau reversed this decision and restored Ialá to the party leadership.<ref>[http://www.jeuneafrique.com/pays/guinee-bissau/article_depeche.asp?art_cle=PAN70027koumbelaico0 "Koumba Yala réhabilité leader du Parti de la rénovation sociale"], Panapress (''[[Jeune Afrique|Jeuneafrique.com]]''), [[August 23]], [[2007]] {{fr icon}}.</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} {{GBPresidents}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Iala, Kumba}}<!-- no accents for category sortting --> [[Category:1953 births]] [[Category:Guinea-Bissauan politicians]] [[Category:Guinea-Bissauan Roman Catholics]] [[Category:Leaders ousted by a coup]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Presidents of Guinea-Bissau]] [[de:Kumba Ialá]] [[el:Κούμπα Ιαλά]] [[fr:Kumba Ialá]] [[lt:Kumba Ialá]] [[ja:クンバ・ヤラ]] [[pt:Kumba Yalá]] [[sv:Kumba Yala]]