Faustino Imbali

Faustino Fudut Imbali (born 1 May 1956)[1] is a Bissau-Guinean politician who was Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 21 March 2001 to 9 December 2001, and again from 29 October 2019 to 8 November 2019. He was the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2012 to 2013.[2]

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Fudut and the second or paternal family name is Imbali.

Faustino Imbali
Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau
In office 31 October 2019 – 8 November 2019
President	José Mário Vaz
Preceded by	Aristides Gomes
Succeeded by	Aristides Gomes
In office 21 March 2001 – 9 December 2001
President	Kumba Yala
Preceded by	Caetano N'Tchama
Succeeded by	Alamara Nhassé
Personal details
Born	Faustino Fudut Imbali (1956-05-01) 1 May 1956 Ilondé, Portuguese Guinea
Political party	Non-partisan (while in office) Manifest Party of the People

Biography

Imbali was born in Ilondé, Portuguese Guinea in May 1956. He studied at the University of Bordeaux in France, graduating with a master's degree in political sociology and development in 1988. He subsequently worked as a researcher at the Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisa in Bissau. During the Guinea-Bissau Civil War of 1998–1999 he was an advisor to Prime Minister Francisco Fadul.[1]

Imbali ran as an independent candidate in the November 1999 presidential elections and placed third, winning 8.22% of the vote.[3] After the victory of Kumba Ialá of the Party for Social Renewal (PRS) in that election, Imbali was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic and Social Reconstruction in the government named on 19 February 2000, under Prime Minister Caetano Intchama.[4][5] Subsequently, in the government named on 25 January 2001, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6][7] When Intchama was dismissed by Ialá in March 2001, Ialá nominated Imbali as his successor, despite the objections of the opposition, which held a majority in parliament.[8] The opposition filed a no-confidence motion against Imbali but subsequently conditionally dropped the motion.[9] In December, Imbali was dismissed by Ialá, who criticized him strongly.[10][11] Accusing Imbali of diverting money from the armed forces (which Imbali denied), Ialá warned Imbali in April 2002 that he would go to jail unless he returned the money.[12]

In 2003, Imbali founded the Manifest Party of the People (PMP) and ran as its presidential candidate in the 19 June 2005 presidential election, winning 0.52% of the vote.[3]

Imbali was reportedly beaten and taken into custody by security forces on 5 June 2009 in violence directed against alleged coup plotters, including Baciro Dabo and Helder Proenca.[13]

References

1. Peter Karibe Mendy (2013) Historical Dictionary of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Scarecrow Press, p229
2. Lusa (2012-06-22). "Governo de transição da Guiné-Bissau admite "questionar" presença na CPLP". RTP Notícias (in Portuguese). RTP. Retrieved 2012-07-02.
3. Elections in Guinea-Bissau, African Elections Database.
4. "Le gouvernement de la GUINEE BISSAU formé le 19 February 2000" Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Afrique Express (in French).
5. "Guinea-Bissau: Agency gives full cabinet list", PANA news agency (nl.newsbank.com), February 22, 2000.
6. "Le gouvernement de GUINEE BISSAU formé le 25 January 2001" Archived 27 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine, Afrique Express (in French).
7. Rulers.org, January 2001.
8. "Uncertainty hangs over dismissal of prime minister", IRIN, March 21, 2001.
9. "Opposition drops no-confidence motion", IRIN, May 2, 2001.
10. "Guinea-Bissau gets new PM", BBC.co.uk, December 8, 2001.
11. "Yala appoints new prime minister", IRIN, December 10, 2001.
12. "President threatens former PM with prison", IRIN, April 8, 2002.
13. "Guinea-Bissau ex-PM severely beaten but alive", AFP, 6 June 2009.