Simple directory > Regional > São Tomé e Príncipe

Country : São Tomé e Príncipe Official name: República Democrática de São Tomé e Príncipe (Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe) Head of State: President Fradique Banderia Melo de Menezes (ADI) (since 2001) Head of government: Prime Minister Maria do Carmo Silveira (from 8 Jun 2005) Ruling party: Coalition government led by the Movimiento de Libertaçao de São Tomé e Príncipe (MLSTP) (Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe), including Movimento Democrático das Forças da Mudança (MDFM) (Forces of Change Democratic Movement) and Acção Democrática Independente (ADI) (Independent Democratic Action) (since 2002; re-shuffled Jul 2003 and 18 Sep 2004) Area: 964 square km Population: 162,000 (2004) Capital: São Tomé Official language: Portuguese Currency: Dobra (Db) = 100 centavos Exchange rate: Db9,002.00 per US$ (Nov 2004) GDP per capita: US$300 (2003) GDP real growth: 5.00% (2003) Unemployment: 50.00% (2003)* Inflation: 9.00% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$19.30 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$253.80 million (2003) * estimated figure

Historical profile

1469–72 The islands were first sighted by Portuguese sailors.

1485 The town of São Tomé was founded; Príncipe was not settled until 15 years later. The islands quickly became the largest sugar producing area in the world and used slave labour.

1700–1800 Coffee and cocoa plantations were also set up using slave labour.

1875 Slavery was abolished, only to be replaced by a system of forced labour. The labour force consisted mainly of workers brought by the Portuguese from Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde. On several occasions they launched rebellions against their colonial rulers which were brutally suppressed.

1974 The end of fascist rule in Portugal marked the beginning of freedom for its overseas colonies. A transitional government was established to guide São Tomé and Príncipe towards independence.

1975 The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe gained independence from Portugal. The Portuguese had made no attempt to introduce education or healthcare systems for the local population; upon independence the literacy rate was 10 per cent and there was only one doctor in the entire country. Most plantations were quickly nationalised and the islands developed strong links with Cuba.

1990 The sole legal party was the Movimiento de Libertaçao de São Tomé e Príncipe-Partido Social Democrático (MLSTP-PSD) (Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe-Social Democratic Party) until a multi-party constitution was approved by referendum, allowing for direct and free elections for the presidency and legislature.

1991 At the country's first election the ruling MLSTP-PSD was defeated by the Partido da Convergencia Democrática-Grupo de Reflexão (PCD-GR) (Democratic Convergence Party-Reflection Group). The presidential election resulted in Miguel Trovoada becoming president; he was an independent candidate supported by the PDC-GR.

1994 The MLSTP-PSD was returned to office.

1995 In April, Príncipe was granted autonomy; the MLSTP-PSD won most seats in its assembly. Continuous strikes by public employees for promised pay rises destabilised the president and government. An abortive coup resulted in the formation of a coalition government which included members of the Ação Democrática Independente (ADI) (Independent Democratic Action), the Coligação Democrático da Oposição (CDO) (Democratic Opposition Coalition) and the Frente Democrática Crista (FDC) (Christian Democratic Front).

1996 President Trovoada was re-elected ahead of Manuel Pinto da Costa, the country's former Marxist ruler. Prime Minister Armindo Vaz d'Almeida was removed from office by his MLSTP-PSD colleagues; his position was taken by Raul Bragança.

1998 Elections resulted in a victory for the centre-left MLSTP-PSD.

1999 Guilherme Posser da Costa replaced Raul Bragança as prime minister.

2001 Fradique de Menezes won the presidential election. A treaty establishing the Gulf of Guinea Commisssion was signed by five of the seven member states (Gabon, Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Nigeria and Angola).

2002 After a re-run of the parliamentary elections, the Supreme Court ruled that the MLSTP had won an extra seat. Gabriel Costa was appointed prime minister by the president and formed a coalition government, which was subsequently dismissed by the president and Maria das Neves was nominated as the country's first female prime minister.

2003 Anti-government protests. A referendum on constitutional changes reducing presidential powers, was planned. On 16 July, a military coup staged by Major Fernando Pereira toppled the government while President Fradique de Menezes was out of the country. Prime Minister Maria das Neves was detained and a Junta of National Salvation was formed. On 23 July, President Menezes returned after signing an accord with the coup leaders, which restored democratic rule and included an amnesty for the insurgents. Menezes remained president. On 1 August, Prime Minister Maria das Neves resigned; on 4 August, the president reaffirmed his confidence in das Neves and kept the cabinet intact. In October, bidding began for offshore oil blocs controlled by São Tomé and Príncipe and Nigeria.

2004 In March, there was a row between the president and the prime minister over control of oil deals. Maria das Neves Ceita Baptista de Souza was dismissed as prime minister by the president on 15 September after a series of corruption scandals. Damião Vaz d'Almeida took office as prime minister and formed a government on 18 September.

2005 Maria do Carmo Silveira was nominated prime minister after Damião Vaz d'Almeida's resignation on 2 June; her government was approved on 8 June.

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