Faustino Imbali

Who is Faustino Imbali?

Faustino Fudut Imbali is a Guinea-Bissau politician who was Prime Minister of Guinea-Bissau from 21 March 2001 to 9 December 2001. As of 2012, he is the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Imbali ran as an independent candidate in the November 1999 presidential election and placed third, winning 8.22% of the vote. After the victory of Kumba Ialá of the Party for Social Renewal in that election, Imbali was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic and Social Reconstruction in the government named on February 19, 2000, under Prime Minister Caetano Intchama. Subsequently, in the government named on January 25, 2001, he became Minister of Foreign Affairs. 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. The opposition filed a no-confidence motion against Imbali but subsequently conditionally dropped the motion. In December, Imbali was dismissed by Ialá, who criticized him strongly. Accusing Imbali of diverting money from the armed forces, Ialá warned Imbali in April 2002 that he would go to jail unless he returned the money.