Francisco Benante

Who is Francisco Benante?

Francisco Benante is a politician in Guinea-Bissau and a member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde. He was President of PAIGC from 1999 to 2002 and President of the National People's Assembly of Guinea-Bissau from 2004 to 2008.

Benante is a lawyer by profession. In the government of national unity formed in the midst of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War, Benante was chosen as Minister of Defense by the junta in January 1999. He was the only civilian member of the junta. Following the ouster of President Nino Vieira in May 1999, Benante, as the leader of reformists within PAIGC, was elected as the President of PAIGC on 9 September 1999, at the end of a party congress. Benante's candidacy was supported by the junta, and he received 174 votes against 133 votes for the only opposing candidate.

Following an alleged coup attempt against President Kumba Yala on 2 December 2001, Benante said that soldiers searched his home for no reason on 3 December. The opposition questioned the existence of this coup attempt, and Benante demanded that concrete evidence be presented. Carlos Gomes Júnior was elected to replace Benante as PAIGC President at a party congress in January–February 2002.