AFRICAN ELECTIONS DATABASE
Home | About the Database | Terms & Definitions | Election Calendar | Election Chronology | Recent Elections | Electoral Authorities | Sub-National Elections | Freedom/Democracy/Human Rights | Site Updates | Links
Elections in Guinea-Bissau
 
Political Profile
Political System: Transitional Government
Transitional President: Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo (PAIGC) [since 11 May 2012; serving in an interim capacity following a military coup on 12 April 2012] The President is elected by direct popular vote for a 5-year term. Electoral System: Two Round (Run-off).
Transitional Prime Minister: Rui Duarte de Barros [since 16 May 2012] The Prime Minister is appointed by the President after consultation with party leaders in the legislature.
National People's Assembly [unicameral]: (100 Seats) Members are elected by direct popular vote in multi-member constituencies using the party-list proportional representation system; members serve 4-year terms.
Electoral Authority: National Elections Commission
Political Situation since Independence
1974-1980 One Party State (PAIGC)
1980-1984 Military Regime & One Party State (PAIGC)
1984-1991 One Party State (PAIGC)
1991-1994 Multiparty Transition
1994-1999 Democracy
1999         Transitional Government
1999-2003 Democracy
2003-2005 Transitional Government
2005-2012 Democracy
2012         Military Regime
2012-        Transitional Government
2012 Freedom House Rating: Political Rights - 4, Civil Liberties - 4, Status: Partly Free
Next Scheduled Presidential Election: N/A
Next Scheduled National People's Assembly Election: N/A
Political Parties: AD - Democratic Alliance, AFP - Alliance of Patriotic Forces, ASG - Guinean Socialist Alliance, CD - Democratic Center, FCG-SD - Guinean Civic Forum-Social Democracy, FD - Democratic Front, FDS - Democratic Social Front, FLING - Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea, LIPE - Guinean League for Ecological Protection, MDG - Guinean Democratic Movement, MUDE - Movement for Unity and Democracy, PADEC - Party for Democracy, Development, and Citizenship, PAIGC - African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (far-left, socialist), PCD - Democratic Convergence Party, PDG - Guinean Democratic Party, PDP - Democratic Party for Progress, PDP - Popular Democratic Party, PDS - Democratic Socialist Party, PDSSG-PJ - Guinean Salvation Democratic Socialist Party-Young Party, PMP - Manifest Party of the People, PND - New Democracy Party, PP - Popular Party, PPG - Guinean People’s Party, PRD - Renewal and Development Party, PRID - Republican Party for Independence and Development, PRN - National Reconciliation Party, PRP - Progress and Renewal Party, PRS - Social Renewal Party (center-left), PSD - Social Democratic Party, PS-GB - Socialist Party of Guinea-Bissau, PST - Solidarity and Labor Party, PT - Workers' Party, PUN - National Unity Party, PUSD - United Social Democratic Party, RGB-MB - Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement, UM - Union for Change (center-left, progressive), UNDP - National Union for Democracy and Progress, UPG - Guinean Patriotic Union.
Coalitions: Democratic Alliance (AD) [Contested the 2008 National People's Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Convergence Party (PCD) and Democratic Front (FD); Electoral Union (UE) [Contested the 2004 National People’s Assembly Election] Member parties include the Social Democratic Party (PSD), Guinean League for Ecological Protection (LIPE), Progress and Renewal Party (PRP), and an unidentified fourth party; Union for Change (UM) [Contested the 1994 Presidential and National People’s Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Front (FD), Democratic Social Front (FDS), Guinean League for Ecological Protection (LIPE), Movement for Unity and Democracy (MUDE), Democratic Party for Progress (PDP), and the Renewal and Development Party (PRD). The coalition also contested the 1999 National People’s Assembly Election, but member parties are not available. The coalition appears to have contested the 2004 National People’s Assembly Election as a single party; United Platform (PLATAFORMA)* [Contested the 2004 National People’s Assembly Election] Member parties include the Democratic Front (FD), Democratic Social Front (FDS), Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING), Democratic Convergence Party (PCD), and the Solidarity and Labor Party (PST); United Popular Alliance (APU) [Contested the 2004 National People’s Assembly Election] Member parties include the Guinean People’s Party (PPG) and Guinean Socialist Alliance (ASG).
*The acronym PU is sometimes used when referring to the coalition.
 
Election Results
 
 
Presidential: 1994, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2012
Legislative
--Single Party: 1972, 1976, 1984, 1989
--Multiparty: 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008
 
 
Single Party Elections
Sole Legal Party: African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC)
14 October 1972 Regional Council Election*

Registered Voters

83,000 (approx.)

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

82,032

“Yes” Votes

79,680 (97.13%)

“No” Votes

  2,352   (2.87%)

19 December 1976-January 1977 Regional Council Election** (150 Seats)
31 March 1984 Regional Council Election** (150 Seats)
15 June 1989 Regional Council Election** (150 Seats)

Registered Voters

420,285

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

223,592 (53.2%)

*In the midst of guerilla warfare, the PAIGC held elections for a regional council, which was to later elect a constituent assembly. In the areas under Portuguese control [Bissau, Bolama, Bijagós Islands and Bafatá] no elections are held.
**Elections were held for regional councils, which then elected members to the National People’s Assembly.
Note: Luís de Almeida Cabral was first elected President of the Council of State by the Constituent Assembly on 24 September 1973 when the PAIGC unilaterally declared independence from Portugal. The nation’s independence was formally recognized in 1974. He was re-elected President by the National People’s Assembly on 13 March 1977. Following the overthrow of the Cabral regime in 1980 and a four-year period of military rule, the National People’s Assembly elected João Bernardo Vieira President on 16 May 1984. He was re-elected on 19 June 1989.
 
July/August 1994 Presidential Election
First Round (3 July 1994)

Registered Voters

400,417

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

357,682 (89.3%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  49,059

Total Valid Votes

308,623

Second Round (7 August 1994) [Results by Region]

Registered Voters

400,417

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

326,615 (81.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  16,868

Total Valid Votes

309,747

Candidate (Party) [Coalition] First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira (PAIGC) 142,577 46.20% 161,083 52.00%
Kumba Ialá (PRS) 67,518 21.88% 148,664 48.00%
Domingos Fernandes (RGB-MB) 53,825 17.44% - -
Carlos Gomes* 15,645 5.07% - -
François Mendy (FLING) 8,655 2.80% - -
Bubacar Rachid Djaló (LIPE) [UM] 8,506 2.76% - -
Victor Saúde Maria (PUSD) 6,388 2.07% - -
Antonieta Rosa Gomes (FCG-SD) 5,509 1.79% - -
*Carlos Gomes was an independent candidate supported by Democratic Convergence Party (PCD) whose leader, Victor Mandinga, was not eligible to run for President under the current election laws, which require that both parents of the candidate be Guineans born in the country.
 
3 July 1994 National People's Assembly Election

Registered Voters

400,417

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

355,992 (88.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  65,024

Total Valid Votes

290,968

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (100)
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 134,982 46.39% 62
Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement (RGB-MB) 57,566 19.78% 19
Union for Change [UM] 36,797 12.65% 6
Social Renewal Party (PRS) 29,957 10.30% 12
Democratic Convergence Party (PCD) 15,411 5.30% 1
United Social Democratic Party (PUSD) 8,286 2.85% -
Front for the Liberation and Independence of Guinea (FLING) 7,475 2.57% 1
Guinean Civic Forum-Social Democracy (FCG-SD) 494 0.17% -
 
28 November 1999 National People's Assembly Election

Registered Voters

Not Available

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Party/[Coalition]

Number of Seats (102)

Social Renewal Party (PRS) 38
Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement (RGB-MB) 29
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 24
Democratic Alliance (AD) 3
Union for Change [UM] 3
Social Democratic Party (PSD) 3
Democratic Social Front (FDS) 1
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 1
 
November 1999/January 2000 Presidential Election
First Round (28 November 1999)

Registered Voters

503,007

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

Not Available (N/A)

Invalid/Blank Votes

Not Available

Total Valid Votes

371,025

Second Round (16 January 2000) [Results by Region]

Registered Voters

503,007

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

361,609 (71.9%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  12,746

Total Valid Votes

348,863

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Kumba Ialá (PRS) 143,996 38.81% 251,193 72.00%
Malam Bacai Sanhá (PAIGC) 86,724 23.37% 97,670 28.00%
Faustino Fudut Imbali 30,484 8.22% - -
Fernando Gomes 26,049 7.02% - -
João Tátis Sá 24,117 6.50% - -
Abubacar Baldé (UNDP) 20,192 5.44% - -
Bubacar Rachid Djaló (LIPE) 12,026 3.24% - -
Joaquim Baldé (PSD) 8,623 2.32% - -
Salvador Tchongó (RGB-MB) 6,937 1.87% - -
José Catengul Mendes (FLING) 5,311 1.43% - -
Mamadú Uri Baldé (PRP) 3,580 0.96% - -
Antonieta Rosa Gomes (FCG-SD) 2,986 0.80% - -
 
28 March 2004 National People's Assembly Election [Results by Region]

Registered Voters

603,639

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

460,254 (76.2%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  31,317

Total Valid Votes

428,937

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (100)
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 145,316 33.88% 45
Social Renewal Party (PRS) 113,656 26.50% 35
United Social Democratic Party (PUSD) 75,485 17.60% 17
United Platform [PLATAFORMA] 20,700 4.83% -
Electoral Union [UE] 18,354 4.28% 2
Democratic Socialist Party (PDS) 8,789 2.05% -
Union for Change (UM) 8,621 2.01% -
Resistance of Guinea-Bissau-Bafatá Movement (RGB-MB) 7,918 1.85% -
Party of National Unity (PUN) 6,260 1.46% -
United Popular Alliance [APU] 5,817 1.36% 1
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 5,042 1.18% -
Guinean Civic Forum-Social Democracy (FCG-SD) 4,209 0.98% -
Guinean Democratic Movement (MDG) 4,202 0.98% -
Manifest Party of the People (PMP) 3,402 0.79% -
Socialist Party of Guinea-Bissau (PS-GB) 1,166 0.27% -
 
June/July 2005 Presidential Election
First Round (19 June 2005) [Results by Region]

Registered Voters

538,471

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

471,843 (87.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  25,350

Total Valid Votes

446,493

Second Round (24 July 2005) [Results by Region]

Registered Voters

538,472

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

422,978 (78.6%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  10,052

Total Valid Votes

412,926

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira 128,918 28.87% 216,167 52.35%
Malam Bacai Sanhá (PAIGC) 158,276 35.45% 196,759 47.65%
Kumba Ialá (PRS) 111,606 25.00% - -
Francisco Fadul (PUSD) 12,733 2.85% - -
Aregado Mantenque Té (PT) 9,000 2.02% - -
Mamadú Iaia Djaló 7,112 1.59% - -
Mário Lopes da Rosa 4,863 1.09% - -
Idrissa Djaló (PUN) 3,604 0.81% - -
Adelino Mano Queta 2,816 0.63% - -
Faustino Fudut Imbali (PMP) 2,330 0.52% - -
Paulino Empossa Ié 2,215 0.50% - -
Antonieta Rosa Gomes (FCG-SD) 1,642 0.37% - -
João Tátis Sá (PPG) 1,378 0.31% - -
 
16 November 2008 National People's Assembly Election

Registered Voters

593,739

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

486,873 (82.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  27,735

Total Valid Votes

459,138

Party/[Coalition] Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Seats (100)
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) 227,350 49.52% 67
Social Renewal Party (PRS) 115,755 25.21% 28
Republican Party for Independence and Development (PRID) 34,341 7.48% 3
Workers' Party (PT) 12,600 2.74% -
New Democracy Party (PND) 10,726 2.34% 1
United Social Democratic Party (PUSD) 7,700 1.68% -
Party for Democracy, Development, and Citizenship (PADEC) 7,076 1.54% -
Democratic Alliance [AD] 6,321 1.38% 1
Social Democratic Party (PSD) 6,319 1.38% -
Alliance of Patriotic Forces (AFP) 5,869 1.28% -
Democratic Center (CD) 5,438 1.18% -
Popular Democratic Party (PDP) 5,353 1.17% -
Progress Party (PP) 3,095 0.67% -
Guinean Democratic Party (PDG) 3,068 0.67% -
Guinean Patriotic Union (UPG) 2,809 0.61% -
Democratic Socialist Party (PDS) 1,697 0.37% -
National Union for Democracy and Progress (UNDP) 1,328 0.29% -
National Reconciliation Party (PRN) 783 0.17% -
Socialist Party of Guinea-Bissau (PS-GB) 639 0.14% -
Guinean Democratic Movement (MDG) 638 0.14% -
Guinean League for Ecological Protection (LIPE) 233 0.05% -
 
June/July 2009 Presidential Election
First Round (28 June 2009)

Registered Voters

593,765

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

356,340 (60.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  18,383

Total Valid Votes

337,957

Second Round (29 July 2009)

Registered Voters

593,765

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

362,736 (61.1%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

    8,504

Total Valid Votes

354,232

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Malam Bacai Sanhá (PAIGC) 133,786 39.59% 224,259 63.31%
Kumba Ialá (PRS) 99,428 29.42% 129,973 36.69%
Henrique Pereira Rosa 81,751 24.19% - -
Mamadú Iaia Djaló (PND) 10,495 3.11% - -
João Gomes Cardoso 4,115 1.22% - -
Serifo Baldé (PDSSG-PJ) 1,794 0.53% - -
Aregado Mantenque Té (PT) 1,736 0.51% - -
Ibraima Djaló 1,489 0.44% - -
Francisca "Zinha" Vaz Turpin (UPG) 1,219 0.36% - -
Luís Nancassa 1,195 0.35% - -
Paulo Mendonça 949 0.28% - -
 
March/April 2012 Presidential Election
First Round (18 March 2012)

Registered Voters

593,765

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

326,399 (55.0%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

  10,292

Total Valid Votes

316,107

Second Round (22 April 2012)

Registered Voters

0

Total Votes (Voter Turnout)

0 (%)

Invalid/Blank Votes

0

Total Valid Votes

0

Candidate (Party) First Round Second Round
Number of Votes % of Votes Number of Votes % of Votes
Carlos Gomes Júnior (PAIGC) 154,797 48.97% 0 %
Kumba Ialá (PRS) 73,842 23.36% 0 %
Manuel Serifo Nhamadjo 49,767 15.74% - -
Henrique Pereira Rosa 17,070 5.40%

-

-

Baciro Djá 10,298 3.26%

-

-

Vicente Fernandes (AD) 4,396 1.39%

-

-

Aregado Mantenque Té (PT) 3,300 1.04%

-

-

Serifo Baldé (PDSSG-PJ) 1,463 0.46%

-

-

Luís Nancassa 1,174 0.37%

-

-