African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde Partido Africano para a Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde

Abbreviation	PAIGC
Leader	Domingos Simões Pereira
Founder	Henri Labéry Amílcar Cabral
Founded	19 September 1956 (1956-09-19)
Headquarters	Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
Youth wing	African Youth Amílcar Cabral
Women's wing	União Democrática das Mulheres da Guiné (UDEMU)
Ideology	Democratic socialism Social democracy Left-wing nationalism African nationalism Pan-Africanism Historical: Communism Marxism–Leninism
National affiliation	Inclusive Alliance Platform – Terra Ranka
International affiliation	World Anti-Imperialist Platform Socialist International (consultative)
Colors	Red, green and yellow
Slogan	Unidade e Luta ("Unity and Struggle")
Seats in the National People's Assembly	47 / 102
Party flag

PAIGC Military commanders on the northern frontline, 1974

The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (known as PAIGC) is an important political party in Guinea-Bissau. It was first created to peacefully work for independence from Portugal. However, in the 1960s, the party began to fight using weapons. It was a key group in the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence.

After the war, the PAIGC set up a one-party state, which means only one political party was allowed. This lasted until the early 1990s, when other parties were allowed. The PAIGC won the first multi-party elections in 1994. But they lost power in the 1999–2000 elections.

Later, they won again in 2004 and 2005. Since then, the PAIGC has been the biggest party in the National People's Assembly. This is like their parliament.

The PAIGC also ruled Cape Verde from its independence in 1975 until 1980. After a military takeover in Guinea-Bissau in 1980, the Cape Verde branch of the PAIGC became a separate party. It is now called the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde.

History of the PAIGC
- Fighting for Independence
==Images for kids
- After Independence
Election Results
- Presidential Elections
- National People's Assembly
Foreign Support
See also

History of the PAIGC

Fighting for Independence

The PAIGC was started in Bissau on September 19, 1956. It was first called the African Party of Independence. The party was built on ideas from a group formed in 1954 by Henri Labéry and Amílcar Cabral.

Six people founded the party. They included Amílcar Cabral, his brother Luís, and Aristides Pereira. Rafael Paula Barbosa became the first president. Amílcar Cabral was the secretary-general.

In 1959, Portuguese soldiers shot protesting dockworkers in what is known as the Pidjiguiti massacre. About 50 people died. This event made many people support the PAIGC's fight for independence. The PAIGC leaders then decided to use armed struggle against Portugal.

In September 1959, the party moved its main office to Conakry in nearby Guinea. In 1961, the PAIGC joined with other groups from Mozambique and Angola. They formed the Conference of Nationalist Organizations of the Portuguese Colonies (CONCP). This group helped coordinate their independence fights.

The armed struggle against Portugal began in March 1962. PAIGC fighters attacked Praia. Most of the fighting happened on the mainland of Guinea. It was too hard to fight on the Cape Verde islands.

Amílcar Cabral told his fighters to focus on sabotage at first. This was to rebuild their military strength. On January 23, 1963, the PAIGC started the Guinea-Bissau War of Independence. They attacked a Portuguese army base in Tite.

In January 1966, Amílcar Cabral met Fidel Castro in Havana. As a result, Cuba sent experts, doctors, and technicians to help the PAIGC. The PAIGC also received weapons from the USSR and People's Republic of China. These countries also helped train the fighters.

The first party meeting happened in February 1964. The PAIGC reorganized its political and military groups. They created a regular army called the Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People (FARP). They also had guerrilla forces.

The party also started a Pilot School in Conakry. It was led by Lilica Boal from 1969. The school aimed to educate young fighters and children who lost their parents in the war.

Como Island was a major battle site. The PAIGC took control of the island. They fought off strong attacks from the Portuguese, including air strikes. The Portuguese eventually retook the island after 71 days of fighting. But the PAIGC took it back less than two months later.

During the war, the Portuguese did not take the PAIGC seriously at first. They sent troops to other conflicts. By the time they realized the PAIGC was a big threat, it was too late. It became very dangerous for Portuguese troops to operate far from their bases.

By 1967, the PAIGC had attacked Portuguese bases 147 times. They controlled two-thirds of Portuguese Guinea. In 1968, a new governor, António de Spínola, arrived. He started building schools, hospitals, and improving roads. This was to try and win over the people.

In 1970, the Portuguese Air Force began using weapons like napalm and defoliants. These were similar to those used in the Vietnam War. Napalm burned guerrillas, and defoliants destroyed hiding places. Spínola's time as governor was a turning point. Portugal started winning battles.

In Operation Green Sea, Portuguese troops attacked Conakry. They freed 26 Portuguese prisoners of war. The USSR and Cuba then sent more weapons to Portuguese Guinea.

Between August and November 1972, the party held elections for regional councils. These councils then chose members for a National Assembly. These were the first elections where almost everyone could vote. About 78,000 people voted, with 97% supporting the PAIGC candidates.

On January 20, 1973, Amílcar Cabral was killed. This was part of a plan to overthrow the PAIGC leadership. But the plan failed. Many people were found guilty, and some were executed. Later that year, on September 24, 1973, independence was declared. The United Nations recognized this in November. The war ended with many lives lost on both sides.

==Images for kids

PAIGC soldiers loading weapons on a truck, Guinea-Bissau, 1973
Kalashnikovs for Hermangono, 1973
Female soldier playing cards, Guinea-Bissau, 1973
PAIGC recruits learning how to shoot, Ziguinchor, Senegal, 1973
Portuguese plane shot down in Guinea-Bissau with PAIGC soldiers, 1974
PAIGC soldier with his family in a military camp, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
Drawings showing PAIGC soldiers, Farim, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
Village burnt down by the Portuguese, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
PAIGC soldier with a rocket-propelled grenade, Manten military base in the liberated areas, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
Morning roll call, Hermangono, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
Unexploded Portuguese bomb, Canjambari, Guinea-Bissau, 1974
Armed escort carries a wounded person to the Senegalese border, Sara, Guinea-Bissau, 1974

After Independence

PAIGC headquarters in Bissau

After gaining independence, the PAIGC became the only legal political party. This was true for both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. Luís Cabral became the President of Guinea-Bissau. More one-party elections were held in 1976 and 1977.

The PAIGC wanted Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde to unite. But this idea ended after a military coup in November 1980. This coup was led by João Bernardo Vieira against President Cabral. The Cape Verde branch of PAIGC then became a separate party. It was named the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV).

Under Vieira, the PAIGC continued to rule the country. One-party elections took place in 1984 and 1989. Vieira was re-elected as the party's Secretary-General in 1986. In May 1991, multi-party politics were introduced. This meant other parties could now exist.

The first multi-party elections were held in 1994. People could directly elect the president for the first time. Vieira won the presidential election. The PAIGC also won 62 out of 100 seats in the National People's Assembly.

Vieira was re-elected as PAIGC President in 1998. A civil war started in June 1998. Vieira was removed from power in May 1999. Manuel Saturnino da Costa became the acting President of the PAIGC.

Vieira was later removed from the PAIGC party. This was for "treasonable offences" and other reasons. Francisco Benante was then elected as the new President of PAIGC.

In the 1999–2000 elections, the PAIGC lost power for the first time. Their candidate, Malam Bacai Sanhá, lost the presidential election. The PAIGC also became the third-largest party in the National People's Assembly.

The 2004 elections saw the PAIGC become the largest party again. They won 45 out of 100 seats. In May 2004, their leader, Carlos Gomes Júnior, became Prime Minister. In the 2005 presidential election, Malam Bacai Sanhá lost to Vieira. Vieira had returned from exile and ran as an independent.

Vieira later fired Carlos Gomes Júnior as Prime Minister. He appointed Aristides Gomes, who had left the PAIGC to support Vieira.

In March 2007, the PAIGC formed an alliance with two other parties. They wanted to form a new government. This led to a vote against Aristides Gomes, and he resigned. Martinho Ndafa Kabi was appointed Prime Minister. A new government was formed with ministers from the three parties.

The PAIGC later withdrew its support for Kabi in February 2008. They said it was to keep unity in the party. The PAIGC's seventh meeting was held in June 2008. Carlos Gomes Júnior was re-elected as President of PAIGC.

After Kabi fired some officials without telling the party, the PAIGC left the alliance. Vieira then fired Kabi and appointed Carlos Correia as Prime Minister. In the parliamentary elections in November 2008, the PAIGC won two-thirds of the seats. In the presidential elections the next year, Sanhá won.

After Sanhá's death in January 2012, early presidential elections were held. Carlos Gomes Júnior was the PAIGC candidate. He made it to the final round. But a military coup in April stopped the election.

General elections were held in 2014. PAIGC candidate José Mário Vaz was elected president. The party also kept its majority in the National People's Assembly. They won 57 out of 102 seats.

The party took part in the 2023 legislative election. They were part of a large group called the Inclusive Alliance Platform – Terra Ranka. This group won most of the seats.

Election Results

Presidential Elections

Election	Party candidate	Votes	%	Votes	%	Result
Election	Party candidate	First round		Second round		Result
1994	João Bernardo Vieira	142,577	46.20%	161,083	52.02%	Elected Y
1999–2000	Malam Bacai Sanhá	86,724	23.37%	97,670	28.0%	Lost
2005		158,276	35.45%	196,759	47.65%	Lost
2009		133,786	37.54%	224,259	63.31%	Elected Y
2012	Carlos Gomes Júnior	154,797	48.97%	–		Cancelled
2014	José Mário Vaz	257,572	40.89%	364,394	61.92%	Elected Y
2019	Domingos Simões Pereira	222,870	40.13%	254,468	46.45%	Lost

National People's Assembly

Election	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Government
1976–77	136,022	80.04%	150 / 150	New	1st	Sole legal party
1984			150 / 150	0	1st	Sole legal party
1989	214,201	95.80%	150 / 150	0	1st	Sole legal party
1994	134,982	46.39%	62 / 100	88	1st	Majority
1999			24 / 102	38	3rd	Opposition
2004	145,316	33.88%	45 / 100	21	1st	Coalition
2008	227,350	49.52%	67 / 100	22	1st	Majority
2014	281,408	47.98%	57 / 102	10	1st	Majority
2019	212,148	35.22%	47 / 102	10	1st	Coalition (2019–2020)
2019	212,148	35.22%	47 / 102	10	1st	Opposition (2020–2023)
2023	Part of Inclusive Alliance Platform				1st	Coalition