Aristides Pereira facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aristides Pereira
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Pereira during an official visit to the United States in 1983
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| 1st President of Cape Verde | |
| In office 8 July 1975 – 22 March 1991 |
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| Prime Minister | Pedro Pires |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | António Mascarenhas Monteiro |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 November 1923 Fundo das Figueiras, Boa Vista, Overseas Province of Cabo Verde, Portugal |
| Died | 22 September 2011 (aged 87) Coimbra, Portugal |
| Political party | African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (after 1981) |
| Other political affiliations |
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (before 1981) |
| Spouse | Carlina Fontes Pereira (?–2011; his death) |
Aristides Maria Pereira (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐɾiʃˈtidɨʒ mɐˈɾiɐ pɨˈɾejɾɐ]; 17 November 1923 – 22 September 2011) was an important politician from Cape Verde. He was the very first President of Cape Verde. He served in this role from 1975 to 1991.
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Who Was Aristides Pereira?
Aristides Pereira was born in Fundo das Figueiras, a place on the island of Boa Vista. His first job was working with telecommunications in Guinea-Bissau.
From the late 1940s, Pereira became very active in the movement to free Cape Verde from colonial rule. This was a time when many countries were fighting for their independence. He helped organize protests and rose through the ranks of his political group. This group was called the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). When he was working secretly, he often used the fake name Alfredo Bangura.
Leading Cape Verde
When Pereira became president, he aimed to lead a democratic and socialist country. Cape Verde had a good record for human rights compared to many other African nations. It was seen as quite democratic, even though there was only one main political party at first. This was partly because local citizen groups had a lot of power.
His government also managed to deal with a severe drought that affected the country. Cape Verde is one of the few African countries that never had the death penalty. In fact, it was officially banned there in 1983.
Changes and New Paths
At first, Pereira's party, PAIGC, wanted to unite Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. However, things changed in 1980. A military coup in Guinea-Bissau removed Luís Cabral, who was the president there and Pereira's ally.
Because of this, Pereira and his Prime Minister, Pedro Pires, ended their diplomatic ties with Guinea-Bissau. They also changed their political party's name to the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde. This removed the name of Guinea from it. Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde later became friends again in 1982. This happened after the president of Mozambique, Samora Machel, helped bring their leaders together.
Cape Verde became known for its peaceful politics. It later moved towards having many political parties in a very calm way. This was different from the constant instability in Guinea-Bissau.
Later Years and Legacy
During Pereira's time as president, Cape Verde followed a policy of non-alignment during the Cold War. This meant they did not take sides with either the United States or the Soviet Union. His government also made economic changes to help farmers. Pedro Pires was his prime minister for his entire presidency.
In February 1990, Pereira's party decided to allow more than one political party. Pereira then stepped down as the party's leader in July 1990. Pedro Pires took over that role. Pereira ran for president again in the February 1991 election. However, he was defeated by António Mascarenhas Monteiro.
Aristides Pereira passed away on September 22, 2011, while in a hospital in Portugal. To honor him, the Rabil Airport on Boa Vista island was officially renamed Aristides Pereira International Airport in November 2011. His wife, Carlina Pereira, who was the former First Lady and a key figure in the independence movement, died a few months later in December 2011.
See also
In Spanish: Aristides Pereira para niños
