From the archive

Black revolt

Nov 22nd 1980
From The Economist print edition

IN coup-prone Africa the safest rulers are normally those with the cachet of being the "historic leader" of the revolutionary movement that gained the country its independence. But this was not enough to save Guinea-Bissau's leader, President Luiz Cabral. He was overthrown on November 14th by his prime minister, Major Joao Bernardo Vieira, in a near-bloodless coup. Mr Cabral was one of the founders of the African Independence party, the PAIGC, which fought the Portuguese both in Guinea-Bissau and in the nearby Cape Verde islands, and he was the half-brother of its leader, Amilcar Cabral, who was assassinated in 1973. When Portugal recognised Guinea-Bissau's independence in September, 1974, Mr Cabral became the new state's natural leader.

The revolutionary council that has now taken over the country is entirely made up of black Guineans. This is one clue to the reason for the coup. Mr Cabral and the majority of his ministers were half-castes and their families originated from the Cape Verde islands. Half-caste Cape Verdeans dominated the PAIGC, and the Cape Verdean colony in Guinea-Bissau has played the major role in the country's affairs. The PAIGC is the sole political party in both states and its declared aim is to work towards the unification of the two countries. Guinea-Bissau's indigenous blacks viewed the future glumly.

The other reason for Major Vieira's action was his fear that his own role in the ruling hierarchy was to be cut down. On November 10th a new constitution was adopted making the president the executive head of the government and rescinding the powers of the prime minister. In the capital, Bissau, the takeover is reported to have met—predictably enough—a general welcome.

Major Vieira is something of a folk hero himself. He was the best known of the PAIGC's guerrilla leaders, earning the nickname "General Nino". After independence he was appointed commander of the armed forces and later he became president of the national assembly. Mr Cabral named him to succeed Francisco Mendes as prime minister after Mendes was killed in a road accident in 1978.

Guinea-Bissau's coup appears to have killed the idea of union with Cape Verde. The foreign minister, Mr Victor Saude Maria, who has retained his post, said at the weekend that Guinea-Bissau would continue its non-aligned policy, and wished to maintain its good relations with its neighbours and particularly with Portugal. But there is likely to be a subtle shift. President Sekou Touré of Guinea-Conakry welcomed Major Vieira's takeover and immediately recognised his government. Mr Sekou Touré, who gave the PAIGC unstinted support during its war against the Portuguese, had been disappointed that Mr Cabral's government had leaned closer to its other neighbour, Senegal, than to Guinea-Conakry. Relations between these two Guineas have been made more difficult by a dispute over their boundaries, particularly in the offshore area where there could be considerable oil deposits.

No mention has been made of the PAIGC in any of the new regime's pronouncements. It seems likely that Major Viera will want to found another party with no links to the PAIGC in Cape Verde. The Portuguese government will watch to see whether such a party wikll orientate itself along more Marxist lines, which had become less and less distinct under Mr Cabral's leadership. Relations between Portugal and both Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde have become increasingly friendly. Cuban and East German advisers have been in Guinea-Bissau for some years, but their number is thought to have been reduced recently. Senegal's President Senghor is certain to react strongly if Major Vieira invites more Cubans in.