Francisco Mendes

Francisco Mendes, "nom de guerre" Chico Té (February 7, 1939 – July 7, 1978) was a Guinea-Bissau politician. He was the country's first Prime Minister and held that position from 24 September 1973 until his assassination on July 7 1978 under suspictious circumstances."'

In early 1960s PAIGC launched an armed struggle against Portuguese imperialism which would last more than a decade. After negotiations between Portugal and PAIGC in early 1974, Portugal granted independence to Guinea Bissau despite PAIGC having declared unilateral independence nearly a year prior.

The PAIGC-led government was headed by Luis Cabral, half-brother of the PAIGC co-founder Amilcar Cabral whose assassination in Conakry in January 20, 1973 remains a mystery. Francisco Mendes was appointed the country's first Prime Minister and in this role in the newly UN-member, Francisco Mendes was responsible for a series of Socialism-inspired development programs, and a four-year strive toward national reconciliation.

Although the causes behind his death on July 7 1978 are still disputed, it is mostly accepted that PAIGC was involved in it. A widely accepted theory - though unverifiable as of 2006 - is that dissent among PAIGC leadership may have led to his assassination.

As an African nationalist and a national figure in the struggle for independence, Francisco Mendes has been honoured both in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde. In addition to his face being featured in 100 Pesos Guineense, many schools and streets bearing his name can be seen throughout Guinea-Bissau, and Francisco Mendes International Airport in Praia, Cape Verde was named in his honour.

He left four children behind: Osvaldo Mendes, Valentina Mendes, Fanta Luiza Mendes, and Abel Augusto Mendes.

Links

* [http://www.pjsymes.com.au/articles/Guinea-Bissau.htm Short biography]