Sao Tome and Principe 2014

Yearbook 2014

São Tomé and Principe. In January, the country’s health minister Leonel Pontes was fired by President Manuel Pinto da Costa. Sao Tome and Principe population in 2020 is estimated at 219,170. Pontes was accused of using Taiwanese aid money for his own use, but also for donating money to his family members. In total, this amounted to USD 1,700. Later that month, the government was reformed on a proposal by Prime Minister Gabriel Ferreira da Costa, and nine new ministers were appointed.

In February, the country’s army chief Felisberto Maria Segundo resigned. The message came after a few weeks of concern in the military when about 300 sub-commanders went on strike for higher wages and better living conditions. In addition, the Presidential Guard refused to serve at the airport when Pinto da Costa was on a state visit. The situation raised fears that the military would again try to seize power in the country. Segundo was replaced by Colonel Justino Lima.

According to topb2bwebsites, in the parliamentary elections held in October, the party got its own majority ADI (Independent Democratic Action) with 33 out of 55 seats. This meant that Patrice Trovoada, who was prime minister in 2008 and 2010-12, could form a government for the third time. The Alliance MLSTP-PSD (Freedom Movement for São Tomé and the Príncipe Social Democratic Party) became second largest with 16 parliamentary seats and PCD (Party for Democratic Assembly) was given 5 seats.