Henrique Rosa

Henrique Rosa
President of Guinea-Bissau Acting
In office 28 September 2003 – 1 October 2005
Prime Minister	Artur Sanhá Carlos Gomes
Preceded by	Veríssimo Correia Seabra (Chairman of the Military Committee for the Restoration of Constitutional and Democratic Order)
Succeeded by	João Bernardo Vieira
Personal details
Born	18 January 1946 Bafatá, Guinea-Bissau
Died	15 May 2013 (aged 67) Porto, Portugal
Political party	Independent

Henrique Pereira Rosa (18 January 1946 – 15 May 2013) was a politician from Guinea-Bissau who served as interim President of Guinea-Bissau from 2003 to 2005. He was born in 1946 in Bafatá.^[1]

Interim President of Guinea-Bissau

Rosa served as the interim President of Guinea-Bissau from 28 September 2003^[2] until 1 October 2005. His appointment came following a 14 September military coup that deposed the elected government of President Kumba Ialá and subsequent talks between political officials, civil society leaders, and the Military Committee for the Restitution of Constitutional and Democratic Order, led by Veríssimo Correia Seabra.

The main goal of the Rosa-led caretaker government was to administer elections that would return the country to constitutional, democratic rule. This was achieved in March 2004 with the holding of a free and fair legislative election. A presidential election held in June and July 2005 was also considered democratic and transparent. The latter election was won by João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira, who had previously been President from 1980 to 1999; Rosa was not a candidate.

Also during this two-year period, Rosa's government managed to bring a level of political stability to Guinea-Bissau along with notable improvements in the country's human rights record.

Resignation and subsequent political activity

Rosa handed over power to Vieira on 1 October 2005.

Rosa stood as an independent candidate in the June 2009 presidential election,^[3] finishing in third place.

Death

On 15 May 2013, Rosa died at a hospital in Porto, in northern Portugal, after losing a nine month battle with lung cancer. He was 67 years old.^[4]

References

2. "Guinea-Bissau: New prime minister promises government of civilians, politicians", Lusa (nl.newsbank.com), 29 September 2003.
3. "Guinea-Bissau candidates keep it low-key after killings", AFP, 10 June 2009.
4. "Guinea-Bissau’s former interim president Rosa dies". 98.4 Capital FM. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.