JOSE MARIO VAZ

José Mário Vaz, commonly known as "Jomav," was born in 1957 in Calequisse, near Cacheu in northern Guinea-Bissau. He pursued his education in Lisbon, where he graduated as an economist. His early career included an internship at the Office of Economic Studies at the Banco de Portugal in 1982. Vaz is married and has three children.

Vaz’s political career began in 2004 when he was elected mayor of Bissau, a role he held until 2009. During his tenure, he earned a reputation as a committed public servant. In 2009, President Malam Bacai Sanhá appointed him as the country's minister of finance, where he served until a military coup ousted the government in 2012. After the coup, he fled to Portugal but returned in 2013, where he faced accusations of involvement in the disappearance of €9.1 million in aid from Angola. Vaz consistently denied the charges, and the matter remained unresolved.

In 2014, Vaz ran for president as the candidate for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). He won the first round of the election in April with 40.9% of the vote and proceeded to a runoff against Nuno Gomes Nabiam. Vaz won the second round decisively, securing 61.9% of the vote, and was inaugurated on June 23, 2014. His presidency marked the end of a transitional government that had been in place since the 2012 coup.

During his presidency, Vaz promised to prioritize poverty reduction and investment in agriculture while addressing Guinea-Bissau’s reputation as a hub for drug trafficking. Despite facing political challenges, including a crisis with Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira, Vaz became the first president of Guinea-Bissau since independence to complete a full five-year term.

Vaz’s time in office was not without controversy, as drug trade continued to affect the country, and his sacking of the government triggered political instability. He also engaged in discussions with international organizations, including the International Monetary Fund, to address the nation’s economic issues.

After completing his term in June 2019, Vaz briefly stayed in office until the 2019 elections. Running as an independent, he garnered only 12% of the vote in the first round and did not advance further.

Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_M%C3%A1rio_Vaz