Aristide Menezes (1947 – 7 February 1994) was a political figure in Guinea-Bissau who led the Democratic Front, the first opposition party to be legalized. He died leaving his wife and seven children behind.

Menezes helped organize the first public protests after President Joao Bernardo Vieira seized control in 1980 in a coup against the country's first post-independence government, which had ruled since 1975.

He died after a long illness in Lisbon, Portugal.

Mr. Menezes was influential in organizing the first public protests against the military Government of President Joao Bernardo Vieira, who seized control in 1980 in a coup against the country's first post-independence government.

In 1991 Mr. Menezes founded the Democratic Front, the first opposition party to be recognized by the Vieira Government.

Guinea-Bissau, which lies between Senegal and Guinea on the West African coast, is to hold its first general elections on March 27. The country gained independence from Portugal in 1975.