Prior to the victory of former president
Vieira in the
mid-2005 presidential election, Gomes said that he would resign if Vieira was elected, referring to the latter as a "bandit and mercenary who betrayed his own people". After Vieira's election, Gomes initially refused to recognize the result, but he also moved away from his earlier threat to resign. Vieira took office on 1 October 2005, and almost two weeks later he and Gomes had a meeting, with Gomes anticipating that the two would be able to work together. However, on 28 October Vieira announced the dissolution of Gomes's government, and a long-time ally of Vieira,
Aristides Gomes, was appointed prime minister on 2 November 2005. Following the assassination of former navy commander
Mohamed Lamine Sanha in early January 2007, Gomes accused Vieira of involvement in the killing in an interview with
Lusa on January 8. A warrant was issued for Gomes's arrest on January 10, and when police tried to arrest him later that day he fled and took refuge in the
United Nations building in
Bissau. A spokesman for Gomes said that it would be unconstitutional to arrest him because he enjoyed immunity as a member of the National People's Assembly. A presidential spokesman accused Gomes of trying to destabilize the country. Gomes left the UN building on January 29, after the arrest warrant was dropped. According to Gomes, he was misquoted in the interview that led to the arrest warrant. An investigating judge said that Gomes had not provided any proof for his claim of Vieira's involvement, and on December 20, 2007, it was announced that Gomes had been charged with false testimony and slandering the
head of state. Gomes sought re-election as President of PAIGC at the party's Seventh Ordinary Congress in June–July 2008.
Malam Bacai Sanhá, the party's presidential candidate in 2000 and 2005, challenged Gomes for the party leadership, but Gomes was re-elected at the end of the congress on July 1–2, receiving 578 votes against 355 for Sanhá. Following the election, Vieira appointed Gomes as prime minister on December 25, 2008. Gomes said on this occasion that his government would focus on "
good governance and a reform of the justice system" and that he and Vieira would "put aside any personal differences" in order to work towards solving the country's problems.
2012 election and coup He resigned as prime minister on 10 February 2012 in order to run in the
presidential election. He won the first round and was due to face a runoff against
Mohamed Ialá Embaló. Prior to the a second round, a
coup against the civilian government resulted in a military takeover of the capital, Bissau, amid reports that he was killed. However, Gomes and President
Raimundo Pereira were arrested by the military as gunfire ensued in the capital of
Bissau. The Chairperson of the
African Union Jean Ping issued a statement rejecting the coup and demanded the release of Pereira and Gomes. The
United Nations Security Council issued a statement saying that they "strongly condemn the forcible seizure of power". On 27 April, the deposed leaders were freed and sent to the
Ivory Coast. == References ==