Fernando Dias
Fernando Dias da Costa | |
|---|---|
| President-elect of Guinea-Bissau | |
| In office Never Sworn-in | |
| Vice-President of the National People's Assembly | |
| In office 27 July 2023 – 4 December 2023 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 or 1978 (age 47–48) |
| Party | Independent |
| Education | Faculdade de Direito de Bissau |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Fernando Dias da Costa (born 1977 or 1978) is a Bissau-Guinean politician and lawyer. He was one of two major candidates in the 2025 Guinea-Bissau general election, running as an independent. He has served as vice-president of the National People's Assembly and as president of the Party for Social Renewal (PSR).
Biography
Dias was born in 1977 or 1978, and is from Guinea-Bissau.[1][2] He graduated from the Faculdade de Direito de Bissau in Guinea-Bissau and afterwards entered law.[2] He later entered politics, and by 2020, he was serving as the Minister of Territorial Administration and Local Power in the government of Nuno Gomes Nabiam.[3] Following the 2023 Guinea-Bissau parliamentary election, in which the Inclusive Alliance Platform – Terra Ranka won the most seats, Dias was named vice-president of the National People's Assembly.[4] In December 2023, the parliament was dissolved by president Umaro Sissoco Embaló, a member of the opposing Madem G15 party, who refused to let the parliament sit afterwards.[5]
After the death of Alberto Nambeia, Dias was named interim president of the Party for Social Renewal (PSR).[6] In June 2024, he was elected the new president of the PSR.[7] In 2025, Dias announced his candidacy in the 2025 Guinea-Bissau general election, running as an independent against incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló.[8][9] Viewed as a political outsider and "relatively unknown," he emerged as Embaló's top challenger after former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira and his party were banned from running for office by the Supreme Court.[10] Dias received the endorsement of Pereira's party prior to the election.[11]
On 24 November 2025, a day after the election took place, both Dias and Embaló declared themselves as the victor, with the official results having been planned to be published by the national electoral commission on 27 November.[12] However, a military coup broke out on 26 November, resulting in the reported arrest of Dias and several other politicians including Embaló.[13] Dias later released a video saying that he had escaped and vowed to resist the coup.[14] He later fled to the Nigerian embassy and was granted protection by the Nigerian government.[15]
References
- ^ "Biografia" [Biography]. DiasPresidente.com (in Portuguese). Retrieved 25 November 2025.
- ^ a b "PRS denuncia "falta de seriedade" das autoridades guineenses sobre a marcação de legislativas antecipadas" [PRS denounces "lack of seriousness" from Guinean authorities regarding the scheduling of early legislative elections] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 15 November 2022.
- ^ Ampa, Aguinaldo (13 March 2020). "MINISTRO DA ADMINISTRAÇÃO TERRITORIAL SUSPENDE ATUAL DIREÇÃO DA CÂMARA MUNICIPAL DE BISAAU" [Minister of Territorial Administration Suspends Current Board of Directors of the Bissau Municipal Chamber]. O Democrata GB (in Portuguese).
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau Votes for President in Election Seen as Test for Stability". Agence Ecofin. 24 November 2025.
- ^ Magee, Caolán (25 November 2025). "Guinea-Bissau rivals Embalo, Dias claim win in presidential election". Al Jazeera Media Network.
- ^ Sigá, Braima (5 July 2024). ""ATO ADMINISTRATIVO PROFERIDO POR LIMA ANDRÉ NÃO TEM PERNAS PARA ANDAR", diz Fernando Dias" ["The administrative act issued by Lima André has no legs to stand on," says Fernando Dias.] (in Portuguese). Rádio Sol Mansi.
- ^ Baldé, Mussá (29 June 2024). "Guiné-Bissau: Congresso extraordinário elege Fernando Dias presidente do PRS" [Guinea-Bissau: Extraordinary Congress Elects Fernando Dias as President of the PRS] (in French). Radio France Internationale. Archived from the original on 2025-11-25 – via archive.today.
- ^ Correia, Hugo (23 September 2025). "Fernando Dias da Costa é o candidato presidencial da API "Cabas Garandi"" [Fernando Dias da Costa is the presidential candidate of the API "Cabas Garandi"] (in French). Radio France Internationale.
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau: Dias da Costa claims lead, awaiting official results". Financial Afrik. 25 November 2025.
- ^ "Guinea-Bissau, beset by coups, votes in contentious presidential election". Al Jazeera Media Network. 23 November 2025.
- ^ "Main opposition candidates in Guinea-Bissau's presidential election". Reuters. 19 November 2025.
- ^ Dabo, Alberto (November 24, 2025). "Guinea-Bissau challenger, incumbent both claim victory in presidential vote". Reuters.
- ^ "Guinée-Bissau : le président Embaló arrêté, des militaires disent « prendre le contrôle total du pays »". Jeune Afrique (in French). 26 November 2025.
- ^ "General Horta N'Tam sworn in as Guinea-Bissau transitional leader following coup". France 24. 27 November 2025.
- ^ "A West African bloc delegation says talks with Guinea-Bissau coup leaders will continue". AP News. 2 December 2025.