Miguel Trovoada
Miguel Trovoada is a prominent Santomean politician who served as the country's first Prime Minister from 1975 to 1979 and later as the second President of São Tomé and Príncipe from 1991 to 2001. After his presidency, he held significant international roles, including as the executive secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission and later as the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS).
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MIGUEL TROVOADA
Miguel Trovoada, born on December 27, 1936, in São Tomé, is a prominent Santomean politician and lawyer who has played a significant role in the history of São Tomé and Príncipe. He began his academic journey by attending secondary school in Angola before pursuing legal studies at the University of Lisbon in Portugal. His political career took root in 1960 when he co-founded the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (CLSTP) alongside his former classmate, Manuel Pinto da Costa. The organization, later renamed the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP) in 1972, became instrumental in the country's fight for independence.
Trovoada was a key figure in gaining international recognition for the MLSTP, particularly from the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1972. His efforts culminated in São Tomé and Príncipe's independence from Portugal following the Carnation Revolution. On July 12, 1975, Trovoada was appointed as the country's first Prime Minister. However, his tenure was marked by tensions with President Manuel Pinto da Costa, leading to the abolition of the Prime Minister's office in March 1979. Shortly after, Trovoada was accused of plotting against the government, resulting in his arrest and 21 months of detention. Upon his release, he went into exile in France.
The political landscape in São Tomé and Príncipe shifted in 1990 with the adoption of a democratic constitution. Trovoada returned to his homeland and ran for president in the country's first multiparty presidential election in 1991. He emerged victorious, marking the beginning of his presidency. Although he initially ran as an independent, Trovoada later established the Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party and was re-elected in 1996. His presidency faced challenges, including a brief coup d'état from August 15 to August 21, 1995, which he successfully overcame.
Trovoada's presidency concluded on September 3, 2001, when Fradique de Menezes succeeded him as the new head of state. Beyond his presidency, Trovoada continued to contribute to regional politics, assuming the role of executive secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission on January 21, 2009. His legacy in Santomean politics is further carried on by his son, Patrice Trovoada, who has also served as Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe.
GOVERNING TIME LINE
Miguel Trovoada became the first Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe on July 12, 1975, after independence, but his tenure ended in March 1979 when the position was abolished amid tensions with President Pinto da Costa. After a period of exile, Trovoada returned and was elected President on April 3, 1991, in the country's first multiparty election. He was re-elected in 1996, and his presidency concluded on September 3, 2001, when Fradique de Menezes succeeded him.