Kumba Ialá

Ialá was the head of a PAIGC delegation to Moscow in honor of the 70th anniversary of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, but in 1989 he was expelled from the party for demanding greater democratic reform.

Kumba Ialá Embaló, also spelled Yalá (15 March 1953 – 4 April 2014), was a Bissau-Guinean politician who was president from 17 February 2000 until he was deposed in a bloodless military coup on 14 September 2003.

He belonged to the Balanta ethnic group and was President of the Social Renewal Party (PRS).

Born to a farming family in Bula, Cacheu Region on 15 March 1953, Ialá became a militant member of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) during his teenage years.

The PAIGC sought independence from Portuguese colonial rule.

He studied theology at the Catholic University of Portugal, in Lisbon, and then philosophy (not completed).

In Bissau, Ialá studied law at the Law School of the University Amílcar Cabral.

After completing his studies, he was appointed director of the National Lyceum Kwame N'Krumah, where he also taught Philosophy and Psychology.

He spoke Portuguese, Crioulo, Spanish, French and English and could read Latin, Greek and Hebrew.

In March 1991, alongside Rafael Barbosa, Ialá helped found the Democratic Social Front (FDS).

On 14 January 1992, Ialá left the FDS and formed the Social Renewal Party (PRS).

The first multiparty presidential election took place on 3 July 1994.

Incumbent president and PAIGC candidate João Bernardo "Nino" Vieira won 46.20% of the vote.

Ialá finished second, capturing 21.88% of the vote.

Since no candidate won the required 50% of the vote for an outright victory, a run-off was conducted on 7 August.

The opposition parties united behind Ialá, but Vieira nevertheless won by a 4% margin (52.02% to 47.98%).

Although the election was declared generally free and fair by election observers, Ialá contested the results, claiming intimidation of his supporters.

The Supreme Court rejected his claims and the results were validated.

On 20 August, he accepted the results, but announced that the PRS would not participate in the new government.

Ialá's relationship with General Ansumane Mané, the leader of the rebellion that had toppled Vieira in the 1998–99 civil war, was difficult.

On 28 November 1999, after a devastating civil war and the ousting of Vieira, a new presidential election was held.

In the first round, Kumba Ialá placed first with 38.81% of the vote, followed by interim president and PAIGC candidate, Malam Bacai Sanhá, who won 23.37%.

Ialá was briefly hospitalized on 29 December 1999 due to high blood pressure, shortly before campaigning for the second round was to begin.

He went to Lisbon for medical treatment on 30 December, and after returning to Guinea-Bissau in early January 2000, he launched his second round campaign on 9 January; he said that he was in good health and challenged Sanhá to a debate.

The second round, held on 16 January 2000, was easily won by Ialá, who received 72% of the vote.

He was sworn in as President of Guinea-Bissau on 17 February.

Ialá resigned as President of the PRS in May 2000, although he continued to play an influential role in the party.

Kumba Ialá's tenure as the country's head of state was characterized by sackings of ministers and other high officials.

Concerns about the government's financial management prompted protests, strikes and the suspension of International Monetary Fund aid.

Ialá attempted to promote a number of military officers in November 2000, but Mané said that Ialá's list of promotions was not the one Ialá had previously agreed to with Mané.

Mané announced that he was taking control of the armed forces, revoking Ialá's promotions and replacing the chief of staff, Veríssimo Correia Seabra.

An outbreak of fighting followed, and Mané was killed in a clash with government forces a week later, on 30 November.

Ialá did not veto or promulgate the draft constitution approved by the National Assembly in 2001, instead sending it back to parliament with recommendations for increased presidential powers.

Ialá's government claimed to have foiled a coup plot in early December 2001, although the opposition questioned its existence.

Various members of opposition parties were subsequently detained and held without charge.

In June 2002, he accused The Gambia of fomenting rebellion in Guinea-Bissau, a charge which the Gambian foreign ministry denied; Ialá even threatened an invasion of The Gambia.

Ialá dissolved parliament in November 2002, appointed Mário Pires as caretaker prime minister, and called early elections for February 2003.

In 2008 he converted to Islam and took the name Mohamed Ialá Embaló.

He was the founder of the Party for Social Renewal.

In 2014, Ialá died from a cardiopulmonary arrest.