Carlos Gomes Júnior

Carlos Gomes Júnior served as the prime minister of Guinea-Bissau. He stepped down in February 2012 to run for president as the candidate for the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC). Gomes Júnior received the most votes in the March 2012 presidential election but did not secure a majority, leading to a scheduled runoff. Before this runoff could occur, a military coup on April 12, 2012, led to his arrest along with interim president Raimundo Perreira. The coup leaders stated their actions were to prevent foreign aggression and to counter plans to downsize the military. Both Gomes Júnior and Perreira were later released and flown out of the country.12