Guinea-Bissau’s President Malam Bacai Sanha died in a hospital in Paris of diabetes complications on Monday as a new presidential election was planned in three months, according to a statement released by Guinea-Bissau’s presidency. The statement said that the 64-year-old president, who has been hospitalized by the French Val de Grace hospital since August 31 last year, died on Monday morning.
It said a presidential is planned to be held in three months, during which the head of the country’s National Assembly Raimundo Pereira will take over as the acting president of Guinea-Bissau. Sanha, a diabetic, has been in poor health and frequently hospitalized abroad since he won the presidential election in 2009 after the assassination of former president Nino Vieira and ex- army chief Batista Tagm na Wai in March of the year.
The military of Guinea-Bissau foiled a coup attempt in the West African country last month, the latest mutiny attempt in the West African nation with a population of 1.7 million, killing one and arresting around 30 others.
Sanha lapsed into a coma at that time before a statement from the country’s foreign ministry said that after a 48-hour coma, the president has been out of danger and was getting better. It said Sanha left the emergency ward after that.
The opposition aired its concerns over Guinea-Bissau’s security situation, cautioning a power vacuum.
Full Article: Guinea-Bissau president dies，new election planned|Asia-Pacific|chinadaily.com.cn.
