Coup Attempt led by Major Fernando Pereira

The political landscape of São Tomé and Príncipe witnessed a dramatic shift when the military temporarily seized control of the government. The nation's armed forces cited widespread corruption and the inequitable distribution of expected oil revenues as the primary reasons for their intervention. This period of military rule lasted for one week. Background tensions had been rising due to the discovery of potential oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea, which promised significant revenue for the small island nation. However, there were concerns regarding how these revenues would be managed. The President, Fradique de Menezes, faced criticism from various sectors that the prospective oil wealth would not benefit the population equitably and that corrupt practices were undermining governance. The army's coup was brief but significant. Local and international response was swift as regional and global organizations, including the African Union and the United Nations, condemned the takeover. International diplomatic pressure played a crucial role in the subsequent negotiations which led to the restoration of civilian government. Following intense discussions, President de Menezes was reinstated. In the aftermath, there were commitments made to address the underlying issues of corruption and equitable distribution of resources that had triggered the coup. This event underscored the delicate balance between military influence and civilian governance in São Tomé and Príncipe and highlighted the potential for resource wealth to destabilize politically fragile states if not managed transparently and fairly. #MilitaryCoup #PoliticalInstability #SãoToméAndPríncipe #OilRevenues #Governance #Corruption #MoofLife