A ranking published by Africa Trendy reveals how the richest people in São Tomé and Príncipe, where the country’s former President, Manuel Pinto da Costa, leads, without, however, advancing the value of his fortune
An economist by profession, Manuel Pinto da Costa is a prominent figure in Sao Tome politics, having been the first President of the Republic in the country’s history as an independent nation, from 1975 to 1991. He returned to the seat of power from 2011 to 2016.
Born 83 years ago in Água Grande, Pinto da Costa ruled the country with an iron fist. He studied in former East Germany and speaks Portuguese and German fluently. He actively participated in the country’s independence process. Even so, on January 31, 1986 he was awarded the Grande-Colar of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique, in Portugal.
Manuel Pinto da Costa maintains a very close personal relationship with the former President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, who comes from his youth.
In second place is Evaristo do Espírito Santo Carvalho. Born in Santana 78 years ago, the current President of the Republic of the country, elected in 2016, was previously prime minister on two occasions (July 7, 1994 to October 25, 1994 and September 26, 2001 to March 28, 2002). He is a member of the Independent Democratic Action (ADI).
Patrice Trovoada ends the podium. Born 58 years ago in Libreville, capital of Gabon, he is the son of former President of the Republic Miguel Trovoada. A career diplomat, Patrice was Prime Minister of São Tomé and Príncipe on three occasions (from February to June 2008, from August 2010 to December 2012 and from November 2014 to December 2018).
Affiliated with ADI, Trovoada was the first head of government of the democratic period to end a government period without being overthrown. He was also Minister of Foreign Affairs from September 2001 to February 2002 and advisor to the former President of the Republic Fradique de Menezes.
Father Miguel appears in the fourth position. At 83, and removed from politics, he was President of the country from 1991 to 2001. Born in the city of São Tomé, he studied in Angola and Portugal. In 1960, together with Manuel Pinto da Costa, he founded the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe. In 2008, he became Executive Secretary of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
Miguel Trovoada is one of the biggest names in the recent history of São Tomé and Príncipe. He was also prime minister from 1975 to 1979. He was awarded the Grande-Colar of the Order of Liberty, in Portugal, on October 12, 1992.
In the fifth place in the ranking comes the current prime minister of the country, Jorge Bom Jesus. A trained linguist, the politician, also known as JBJ, is a member of the Liberation Movement of São Tomé and Príncipe / Social Democratic Party (MLSTP / PSD) and leader of the opposition to Patrice Trovoada, whom he followed as leader of the government of the country in 2018.
Born in Água Grande 58 years ago, JBJ made a career as an academic alongside his interventional role as a politician. Studied in São Tomé and Príncipe, France and Portugal. He graduated in French and Portuguese literature, with a master’s degree in Portuguese and a specialization in African literature from the University of Toulouse, in France. He specialized in the University of Porto and did his PhD in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Fradique de Menezes occupies the sixth position. The son of a Portuguese man and a woman from São Tomé, he was born in 1942 in the then colonial Água Telha. He was President of the Republic of the country from 2001 to 2011.
Entrepreneur, Fradique de Menezes came to power with the Democratic Movement of Forces of Change (MDFM) and went through a curious episode as a statesman. In July 2003, during an official visit to Nigeria, Sao Tome military officer Fernando Pereira tried to overthrow him with the coup, but Fradique de Menezes managed to regain his position days later, after agreement.
The seventh place is occupied by the politician Gabriel Costa. Born 66 years ago, he was Prime Minister of the country on two occasions: in 2002 and then, between 2012 and 2014, representing ADI, first, and the Democratic Union for Citizenship and Development, later.
Maria das Neves is the first woman in the top 10 of the richest in São Tomé and Príncipe. She was Prime Minister of the country from October 2002 to September 2004. Militant of MLSTP / PSD, she was born 62 years ago.
He graduated as an economist at the University of Havana, Cuba, specializing in public finance. In 2016 she was president of the Organization of Women of São Tomé and Príncipe, having also been vice-president of the National Assembly. He also worked for the World Bank and UNICEF.
Maria das Neves is also a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of current and former presidents and prime ministers.
In the ninth position another woman appears. Elsa Teixeira Pinto was Minister of Justice and Defense, and is currently the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country.
In 2013 she was Attorney General of São Tomé and Príncipe in 2013 and ended up exonerated by a presidential decree for having issued a check for $ 15,000 without coverage due to issues related to the 2011 presidential elections.
The last place in the ranking is occupied by Joaquim Rafael Branco. The 67-year-old president of MLSTP / PSD was Prime Minister of the country between 2008 and 2010. He also served the country as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Public Works.
Africa Trendy is a digital media company for opinion-based rankings and crowdsourcing on just about everything.
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