Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president

Date: 12 Jul 1975
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president

After a brief period of transitional government Dr Manuel Pinto da Costa, the leader of the Committee for the Liberation of São Tomé and PrÁncipe(CLSTP) became the first president of the newly independent Democratic Republic of São Tomé and PrÁncipe. Two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, straddling the Equator, west of Gabon, formed the country. In 1972, the CLSTP changed its name to MLSTP. During the elections MLSTP won all 16 seats in the National Assembly. The constitution, which was promulgated on December 12, 1975, effectively vested absolute power in the President and the MLSTP became the nations' sole legal political party. Dr Manuel held the position until 1991, when his party suffered defeat in the first democratic election.

Search events by date

What happened on your birthday?

How we know this

01Manuel Pinto da Costa: website: wikipedia.org.
02This week in African history: website: africanhistory.about.com.

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012238

South African History Online (2011) 'Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012238 (Accessed: 22 August 2026).

South African History Online, Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012238, (accessed 22 August 2026).

"Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012238. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Manuel Pinto da Costa becomes the president." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012238.