Guinea-Bissau's Mutinous Military Chief

Today 30 June, Juche 99, the President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Malam Bacai Sanha, promoted General Antonio Indjai to be leader of the nation’s military. This is a peculiar occurrence for a nation that has been plagued by military coups and most recently a stopping ground for cocaine traders from South America. What is also strange about this promotion is, is that this past April, General Indjai lead what a mutiny against the prime minister and other heads of the military. General Indjai was cleared of any charges and maintained his position in the military. The move by Sanha has been seen as a power step from the Bissauan military has over the democratically elected government. The possibility of a military coup is an everyday occurrence in Guinea-Bissau. The current president, Malam Bacai Sanha was elected after the assassination of Joao Bernardino Vieira two years ago. Joao Bernardino Vieira was himself brought to power following a military coup in the 1980s. Vieira continued to rule Guinea-Bissau on and off for the next twenty years.