National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe
Encyclopedia
The National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe (FRNSTP) was a political party founded in 1981 by São Toméan
exiles who opposed the socialist
policies of the single party
Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe
(MLSTP) government, and sought its overthrow.
Based in Gabon
under the leadership of Carlos da Graça
, the movement was expelled from the country in 1986 as relations between Gabon and São Tomé improved. Carlos da Graça ceased to be a member and remained in Gabon, before returning to São Tomé and becoming foreign minister. The major part of the FRNSTP moved to Lisbon
, Portugal
, formed a coalition with the Independent Democratic Union of São Tomé and Príncipe
(UDISTP), and agreed to seek political changes by non-violent means. A small faction of the FRNSTP, led by Monso dos Santos, refused to give up the idea of armed struggle as a means of overthrowing the São Tomé regime and moved to Cameroon
, taking the name of National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe-Renewal
(FRNSTP-R).
São Tomé and Príncipe
São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about apart and about , respectively, off...
exiles who opposed the socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...
policies of the single party
Single-party state
A single-party state, one-party system or single-party system is a type of party system government in which a single political party forms the government and no other parties are permitted to run candidates for election...
Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe
Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe
The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party or Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe/Partido Social Democrata, in Portuguese, is one of the main political parties in São Tomé and Príncipe...
(MLSTP) government, and sought its overthrow.
Based in Gabon
Gabon
Gabon , officially the Gabonese Republic is a state in west central Africa sharing borders with Equatorial Guinea to the northwest, Cameroon to the north, and with the Republic of the Congo curving around the east and south. The Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean is to the west...
under the leadership of Carlos da Graça
Carlos da Graça
Carlos Alberto Monteiro Dias da Graça is a former prime minister of São Tomé and Príncipe. He held the post from 25 October 1994 to 15 August 1995. A short lived military coup d'état temporarily deposed the elected government from 15 August 1995 to 21 August 1995. Civilian rule was restored on 21...
, the movement was expelled from the country in 1986 as relations between Gabon and São Tomé improved. Carlos da Graça ceased to be a member and remained in Gabon, before returning to São Tomé and becoming foreign minister. The major part of the FRNSTP moved to Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
, Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, formed a coalition with the Independent Democratic Union of São Tomé and Príncipe
Independent Democratic Union of São Tomé and Príncipe
The Independent Democratic Union of São Tomé and Príncipe was a political party formed by São Toméan exiles based in Portugal who opposed the socialist policies of the single party Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe government.In 1986, another São Toméan exiled opposition party,...
(UDISTP), and agreed to seek political changes by non-violent means. A small faction of the FRNSTP, led by Monso dos Santos, refused to give up the idea of armed struggle as a means of overthrowing the São Tomé regime and moved to Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
, taking the name of National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe-Renewal
National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe-Renewal
The National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe-Renewal was a political movement of São Toméan exiles who opposed the socialist policies of the single party Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe government, and sought its overthrow...
(FRNSTP-R).