The President of Sao Tomé and Príncipe appointed Ilza Amado Vaz as Prime Minister on Thursday, according to a decree published three days after the dismissal of the previous head of government for his "inability" to address the issues facing this small African archipelago and his "frequent" absences.
"Ilza Maria dos Santos Amado Vaz is hereby appointed Prime Minister and Head of Government," stated the decree signed on Thursday by President Carlos Vila Nova.
Previously serving as Minister of Justice, Public Administration, and Human Rights in the outgoing government, she now becomes the third woman in the archipelago's history to hold the position of Prime Minister.
On Tuesday, the President dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada and his government, citing their "notable inability" to "provide solutions" to the country’s challenges amid the "magnitude of existing problems" and the "frequent and prolonged absences of the Prime Minister (...) from national territory."
Patrice Trovoada condemned the decision, calling it "politically motivated" and unconstitutional, arguing that it violated the established provisions for dissolving the government.
