He has been the President of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) since 2002[needs update] and is widely known as "Cadogo".

[1] He resigned as prime minister on 10 February 2012 to run in the presidential election triggered by President Malam Bacai Sanhá's death on 9 January.

In the National People's Assembly, he also served as Chairman of the Committee for Economic Affairs and President of the Administrative Council.

[5] After Vieira's election, Gomes initially refused to recognize the result, but he also moved away from his earlier threat to resign.

Following the failure of a coup plot in 2008, Rear Admiral Bubo Na Tchuto escaped to Gambia where he was arrested.

Simultaneously, forty military officers, including the head of Guinea-Bissau's armed forces, were held at an army base.

Prior to the a second round, a coup against the civilian government resulted in a military takeover of the capital, Bissau, amid reports that he was killed.

The Chairperson of the African Union Jean Ping issued a statement rejecting the coup and demanded the release of Pereira and Gomes.

The United Nations Security Council issued a statement saying that they "strongly condemn the forcible seizure of power".