[1] He was born as Manuel Maria Monteiro Santos in São Vicente, Cape Verde, on 30 October 1942.

[2] He was trained in military academies in Cuba and USSR, and became artillery commander in the war for independence.

[2] He led the group of guerrillas who used Strela anti-aircraft missiles against the Portuguese aircraft.

[2] Even though fellow Cape Verdean Luís Cabral was ousted in the 1980 coup, Manecas remained in Guinea-Bissau and its politics.

After the 2005 re-election of João Bernardo Vieira as president, Manecas resumed his business activities.