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February 2014 Mutiny

On 20 February 2014 Justino Lima replaced Brigadier Felisberto Segundo as Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Sao Tome and Principe, following the acts of insubordination which occurred on 10 and 12 February 2014, which prevented the military to provide state honors to the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, in his visit to the Republic of Congo and return to the country. Felisberto According admitted he should have done more: "There was a mutiny on our military institution, which for me is very serious and it is unacceptable. As Chief, I can not live with this situation. The indiscipline took care of the house for many years. It is necessary to heal and each must begin to assume its responsibilities," he said.

In February 2014 resolutions of the Supreme National Defence Council directed the Government to quickly implement a review of the current structure of the armed forces, reframing it in order to suit the reality of the country. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Sao Tome and Principe has been installed in a private residence since the year 2012, in San Gabriel area, representing a financial burden on the state coffers with the payment of monthly income. The Superior Council of National Defense, decided on the " immediate transfer of Staff of the Armed Forces to the Headquarters. The review of the current structure of the armed forces in order to resize so it suits the reality of the country". Measures according to the Superior Council of National Defense aimed at restoring order in the Headquarters.

The behavior of army soldiers who refused military honors to the President and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is worthy of condemnation. "The behavior assumed by the military said violates the law and the rules of military discipline. Also calls into question the principles inherent in the constitution of the republic regarding the preservation of peace, stability and security in the country." Having the law and the rules of military discipline was violated, it appears that responsibilities will be cleared. Colonel João Bexigas, as secretary of the National Defense Council, said the military leadership and the government through the ministry of defense have the responsibilities to establish internal order.

Violations of the laws of the military, the Supreme Council of National Defence, concluded that there are remunerative and social nature problems "that are legitimately raised by the various military classes and that attention should be paid to the competent authorities." So it announced the "adoption of a new salary scale based on the proposal presented by the largest state, aiming to correct any discrepancies in the existing remuneration system and the improvement of working conditions in the institution". The class of sergeants, deserved special attention from the Supreme Council of National Defence. Sergeants are one of the key pieces in the military. It is they who actually direct and command the soldiers on a daily basis.