President Malam Bacai Sanha died at Val - de - France Hospital in Paris on Monday . He became president in January 2009 in a runoff election . Sanha became president in September 2009 , months after the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira . Guinea - Bissau has been plagued by political instability , corruption and drug trafficking .
President Malam Bacai Sanha died at Val - de - France Hospital in Paris on Monday . He became president in January 2009 in a runoff election . Guinea - Bissau has been plagued by political instability , corruption and drug trafficking .