維埃拉出生於葡屬幾內亞(現几内亚比绍)首都比索。他原任職電器技工。1960年,他加入几内亚和佛得角非洲独立黨(African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde,简称PAIGC),並于1961年起成為葡萄牙殖民地戰爭的關鍵人物。他也是佔約几内亚比绍人口5%的種族團體帕普(Papel)的成員之一。[1]
1999年5月6日,戰事出現突破性發展,維埃拉的軍隊於翌日突然宣佈投降[3][5]他在葡萄牙大使馆寻求避难,[5][6]及於同年6月被放逐葡萄牙。[6]5月12日,前總理馬瑙·薩端連奴·高士達(英语:Manuel Saturnino da Costa)成為PAIGC代主席。[7]維埃拉於同年9月被逐出PAIGC。[8]
2007年3月,PAIGC與社會革新黨(英语:Party for Social Renewal)(Party for Social Renewal,PRS)及社會聯合民主黨(英语:United Social Democratic Party)(United Social Democratic Party,PUSD)結成聯盟,尋求組成新政府,使維埃拉無把握擊敗戈梅斯。[14]4月9日,維埃拉委任馬蒂紐·恩達法·卡比成為總理。[15]在卡比聯盟政府中,只有內政大臣巴斯路·達寶(Baciro Dabo)獲考慮為維埃拉的同盟。[16]稍後,PAIGC退出三黨聯盟,抗議卡比的行動,令維埃拉解散人民力量組織,並在2008年8月5日委任卡洛斯·科里亞成為總理。[17]
^Howden, Daniel. President shot dead in palace as rebel troops take revenge. Independent. 2009-03-03 [2009-03-03]. (原始内容于2009-03-04).
^"Guinea-Bissau: President Vieira cleared to run for re-election", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), 14 May 1998.
^ 3.03.1"Loyalist troops capitulate" 互联网档案馆的,存档日期2008-03-19., IRIN, 7 May 1999.
^"Guinea-Bissau: Deputies call for Vieira's resignation", AFP (nl.newsbank.com), 27 November 1998.
^ 5.05.1"Guinea-Bissau palace ablaze" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), BBC News, 7 May 1999.
^ 6.06.1"Deposed Guinea-Bissau's president arrives in Portugal" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), BBC News, 11 June 1999.
^"Guinea-Bissau ex-president replaced as party leader", RTP Internacional TV (nl.newsbank.com), 12 May 1999.
^"GUINEA-BISSAU: PAIGC chooses new chairman, expels Vieira" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, 10 September 1999.
^"Nino Vieira returns from exile to a hero's welcome" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, 7 April 2005.
^ 10.010.1"Nino Vieira says he will contest presidential election" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, 18 April 2005.
^"Vieira and Yala cleared to contest June presidential election" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, 11 May 2005.
^Report of the Secretary-General on developments in Guinea-Bissau and on the activities of the United Nations Peacebuilding Support Office in Guinea-Bissau (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), United Nations Security Council, 2 December 2005.
^"President appoints controversial new prime minister" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, November 2, 2005.
^"Vieira rejects calls to dissolve government", AFP (IOL), 14 March 2007.
^"Guinea-Bissau appoints consensus premier" Archive.is的存檔,存档日期2012-05-26, Reuters (IOL), 10 April 2007.
^Alberto Dabo, "Guinea-Bissau's new government named", Reuters (IOL), 18 April 2007.
^"GUINEA-BISSAU: Uncertain future as President dissolves government" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), IRIN, 6 August 2008.
^"Guinea-Bissau president escapes coup attempt" (页面存档备份,存于互联网档案馆), Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), November 24, 2008.