Challenger and incumbent in Guinea-Bissau both declare victory in the presidential election

Both the camp of President Umaro Sissoco Embalo and Fernando Dias, who is generally regarded as the front-runner in Guinea-Bissau’s presidential election, declared victory on Monday prior to the official results being released, claiming more than half of the vote.

Following Sunday’s referendum, in which the party that spearheaded the struggle for independence from Portugal was excluded for the first time, the dueling claims run the risk of intensifying conflict in the West African nation prone to coups. The African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) endorsed Dias.

A second round will be held if none of the presidential contenders receives more than 50% of the vote.

“The race for president has been won by us. “There won’t be a runoff,” Dias declared Monday at his campaign headquarters in Bissau’s capital. “My people were very tired and they need change at the top of the state.”

However, Embalo’s campaign spokesperson Oscar Barbosa declared at a separate press conference that Embalo had won and that a runoff would not be necessary.

“We urge our opponents to refrain from announcing any results that could call into question the electoral process,” he stated.

After gaining the support of former prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, the PAIGC leader who finished second in a contentious 2019 presidential election, Dias, 47, of the Party for Social Renewal, gained momentum.

Embalo, 53, is a former army commander who is running for reelection to become his nation’s first sitting president in thirty years.

Experts anticipated a close race between Dias and Embalo.

According to national election commission spokesperson Idrissa Diallo, more than 65% of voters cast ballots on Sunday, and provisional results are anticipated to be revealed on Thursday.

The election commission did not immediately respond to the contradictory statements made by Dias and Embalo.