Sao Tome and Principe is holding a presidential election, with Vila Nova aiming for another term
Sao Tome and Principe is set to hold a presidential election on Sunday, where incumbent Carlos Vila Nova aims to secure a new five-year term in the small, cocoa-producing island nation, despite having recently experienced a rift with its most influential political party.
Vila Nova, who previously served as the minister of public works and infrastructure, emerged victorious in the runoff of the last election held in 2021. In that race, he was supported by the Independent Democratic Action party, referred to by its Portuguese acronym, ADI, which holds a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
Last year, Vila Nova removed Patrice Trovoada from his position as prime minister, leading to a division with the ADI. As a result, he is now running as an independent candidate on Sunday, competing against three other candidates.
His primary opponent, Nito Abreu, has pledged to prioritize job creation for young people and address what he characterizes as a departure of youth from the nation, which consists of two main islands and has a population of approximately 240,000.
REPORTED COUP ATTEMPT SHOCKED INCUMBENT’S FIRST TERM
A former Portuguese colony located off the western coast of Africa, Sao Tome and Principe has experienced a history of free and peaceful elections since the introduction of multiparty politics in 1990.
In 2022, the government revealed that it had successfully prevented a coup attempt, marking the first such incident in almost twenty years. This attempt involved at least one individual associated with a South African apartheid-era militia referred to as the Buffalo Battalion.
The Africa Center for Strategic Studies, associated with the U.S. Department of Defense, stated in a briefing that the election on Sunday presents an opportunity to demonstrate that the recent violence is “an isolated aberration rather than an ongoing feature of national politics.
According to the election commission, there are 142,298 eligible voters. Polls opened at 7 a.m. (0700 GMT) and are set to close at 6 p.m., with preliminary results anticipated late on Sunday or on Monday.
A second round will take place if no candidate obtains more than 50% of the vote. Legislative elections are scheduled for September.
Sao Tome and Principe was once regarded as a potential oil producer; however, the sector has not succeeded in yielding significant discoveries.
