Vote counting is underway in Guinea-Bissau after Sunday’s presidential and legislative elections, a high-stakes vote in a nation long shaken by coups and political infighting. President Umaro Sissoco Embaló is seeking a second term, but analysts say the race is tight between him and newcomer Fernando Dias da Costa, the 47-year-old candidate backed by former Prime Minister Domingos Simões Pereira. Nearly 1.1 million people, about half of the country’s population were registered to vote. Turnout was described as strong despite a tense political climate and the exclusion of Pereira’s African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), one of the country’s largest political forces. Authorities said the party missed the application deadline, a move critics say undermines the legitimacy of the election.
Embaló, a former army general who came to power in 2021 after a disputed 2019 election, cast his vote in Gabu and urged citizens to “vote peacefully,” insisting he is confident of securing a second term. Dias da Costa accused the president of intimidation and warned against the arrest or harassment of his supporters. The election unfolded against a backdrop of deep political uncertainty. Embaló’s mandate has been contested for months; the opposition argues his term ended in February, while the Supreme Court extended it to September. The legislative vote is also unusual parliament has not sat since December 2023, when Embaló dissolved it after alleging an attempted coup.
Guinea-Bissau remains one of the world’s poorest countries and a major transit hub for drug trafficking. Since independence from Portugal in 1974, it has suffered repeated coups, most recently an attempt last October. Analysts warn that the continued erosion of democratic norms could embolden militaries in a region already shaken by takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Niger. Campaign tensions were high, marked by accusations of corruption, hate speech, and political violence. Embaló centred his campaign on infrastructure upgrades, including new roads and a modernized airport, while Dias da Costa promised stability, stronger freedoms, and an end to what he calls “authoritarian rule.” In Bissau, many voters said stability is their priority. “I hope these elections bring peace and tranquility so there is no more hunger,” President Marinho Insoldé said. If no candidate wins over 50% of the vote, the election heads to a runoff.
