São Tomé and Príncipe is holding a presidential election on Sunday, with nearly 142,000 registered voters set to cast ballots in a poll marked by political tension and a constitutional crisis.
The island nation, one of Africa’s smallest, has long been praised for its peaceful democratic transitions since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. But this year’s vote follows a period of instability, including the dismissal of a prime minister and a fractured ruling party.
Key candidates in São Tomé and Príncipe election
Incumbent President Carlos Vila Nova, initially elected in 2021 as the candidate of the ruling Acção Democrática Independente (ADI), is now running as an independent for a second term. His former party, now led by Prime Minister Américo Ramos, has instead backed ADI parliamentary leader Nito D’Abreu.
Other contenders include former Prime Minister Jorge Bom Jesus, whose attempt to withdraw from the race came too late, and businessman Domingos Monteiro, disqualified by the constitutional court over eligibility concerns. Monteiro, president of the São Toméan Football Federation, argued the ruling was discriminatory, stating: “The constitutional court is violating the principle of equal rights … It is time for descendants born in São Tomé and Príncipe to say no to discrimination, to the culture of xenophobia and persecution.”
Voter priorities and international oversight
Voters are focused on pressing issues such as government corruption, high inflation, youth unemployment, fuel shortages, and frequent blackouts. Opposition candidate D’Abreu has labelled corruption “the greatest catastrophe the country has experienced in this half-century [of independence].”
If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, a second round will be held. Observer missions from the European Union, G7+, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries are monitoring the polls. The country, a western ally in the Gulf of Guinea, also benefits from offshore oil deposits that bolster its economy.
