Guinea-Bissau’s upcoming presidential election presents a highly competitive field, with the incumbent, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, facing eleven challengers. The political landscape has been reshaped by a significant and unexpected alliance, creating a formidable new front-runner. Fernando Dias, a previously little-known candidate, has surged in prominence after receiving the crucial endorsement of the PAIGC party, which was itself barred from the race. This development makes a second-round runoff highly probable. Other notable contenders include former President José Mário Vaz, whose term was marked by political instability, and Baciro Djá, a former prime minister. With the nation’s history of coups and political turmoil, the election represents a critical test for its democratic institutions and future governance.
Reuters
