Elections & Democracy
Sao Tome and Principe president wins re-election
Sao Tome and Principe’s incumbent president, Carlos Vila Nova, won re-election in the first round of the country’s presidential vote, the national electoral commission announced. The commission said Vila Nova received 56 percent in Sunday’s ballot, while Nito Viegas D'Abreu received 41 percent. Viegas D'Abreu, a party rival, had the backing of former prime minister Patrice Trovoada. Abstention was 59 percent. National Electoral Commission head Jeudiger Nascimento said the results were valid and that no irregularities were detected. The president’s role is largely ceremonial, with most executive powers held by the prime minister. Vila Nova, 66, became president in 2021 with support from the centre-right Independent Democratic Action party. He was criticised in 2025 for dismissing then prime minister Patrice Trovoada, also from the same party, a decision later ruled unconstitutional. Trovoada now leads the party and is seeking to regain the prime ministerial post from Prime Minister Americo Ramos in legislative elections scheduled for September. Sao Tome and Principe, a former Portuguese colony in the Gulf of Guinea, has about 200,000 people and is described in the source as a model of African parliamentary democracy. It earns much of its revenue from cocoa, coffee, vanilla and pepper, has tourism potential, and has attracted oil and gas exploration licences from international firms. The source says the country remains heavily dependent on international aid and that a large majority of its population lives below the poverty line.
Update
Carlos Vila Nova was re-elected president in the first round.
The electoral commission said Vila Nova won 56 percent of the vote and Nito Viegas D'Abreu won 41 percent.
Abstention was reported at 59 percent.
The electoral commission said the results were valid and that no irregularities were detected.
Source note: AFP news report published on 20 July 2026 at 14:37:31 UTC.
Update
Vote-counting was under way after ballots were cast on Sunday.
National Electoral Commission chief Jeudiger Nascimento voiced concern about low turnout, saying many people had gone to polling stations without casting ballots, though no official figures were given.
If no candidate wins more than 50 percent, a second-round run-off is scheduled for August 9.
The source gives further details on the roles of the president and prime minister, party divisions, the candidates' political positioning, and the country's economy and foreign partnerships.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 20:36:50 UTC.
Update
Polling stations opened at 7:00 am local time and 0700 GMT.
A polling official said the first few hours were calm and that many people preferred to vote in the afternoon.
Voter Olivia Fatima said reducing poverty was the crucial issue in the election.
If no candidate wins more than 50 percent, a second-round runoff is scheduled for August 9.
The source adds details on the president's role, the split inside the ADI, Patrice Trovoada's support for Nito Viegas D'Abreu, and the country's economy and international partnerships.
Source note: AFP news report published on 19 July 2026 at 10:53:53 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .