"Voting stations are open in Guinea-Bissau, where the government has been afflicted by repeated coup attempts and where President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is seeking a rare second term in office amid fierce backlash from the opposition. Hundreds of thousands are expected to vote on Sunday as the West African country faces a challenging election in a region where civilian administration has been undermined by military rulers who have taken power by force over the past several years."
"There are 12 candidates, but the main race is believed to be between the president and Fernando Dias da Costa, a little-known 47-year-old who is backed by former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. Pereira, the runner-up in the 2019 presidential election, leads the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde, but the politician and the top opposition party have been banned from taking part in Sunday's election."
Voting stations opened across Guinea-Bissau with hundreds of thousands expected to vote in an election held amid repeated coup attempts and regional military interference. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo seeks a rare second term and faces a main challenger, Fernando Dias da Costa, who is backed by former prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. Nearly half of the country's 2.2 million residents are registered to vote and 12 candidates appear on the ballot. Key opposition figures and Pereira's party were banned from participation. Embalo dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament and has not allowed it to convene since December 2023. A candidate must secure over 50 percent to avoid a runoff.
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