**Island Nation Re-elects President After Ruling-Party Split**
Sao Tome and Principe has re-elected President Carlos Vila Nova for a second term, according to preliminary results from the National Election Commission (CEN). Vila Nova, who ran as an independent candidate after breaking away from the ruling Independent Democratic Action (ADI) party, secured 55.94% of the votes in Sunday’s election, thereby avoiding a runoff. His main opponent, Nito D’Abreu, received 41.42%, while the remaining candidates, Eugenio Tiny and Miques Joao Bonfim, garnered 1.07% and 1.58% of the votes, respectively.
Vila Nova's decision to run independently follows a significant political rift within the ADI party, which had supported his initial election in 2021. The split occurred after Vila Nova dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in January 2025, citing concerns over Trovoada's frequent absences and the government's inability to effectively tackle the nation's pressing economic and financial challenges. Trovoada condemned the dismissal as unconstitutional, a claim that was later upheld by the Constitutional Court, although the court's ruling was not applied retroactively. The political turmoil intensified when Vila Nova's first choice for a new prime minister resigned after just three days, exacerbating the crisis leading up to the elections.
Sao Tome and Principe, an island nation located in the Gulf of Guinea, has a population of approximately 240,000. It gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and transitioned to a multiparty democracy in 1991. Since then, the country has established a reputation for conducting competitive elections and facilitating peaceful transitions of power, despite experiencing several coup attempts. The recent election marks the eighth presidential election in the country since the introduction of multiparty democracy.
The CEN reported that 142,191 citizens were registered to vote, including 20,521 residing abroad. However, voter turnout was notably low. In certain southern communities, including Ilheu das Rolas and Praia de Messias Alves, voting was suspended due to residents erecting barricades that obstructed ballot box delivery to polling stations.
In addition to logistical challenges, the election was marred by an attempted cyberattack on the CEN's database, alongside the spread of election-related disinformation. Notably, Vila Nova's Facebook page was reportedly taken over during the campaign period. Key issues that dominated the election discourse included corruption, inflation, unemployment, fuel shortages, and frequent power outages.
To ensure the integrity of the electoral process, the European Union deployed a team of 30 observers, while the African Union sent a 29-member mission led by former Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi. Monitoring teams from the Economic Community of Central African States, the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, and the G7+ also participated in overseeing the elections. Both the CEN and the observer missions reported that the voting process was largely peaceful, with no significant incidents recorded.
As the results are finalized, Vila Nova's re-election signifies a continuation of his leadership amid a backdrop of political upheaval and economic challenges. The nation now faces the task of addressing the pressing issues that influenced voter sentiment during the campaign, as it moves forward with its democratic processes.