Election Amid Constitutional and Political Tensions

Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, the island nation has maintained a reputation for peaceful and competitive elections; However, this year’s vote is unfolding against a backdrop of a lingering constitutional crisis and internal political disputes.

Incumbent president Carlos Vila Nova is running for a second term as an independent candidate, and he was elected in 2021 as the nominee of the ruling Acção Democrática Independente (ADI). Vila Nova’s split from his former party began in January 2025, when he dismissed the prime minister, Patrice Trovoada, though Trovoada’s successor, the former justice minister Ilza Amado Vaz, resigned after just three days. The current prime minister, Américo Ramos, has since taken office.

Multiple Candidates and Shifting Alliances

Vila Nova will face four other candidates in the election, including ADI parliamentary leader Nito D’Abreu; Another former prime minister, Jorge Bom Jesus, attempted to withdraw his independent candidacy but missed the deadline and remains on the ballot.

The main opposition party. The Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe, has joined a broad coalition supporting the incumbent president, despite historical opposition to ADI. Meanwhile, an ADI faction led by Américo Ramos is backing D’Abreu; If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, a second-round election will be required.

Businessman Domingos Monteiro, known as “Nino,” was disqualified after the constitutional court ruled he did not meet eligibility requirements. Born in São Tomé and Príncipe, his parents never became naturalised citizens after moving from Cape Verde. Monteiro criticized the ruling, calling it a violation of equal rights and a reflection of xenophobia and persecution.

Key Issues and Voter Priorities

For voters, key concerns include government corruption, high inflation, severe youth unemployment, chronic fuel shortages, and frequent blackouts. Rivals of Vila Nova are hopeful these issues will prevent him from securing a second term.

D’Abreu addressed the issue of corruption during a presidential debate on Tuesday, calling it the country’s greatest catastrophe in the half-century since independence. “Corruption is the greatest catastrophe the country has experienced in this half-century,” he said.

São Tomé and Príncipe is considered a trusted Western ally for security and maritime trade in the Gulf of Guinea, a region known for high rates of maritime piracy. The country also has offshore oil deposits that contribute significantly to its economy. To monitor the election process, observer missions from the European Union, G7+, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries are present on the ground.