Guinea-Bissau holds location elections on Sunday as voters seek stability more than a year after President Umaro Sissoco Embalo dissolved parliament over corruption allegations.
Since its independence from Portugal in 1974, the West African country of over 2 million inhabitants has seen recurrent political turbulence, with at least ten coups or failed coups.
More than 20 political parties and coalitions will compete for seats in Sunday’s election, including the previous ruling PAIGC party and its opponent MADEM G15.
Analysts and politicians are sceptical that a clear majority would emerge given the splintered playing field.
“There will be no winner with an absolute majority in these elections. It is impossible,” said Prime Minister Nuno Gomes Nabiam. “No party is ready to govern Guinea-Bissau alone.”
Under the current political system, the majority party or coalition appoints the government, but the president has the power to dismiss it in certain circumstances. That has led to political deadlock and infighting in the past.
The country’s scattered Atlantic islands and mangrove mazes are a draw for tourists but also cocaine traffickers en route from South America to Europe.
The economy often finds itself hostage to the volatile price of cashew nuts, the main income source for over two-thirds of households.
Political discord is frequent. Disputed elections in 2019 resulted in a brief period when two presidents and two prime ministers claimed to hold power.
The latest coup attempt was in February last year, when gunmen stormed a government compound where Embalo was holding a cabinet meeting. Embalo, who held on to power, linked the incident to the country’s booming drug trade.
The former army general then threw the country into further chaos in May 2022 when he sacked the government, helping delay local elections by months.
