A president runs as an independent, deepening political divides
Carlos Vila Nova, who took office in 2021 as the candidate for Acção Democrática Independente (ADI), is now running for a second term as an independent. His decision to sever ties with his former party has fueled the country’s political tension, which has been ongoing since he dismissed Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada in January 2023. Two replacements followed in rapid succession, leaving an unstable governing structure in place as the nation heads to the polls.
Sunday’s election pits Vila Nova against four other candidates, including Nito D’Abreu, the ADI parliamentary leader. Former prime minister Jorge Bom Jesus remains on the ballot despite trying to withdraw after the deadline. The opposition party Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe has thrown its support behind Vila Nova, despite long-standing hostility to ADI. Within ADI, a faction led by current Prime Minister Américo Ramos is backing D’Abreu instead.
Disqualification and citizenship stir controversy
Businessman Domingos Monteiro, known as “Nino” and longtime president of the São Toméan Football Federation, was disqualified for failing to meet eligibility requirements. The constitutional court ruled that his parents, born in Cape Verde, had not become naturalized citizens after moving to São Tomé and Príncipe. Monteiro, who was born on the island, accused the court of violating equal rights and stoking a culture of “xenophobia and persecution.”
“It is time for descendants born in São Tomé and Príncipe to say no to discrimination,” Monteiro said. His case highlights a legal gray area in the nation’s citizenship laws, and has become a rallying point for those who see it as unjust.
Economic struggles drive voter concerns
Voters face a range of economic challenges: corruption, high inflation, youth unemployment, fuel shortages, and frequent power outages. These issues are central to the campaign trail. At a recent presidential debate, D’Abreu called corruption “the greatest catastrophe the country has experienced in this half-century of independence.”
The election also carries international weight. São Tomé and Príncipe is a key western ally in the Gulf of Guinea, an area plagued by maritime piracy. The country also hosts offshore oil reserves, which play a major role in its economy. The polls are being monitored by observer groups from the European Union, G7+, and the Community of Portuguese Language Countries.