São Tomé and Príncipe President Carlos Vila Nova has secured a second five-year term after winning more than 55% of the vote in the country’s presidential election, according to preliminary results from the electoral commission. The victory allows Vila Nova to avoid a runoff against his closest challenger, Nito Abreu, who received more than 41% of the vote. Vila Nova first won the presidency in 2021 with backing from the Independent Democratic Action party, but ran as an independent this time after falling out with the party over his decision to dismiss Patrice Trovoada as prime minister. The election reinforces the small island nation’s democratic reputation as it has maintained peaceful democratic elections since it adopted multiparty politics in 1990.
Reuters