Guinea-Bissau Presidential Hopeful Fernando Dias Declares Premature Victory as Country Awaits Certified Poll Outcomes

Opposition leader Fernando Dias on Monday proclaimed an early triumph in Guinea-Bissau’s presidential contest, asserting that he had secured an absolute majority even before the national electoral commission published preliminary tallies. Dias maintained that he surpassed the 50-percent threshold required to avert a second round, a claim that has injected fresh uncertainty into an already delicate political environment.

His declaration comes at a pivotal moment for the West African nation, long marked by chronic political volatility, recurrent institutional deadlocks, and several military interventions. Sunday’s vote was the first presidential election held without the participation of the influential African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) as a direct contestant—though the party’s public endorsement of Dias significantly bolstered his bid and altered the dynamics of the race.

“We have won in the first round. The people have delivered their verdict,” Dias told jubilant supporters gathered at his campaign headquarters in Bissau. The 47-year-old standard-bearer for the Party for Social Renewal argued that voters were ready for a new direction after years of political rancor. His momentum strengthened further when PAIGC leader and former prime minister Domingos Simões Pereira—runner-up in the disputed 2019 vote—formally threw his weight behind him.

Meanwhile, incumbent President Umaro Sissoco Embaló, 53, is attempting to defy historical precedent by becoming the first Guinean head of state in nearly three decades to secure a consecutive term. Analysts had predicted a razor-thin contest between Embaló and Dias, reflecting entrenched political divisions and shifting alliances.

The national electoral commission reported that voter participation exceeded 65%, indicating robust civic engagement despite lingering concerns about security and the sidelining of key political actors. Provisional results are expected on Thursday, according to commission spokesperson Idrissa Diallo.

Neither electoral officials nor President Embaló’s office has commented on Dias’ premature claim of victory. Political observers caution that early declarations of success risk aggravating tensions in a country where contentious election outcomes have historically spiraled into broader crises.

Source: Africa Publicity