Guinea-Bissau’s president seeks second term in close race marked by tensions

Guinea-Bissau will vote on Sunday to elect a new president in an election held amid political and ethnic tensions. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo is seeking a second term that would make him the first leader to be elected for a successive second tenure. He faces a challenge from 11 other candidates although the vote is seen as a close race between Embalo and Fernando Dias da Costa, a little-known candidate backed by former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. Sunday’s presidential and parliamentary election is being held at a critical time in the West African region and in the country.