- Title: Guinea-Bissau goes to the polls in presidential run-off vote
- Date: 29th December 2019
- Summary: BISSAU, GUINEA-BISSAU (DECEMBER 29, 2019) (REUTERS) VOTERS QUEUING AS SUN RISES VARIOUS OF VOTERS QUEUING NEXT TO A SMALL FIRE SIGN AT POLLING STATION / MAN PLACING HIS VOTE IN BALLOT BOX VOTERS QUEUING TO COLLECT BALLOTS VOTERS QUEUING VARIOUS OF VOTER CASTING BALLOT BALLOT BEING PLACED IN BOX FINGER BEING INKED VARIOUS OF VOTER KADY DJASSY CASTING BALLOT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese Creole) VOTER, KADY DJASSY, SAYING: "I came to vote in order to restore peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau so all people can be in good health and children can go to school." FINGER BEING INKED (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese Creole) VOTER, BACIRO BALDE, SAYING: "I voted so I can elect a new president that will work towards developing the country because for the past five years Guinea-Bissau has gone through a very grave social and economic crisis." VOTER, AURELIA MENDES, PLACING HER BALLOT IN BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese Creole) VOTER, AURELIA MENDES, SAYING: "I hope the new president will get the country out of the crisis. He needs to be able to unite all the people of Guinea-Bissau around the same cause, he needs to find solution for the social and economic crisis. I don't want any problems in Guinea-Bissau, I want peace in the country. I hope the candidate who loses will accept the results of the vote." VOTERS QUEUING VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS DRIVING PAST POLLING STATION IN TRUCK
- Embargoed: 12th January 2020 09:24
- Keywords: Domingos Simoes Pereira Guinea-Bissau Umaro Cissoko Embalo election runoff vote
- Location: BISSAU, GUINEA-BISSAU
- City: BISSAU, GUINEA-BISSAU
- Country: Guinea-Bissau
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA001BC12D6V
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Voters in Guinea-Bissau began casting ballots on Sunday (December 29) in a run-off presidential election pitting two former prime ministers who both promise to bring stability to the turbulent West African nation.
Incumbent President Jose Mario Vaz failed to make it to the second round after a five-year term marred by regular high-level sackings, a barely functioning parliament and weeks of turmoil in the run-up to the first-round ballot.
Voters at the polls emphasised the need to solve the country's social and economic problems, as well as the need for unity and peace in the country which has suffered nine coups or attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974.
The ruling PAIGC party's Domingos Simoes Pereira, 56, is seen as the front-runner after winning the first round on November 24 with 40 percent.
His opponent, Umaro Cissoko Embalo, 47, came second with 28 percent despite being a relative political newcomer, and political analysts say the run-off race could be close.
(Production: Christophe Van Der Perre) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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