São Tomé and Príncipe voters seek jobs and change ahead of Sunday elections

Voters in São Tomé and Príncipe are preparing to cast ballots on Sunday in elections shaped by demands for political change, better leadership and more opportunities for young people.

Around 142,000 voters will choose among seven political parties competing for control of the 55-seat National Assembly. The vote will take place alongside municipal elections across São Tomé island and regional elections in Príncipe.

Youth emigration dominates concerns

The departure of young people has emerged as the central issue for many voters. Residents interviewed in the capital said they wanted the next government to create jobs and opportunities that would encourage young people to remain in the country.

Student Gelmarisa dos Ramos said the election offered an opportunity to select stronger leadership. “These elections are important to me because they are a way to choose someone who can lead the country better and take it to the next level,” she said.

Street vendor Alcina Rita also said she would vote, describing the country as chaotic and expressing hope for change. Driver Edilson Gaspar said he wanted to see a prime minister from São Tomé and urged citizens to exercise their voting rights.

Among young motorcycle taxi drivers, views were mixed. Miguel said he planned to stay home, arguing that little had changed during his lifetime. Ericson remained undecided, while Nilson said he intended to vote in the hope that the elections would create jobs.

Nilson said the country needed investment, new businesses and major infrastructure, including a new port and airport.

Investment and labour shortages

Emigration has increased in recent years. A 2025 World Bank report estimated that at least 18 per cent of the country’s population, nearly 40,000 people, lived abroad.

Former prime minister Gabriel Da Costa said the movement of people overseas was contributing to labour shortages, including in construction. “The whole economy is suffering from this,” he said.

Attracting investment is regarded as essential by all major parties. Foreign minister and ruling Independent Democratic Action party candidate Ilza Amado Vaz said her party’s policy was focused on creating conditions for investors.

She also identified reducing dependence on foreign partners, including Portugal, the European Union, Brazil, China and the United States, as a national goal. Vaz said she hoped to expand high-quality tourism that respects biodiversity, an area linked to the country’s beaches and ecosystems, which have earned UNESCO biosphere reserve status.

Turnout remains a concern

The elections are being held amid the prospect of low participation. Turnout has declined in recent elections, and nearly six out of 10 voters stayed away from the polls during July’s presidential vote.

The legislative election is considered the most consequential contest in the country’s parliamentary political system. Its outcome, alongside the municipal and regional results, will indicate whether voters’ calls for change and economic opportunity translate into electoral support.