Cape Verde votes as first female presidential candidate challenges incumbent

详细摘要

Cape Verdeans vote in a presidential election, with incumbent Jose Neves favoured to win a second term against challengers including the country’s first wo Read More:…

Cape Verde voted for a new president on Sunday, with incumbent Jose Neves favoured to win a second term as head of state of the West African archipelago renowned for its democratic stability.

He is facing the country’s first woman candidate, Joana Amado, among other contenders.

Voting ends at 1900 GMT and provisional results are expected overnight.

After voting Sunday, Neves told reporters, “I am proud of Cape Verde and of our democracy,” calling for a big turnout.

Adilia Gomes, 55, told AFP she had voted in the capital, Praia, and was now “going to Mass.”

Kenny Lima, 31, voted early in the afternoon, describing the atmosphere as calm. “Later, I’ll go and watch the results on the telly or online,” he added.

Nearly 420,000 people are eligible to vote. The election is being watched by about 150 observers from the Economic Community of West African States, the African Union and the European Union.

Cape Verde, located in the Atlantic Ocean about 600 kilometres (375 miles) off the coast of Senegal, comprises 10 volcanic islands and is an increasingly popular tourist destination.

It made world headlines this year when its national football team reached the knockout stages in its first World Cup, and when a cruise ship containing people with hantavirus docked off its shores.

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