Guinea-Bissau: The two leading candidates in Guinea-Bissau's presidential race have both declared victory even as the country awaits the official results. The camp of Fernando Dias, who is seen as the main challenger to President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, was the first to announce a win.

According to Nam News Network, Embalo's agents later stated that their candidate had secured more than 50% of the vote, potentially avoiding the need for a runoff election. Official results were anticipated later on Tuesday, as reported by local media sources.

The conflicting declarations of victory could destabilize the political environment in this small West African nation, which has a history of military coups. Dias has the support of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira, whose own presidential candidacy was dismissed due to technical reasons.

Should Embalo achieve a second term, he would become the first leader in three decades to do so in Guinea-Bissau. This election is regarded as one of the most contentious in recent history, primarily due to the exclusion of the main opposition party.