Guinea-Bissau holds a presidential election run-off April 22. In the first round of voting in March—instigated by the death of previous President Sanhá in January after a long illness—former Prime Minister Carlos Gomes Jr. took nearly 49% of the vote, ahead of ex-president Kumba Yala, on around 23%. However, Yala then called for the vote’s cancellation, claiming it was widely flawed. It’s not clear if he will now participate. The U.N. Security Council, which praised the first round poll, recently urged political parties to engage in dialogue ahead of the run-off to ensure a peaceful conclusion. Observers hope a successful election will stabilize coup-prone Guinea-Bissau—a former Portuguese colony on Africa’s west coast—that has seen four consecutive presidents fail to finish their terms and is known as key staging ground for illicit narcotics.
Ballot Box Watch: Your Guide to April Elections
Global Spin previews this month's upcoming polls around the world
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