Presidential elections in Guinea Bissau 2005: a stabilizing factor in a fragile democracy or only a spot test of the state of affairs?

Abstract

This article describes the 2005 Guinea Bissau presidential elections. First, the recent historical background is discussed in terms of the rise of parties, emergence of an electoral system, and the range of candidates and political powers at play in 2005. Next, the fifteen days of electoral campaigning are examined, followed by a consideration of the significance of ethnic voting in the elections. The penultimate section describes the attempts of international bodies to observe the electoral process's fairness and transparency. The closing considers the future of electoral development in the country and region, emphasizing the need for the international community to remain involved in political oversight.