Early results from elections in Angola have put the incumbent president, João Lourenço, and the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) ahead.
The polls are the most tightly contested vote in the country’s democratic history, and have been described by analysts as an “existential moment”.
The opposition has also claimed a lead, increasing tensions and fears of unrest when full results become known in coming days.
Ballot counting began after polls closed on Wednesday, and preliminary results published overnight by Angola’s electoral commission gave the MPLA more than 60% of the vote with around a third of ballots counted.
The commission put Lourenço’s principal rival, Adalberto Costa Júnior of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), at 34% of votes.
The vote for Unita would be a big advance on previous elections but still far below levels needed to threaten the MPLA, in power since Angola declared independence from Portugal in 1975.
Polls before the election had showed a much closer margin of decided voters, with the MPLA only 7% ahead but with very large numbers yet to make a choice.
Credit: theguardian.com
