At stake in this election:

• The office of President of Guinea-Bissau

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Joao Bernardo VIEIRA *
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Francisco FADUL
• Assembly: Guinea-Bissau has a unicameral National People's Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular) with 100 seats.

* President VIEIRA initially assumed power in a coup d'etat on November 14, 1980.

Description of electoral system:

• The President is elected by popular vote to serve a 5-year term.
• In the National People's Assembly (Assembleia Nacional Popular) 100 members are elected by popular vote to serve 4-year terms.

Main Candidates in the Second Round of the Presidential race:

• Kumba Yala
  • Party: The Social Renewal Party
• Malam Bacai Sanha
  • Party: The African Party for Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde Islands Independence

Main Candidates in the First Round of the Presidential race:

• Kumba Yala
  • Party: The Social Renewal Party
• Malam Bacai Sanha
  • Party: The African Party for Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde Islands Independence
• Faustino Imbali
  • Party: The Civil Society
• Fernando GOMES
  • Party: The Civil Society
• Other Candidates
  • Party: N/A

Last Presidential election:

• Presidential elections were last held on July 3 and August 7, 1994. President Joao Nino VIEIRA received 52% of the vote, thereby defeating Koumba YALA who received 48% of the vote.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 1,287,727 (1999)
• Registered Voters: 503,007 (1999)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 651,750 (1999)

·         Is Guinea-Bissau a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has Guinea-Bissau ratified CEDAW: Yes (23 August 1985)

·         Gender Quota: No

·         Female candidates in this election: Yes

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 8 (following the 1999 elections)

·         Human Development Index Position: 178 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Medium (2014)

Disability Data:

·         Is Guinea-Bissau a signatory to CRPD: Yes (24 September 2013)

·         Has Guinea-Bissau ratified CRPD: Yes (24 September 2014)

·         Population with a disability: 193,159 (est.)