Cape verde presidential election: Neves seeks second term

Cape Verde heads to the polls on Sunday with incumbent President José Maria Neves favored to secure a second term in an election seen as another test of the archipelago's democratic stability. The Portuguese-speaking island nation, located off the coast of Senegal, is widely regarded as one of Africa's strongest democracies, standing out of a region increasingly affected by coups and political instability. Six candidates are contesting the presidency, with Neves facing his main challenger, Joana Rossi Amado, a former justice minister seeking to become the country's first female president. Beyond the election, Cape Verde is experiencing growing international attention following its national football team's historic World Cup debut and impressive run in the knockout stages. Tourism is also booming, accounting for around a quarter of the country's economy. But challenges remain, including rise in living costs, youth unemployment, social inequality and the continued emigration of young professionals. The country is also heavily reliant on its diaspora, whose population abroad is estimated at nearly three times its resident population.