August 25, 2022

Angola is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the most tightly contested vote in its democratic history, which is expected to be announced later this Thursday.

However, reports say early results are already showing a wide margin for the incumbent president Joao Lourenco.

Ballot counting began after polls closed on Wednesday and preliminary results published overnight by Angola’s electoral commission gave the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) 60.65 percent of the vote with 33 percent of ballots counted.

Meanwhile, the main opposition the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) led by Adalberto Costa is at 33.85 percent.

The MPLA has ruled Angola for nearly 50 years after the country gained independence from Portugal.