October 03, 2026 10:36 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Guinea-Bissau polls: UN chief urges high turnout, peaceful vote
New York, May 17 (IBNS): On the eve of run-off presidential elections in Guinea-Bissau, United Nations UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged voters to show the same sense of civic duty exhibited during the first round of the polls “by turning out in large numbers and in a peaceful manner.â€
“The Secretary-General continues to follow closely the situation on the eve of the 18 May, run off election…which is expected to bring the transition period to an end,” said a statement issued last evening by Ban's spokesperson in New York.
“He commends all national stakeholders for their efforts to ensure a credible electoral process, and the two presidential candidates for having conducted a peaceful and orderly electoral campaign,” it continued, adding that the Secretary-General lauds the generous support of international partners in the electoral process.
“In casting their votes on 18 May, Bissau-Guineans will take another step towards stability,” said the statement, noting that Ban urges voters to show the same sense of civic duty exhibited in mid-April during the first round of presidential and legislative elections.
In phone calls on Friday with Nuno Gomes Nabiam and José Mario Vaz, the Secretary-General urged both presidential candidates to respect the official results and follow existing legal procedures to resolve any electoral disputes.
“He trusts that both candidates will be guided by the best interest of the country, independently of the results,” said the statement, underscoring that the UN will continue to support the people of Guinea-Bissau as they conclude the transition, and begin the process of working towards re-building the State and promoting stability and sustainable development.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
UAE calls Flydubai cockpit attack a ‘terrorist act’; Omani pilot tried to take control
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai cockpit attack: Deleted posts expose Omani co-pilot’s views on women, alleged extremist past
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai cockpit horror: Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with crash axe, tried to seize control
Sat, Oct 03 2026
flydubai temporarily suspends all Israel flights after co-pilot’s alleged cockpit attack, crash attempt
Sat, Oct 03 2026
Grounded in Oman over ‘radical views’, then hired by flydubai: What we know about Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami
Sat, Oct 03 2026
Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Smit Machchhar identified, was banned from flying by Oman due to suspected extremism: Report
Sat, Oct 03 2026
UK-Iranian national arrested over RAF Fairford terror plot probe
Fri, Oct 02 2026