As Sao Tome and Principe prepares for its legislative elections, voters are highlighting the urgent need for the next government to address the exodus of young people seeking better opportunities abroad. With a population of 210,000, the tiny island nation in the Gulf of Guinea is grappling with a critical issue that has become a top priority for its citizens. Many young people cite limited job prospects, rising living costs, and crumbling public services as reasons for leaving.
A recent World Bank report estimated that at least 18 percent of the country's population, nearly 40,000 people, live abroad, with Portugal, Angola, and Gabon being the main destinations. The emigration trend has surged in recent years, driven largely by young people seeking work and better prospects. This has resulted in labor shortages in sectors such as construction, according to former Prime Minister Gabriel Da Costa.
The legislative vote is a crucial contest in Sao Tome and Principe, with seven parties competing for the 55 seats in parliament. However, politics in the country is often shaped by converging interests and personal networks rather than ideological battles. Some voters have expressed transactional relationships with politicians, while others are seeking change.
Unemployed IT graduate Bruno, 25, is one such voter who has decided to back the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe (MLSTP). He believes that young people are neglected, with neither jobs nor leisure opportunities, and that many leave due to the lack of opportunities. Bruno had also considered moving but lacked the means.
Voters have identified the need for investment, new businesses, and improved infrastructure, such as a new port and airport. They also emphasize the importance of creating jobs and opportunities for young people. Foreign Minister Ilza Amado Vaz, an Independent Democratic Action (ADI) candidate, has stated that the party's policy aims to create conditions needed to attract investors and reduce dependence on foreign partners.
The next government will face the challenge of convincing young people that they can build a future at home. All major parties agree that attracting investment is essential. Amado Vaz also hopes to expand high-quality tourism that respects biodiversity in the island nation, which has earned UNESCO biosphere reserve status.
However, the young democracy faces the prospect of a low voter turnout, with numbers tumbling in recent elections. Nearly six out of 10 voters stayed away from the polls in July's presidential vote. Voter turnout is a concern, with some young people questioning whether voting is worth it, as they feel that nothing has changed in the country despite previous elections.
Key points
- Voters in Sao Tome and Principe are seeking solutions to the exodus of young people due to lack of jobs and opportunities.
- The next government will face the challenge of attracting investment and creating jobs to convince young people to stay.
- The country is also grappling with a low voter turnout in recent elections.
