Political Overview
Since gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, São Tomé and Príncipe has maintained a stable multiparty democratic system under its 1990 constitution. The president, elected for a five-year term by absolute majority (with a two-round system), serves as head of state and approves the cabinet, while the prime minister, chosen by parliament, functions as head of government. The National Assembly is unicameral with 55 seats, whose members serve four-year terms and are elected by popular vote; Príncipe also enjoys autonomous status within the republic. In the most recent elections, Carlos Vila Nova of the Independent Democratic Action party secured the presidency with 57.5 % of the vote, following a contested second round adjudicated by the Constitutional Court.
Cultural Heritage and Identity
The nation’s culture is a vibrant creole blend rooted in centuries of Portuguese colonial rule and African traditions, further enriched by Brazilian connections. Music genres such as ússua and socopé are central to community life, often performed at festivals that celebrate patron saints and planting or harvest seasons. Portuguese remains the official language, but several creole dialects (Forro, Angolar, Principense) persist as markers of local identity and are the focus of UNESCO’s efforts to inventory and safeguard intangible heritage. Recent archaeological projects on São Tomé have also begun to uncover and interpret the island’s role in the transatlantic sugar economy and forced labor, fostering a renewed engagement with this aspect of collective memory.
Geographical Landscape, Area and Climate
Comprising two main islands (São Tomé and Príncipe) and several islets, the country spans just under 1,000 km² and lies approximately 200 km off the coast of Gabon. Volcanic in origin, the islands feature rugged central highlands Pico de São Tomé rises to 2,024 m surrounded by coastal plains and patchy mangrove swamps. The climate is maritime and equatorial: moist southwesterly winds bring up to 7,000 mm of rain annually to the windward slopes while leeward areas receive under 760 mm; a drier “gravana” season runs from June to September, though microclimates vary markedly with elevation and aspect. Wildlife is exceptionally rich and endemic, earning the archipelago nicknames like “Africa’s Galápagos,” with conservation efforts focusing on its rainforests, bird species, and marine habitats.
