Sao Tome and Principe doubles number of women in parliament
18 women now hold seats in the National Assembly, representing 32.7% of deputies after the 2026 elections.
18 women won seats in the São Tomé and Príncipe National Assembly in the 2026 legislative elections, more than double the eight elected in 2022. These deputies now represent 32.7% of the 55 members of Parliament. The final election results were validated by the Constitutional Court on October 6, 2026.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) confirmed the figures, noting this represents an advance in women's political participation. The elected women include Adjoa Soares, Arminda Candô, and Ayza da Silva, among others representing various constituencies and parties like MLSTP and ADI.
Despite the increase, the UNDP stated that gender parity has not yet been achieved. The organization highlighted the need to ensure women can fully exercise their mandates, take leadership roles, and participate in political decisions.
Why it mattersWomen in São Tomé and Príncipe have increased their representation in the National Assembly, affecting their ability to participate in political decisions.