Sao Tome and Principe elects 18 women to parliament
The number of female deputies in the National Assembly has more than doubled since 2022.
18 women won seats in the 2026 legislative elections in Sao Tome and Principe, more than double the eight elected in 2022. These new deputies represent 32.7% of the 55 members of the National Assembly. The final results were validated by the Constitutional Court on October 6, 2026.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) reported the figures, highlighting the increase in women's political participation. Among the elected are Adjoa Soares, Arminda Candô, and Kátia Ramos, representing various parties and constituencies across the islands. The UNDP noted that gender parity has not yet been achieved.
The organization stressed the need to ensure women can fully exercise their mandates and take on leadership roles. The list of elected women includes representatives from MLSTP, MCI-PS/PUN, ADI, and Movimento Basta parties.
Why it matters18 women have been elected to the National Assembly, increasing female representation in the country's parliament.