THE FUSE

Around 860,000 voters were eligible to choose between 12 presidential candidates, with stability a major issue given multiple political crises that have rocked the west African nation since independence from Portugal in 1974, including four coups, and many more putsch attempts.President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, 53, is favoured to win in the first round. If he succeeds, he will become the first head of state to serve two consecutive terms since the introduction of the multiparty system in 1994.At the top of the list of demands for many were improved living conditions, including better healthcare, education and infrastructure.