Counting of votes is underway in Guinea-Bissau after Sunday's presidential and legislative election; President Embaló is in a tight contest to become the first leader in three decades to win a second consecutive term in the coup-prone West African nation

Portugal requested Guinea-Bissau's support on 2 November, Sunday as part of its candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council

Experts say that with the main opposition candidates barred from contesting, the election scheduled this November is at risk of becoming an exercise to legitimize President Umaro Embalo, self-proclaimed in 2020

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned the "increase in attacks, threats and intimidation" against journalists and independent media outlets in Guinea-Bissau as the November elections approach

Portuguese media outlets have been expelled from the country, confirming a wider strategy to restrict press pluralism in the run-up to November's elections; Bissau-Guinean journalists' union and international press organizations have criticized the act