Bissau, Guinea Bissau - Enthusiastic crowds poured into the streets of Guinea Bissau Friday as the nation entered the final evening of campaigning ahead of Sunday's crucial presidential vote. The poll in the tiny West African nation, dubbed a "narco-state" for its role as a hub for drugs trafficked from South America to Europe, was precipitated by the assassination of President Joao Bernardo Vieira in March.
"The atmosphere is still quite delicate but this election is crucial in order to restore order," said Shola Omoregie, head of the United Nations Peacebuilding Office in Guinea Bissau. "It's also a chance to turn a new page."
Eleven candidates are running to succeed Vieira. But the race belongs to the ruling party's Malam Bacai Sanha and opposition candidate Kumba Yala.
A third front-runner, Baciro Dabo, was murdered by government security forces at the beginning of June.
Dabo, a close ally of Vieira, was widely believed to have fairly strong chance of winning the poll. The government had accused him of planning a coup.
The human rights group Amnesty International says dire economic conditions and drug trafficking threaten the fragile political and social stability in the Portuguese-speaking country.
The organization is calling for an investigation into Dabo's death.
One candidate withdrew from the presidential race after the incident, fearing for his security. Additionally, a local journalist was detained after writing an article that angered the ruling party.
Analysts say most of the violence, however, is largely contained within military and political circles. Independent election observers who have flown in to monitor the vote say they expect polling day to pass peacefully.
Desejado Lima da Costa, head of the National Election Commission, believes a trouble-free vote will help improve the country's negative image.
"This vote is an important task for the stability of the nation," he says. "It will also reflect the credibility of the country."
On Thursday, supporters of ruling party candidate Sanha braved downpours to attend a final rally in Bissau, the capital.
As rain washed the potholed streets, glittering make-up in party colours ran down the cheeks of teenage girls.
A group of acrobats performed as the party's song played, while supporters waved palm fronds and photos of Sanha.
Supporters of the opposition were gathering for their final rally, scheduled for midnight on Friday.
Outside the aptly-named Obama Bar in Bissau city centre, a group of young men voiced their interest in small-time candidate Ibrihima Jallo.
He has campaigned under the slogan "Guinea Bissau needs another Obama."
"Of course we need an Obama" said Andres Dabo, who sells watches at a local market. "But we are not likely to get one, so I will be voting for Rosa instead."
Independent candidate Henrique Rosa has campaigned on a platform for change, vowing to improve conditions for the urban and rural poor.
The United Nations ranks Guinea Bissau as one of the most impoverished nations in the world, with a life expectancy of just 45 years.
There are 600,000 registered voters in Guinea Bissau.
