According to provisional results, opposition candidate Jose Maria Neves is well on the way to victory, maintaining a comfortable lead over the ruling party's flagbearer Carlos Veiga with more than 90% of polling stations reporting results.

Seven candidates were vying to replace Jorge Carlo Fonseca, who has reached the end of his two-term limit.

Neves and Veiga, both former prime ministers, represent Cape Verde's two main parties. The winner will be charged with stabilizing the tourism-driven economy after the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Atiewin Mbillah-Lawson reports.