Gulf of Guinea Election Watch: São Tomé and Príncipe heads to a presidential vote Sunday as incumbent Carlos Vila Nova seeks a second term, facing party rival Nito Viegas D’Abreu backed by former PM Patrice Trovoada, plus two independents; the presidency is largely ceremonial, but the contest comes amid constitutional controversy over Vila Nova’s 2025 dismissal of Trovoada and growing international attention tied to a Russia military cooperation deal. Regional Governance & Opposition Pressure: A West Africa-wide pattern is highlighted of governments tightening control over opposition—arrests on broad public-order charges, prosecutions for online speech, party suspensions, and coalition dissolutions—raising concerns about shrinking political space from Lomé to Conakry. Conakry-Relevant Security Context: A Mali-focused report describes how Russian-linked resupply and shifting frontlines are worsening the Sahel security picture, with spillover risks toward the Gulf of Guinea. Maritime Crime Focus: A Nigerian senator urges the Navy to intensify action against rising maritime crimes in the South-South, calling for coordinated security governance and Gulf of Guinea cooperation. Environment & Land Politics: Coverage from Liberia’s cocoa frontier details rapid deforestation driven by cacao expansion and migrant labor pressures—an example of how commodity booms reshape governance and livelihoods.