Guayana Elections 2025

Georgetown, Guyana (Sept. 1, 2025) — Guyana, the only English-speaking country on the mainland of South America, has long been shaped by its colonial past and deep political divides. Once known as British Guiana, it gained independence from Britain in 1966 and became a republic in 1970. For decades its economy relied on sugar, bauxite, and rice exports, while politics were defined by sharp ethnic divisions, with Indo-Guyanese voters largely backing the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) and Afro-Guyanese voters aligning with the People’s National Congress Reform (PNCR). Elections were often contentious, sometimes resulting in months-long recounts, most recently in 2020.

Today, the country stands at a turning point. Since the discovery of massive offshore oil reserves in the late 2010s, Guyana has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with billions in projected revenue. That boom has brought immense opportunity, and intense debate over corruption, inequality, and the risk of the “resource curse.” The Sept. 1, 2025, general election was both a contest for power and a test of whether the country’s democratic institutions could fairly manage such transformation.

President Mohamed Irfaan Ali and his ruling PPP/C campaigned on continuity, promising to use oil revenues to fund infrastructure, housing, education, and health care. Opposition forces regrouped under PNCR leader Aubrey Norton, while a newcomer, We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), founded by businessman Azruddin Mohamed just months before the election, surged to prominence. WIN’s campaign focused on transparency, fairer distribution of oil wealth, and calls to renegotiate production contracts that critics say favor foreign companies over Guyana’s citizens.

International observers paid close attention. The European Union Election Observation Mission described the vote as competitive and calm, noting in a Sept. 3 statement that, “Guyana had its regional elections in a peaceful and orderly manner. Voters queued patiently, polling stations opened on time, and polling staff carried out their duties professionally and efficiently.” The EU also warned, however, of “undue advantages of incumbency and legal gaps” in campaign finance rules. The Carter Center, which deployed observers to 234 polling stations, praised the “dignity and patience” of voters but echoed calls for reforms in voter rolls, campaign financing, and equitable media access.

With 757,690 registered voters and turnout at 58.41 percent, the election proceeded more smoothly than in 2020, when protracted counting led to months of uncertainty. Partial results showed PPP/C leading in key districts, while WIN made surprising gains in urban constituencies, cutting into the traditional opposition vote.

On Sept. 7, the Guyana Elections Commission declared final results: PPP/C captured 36 of the 65 seats in the National Assembly, a gain of three since 2020. WIN claimed 16 seats, becoming the new main opposition, while APNU + AFC fell to 12. That same day, Ali was sworn in for a second five-year term. In his victory address, Ali struck an inclusive tone: “This is a mandate for progress,” he said. “But we must govern for all Guyanese, whether they voted for us or not.” He later added, “Democracy prevails; this is a victory that excludes no one.”

Reaction from abroad was swift. France’s Foreign Ministry congratulated Ali on his reelection, praising the “peaceful and credible conduct” of the polls and pledging cooperation on climate resilience and energy transition.

But Ali faces mounting pressure to deliver. Both the EU and the Carter Center have urged reforms to address campaign-finance gaps and curb misuse of state resources. WIN, now a powerful parliamentary force, has promised to push for stronger oversight and citizen dividends from oil production.

Complicating the picture further is Venezuela’s renewed claim to the oil-rich Essequibo region, a territorial dispute that could jeopardize foreign investment and national security. Ali’s second term is expected to focus on strengthening institutions, reforming procurement and tax systems, and expanding social spending to ensure the benefits of the boom reach all citizens. “No citizen will be left behind under the PPP/C,” he pledged at his swearing-in, signaling an effort to bridge historic divides.

Guyana’s 2025 election has given Ali a stronger mandate, but not a blank check. Voters endorsed continuity while demanding accountability and faster delivery of promised benefits. The rise of WIN signals an electorate increasingly willing to embrace new challengers if progress stalls. For a nation flush with oil wealth yet scarred by decades of inequality and political mistrust, the next five years will determine whether Guyana becomes a model of inclusive growth, or another cautionary tale of boom-and-bust politics.

By Marina Chauffaille