Guyana President Irfaan Ali Wins Second Term Amid Oil Boom

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali has claimed a second term in office following the 2025 general election, with his People's Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C) securing a majority of votes and winning seven of the country's 10 electoral districts, including Region Four, which the party had never won since independence. The new political party We Invest in Nationhood (WIN), led by billionaire Azruddin Mohamed, came in second and is projected to become the main opposition, relegating the long-standing opposition A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) to third place after its worst defeat. The election turnout was lower than in 2020, but the PPP/C increased its vote share, with Mohamed alleging voting irregularities. The election centered heavily on the management of Guyana's vast oil reserves discovered in 2019, which have significantly boosted the country's economy, although opposition parties accuse the PPP of unfair distribution of oil revenues, a claim denied by the ruling party. Despite Mohamed's allegations and a requested recount on the East Coast by APNU, Ali is expected to be sworn in soon. The election marks a significant shift in Guyana’s political landscape as the country navigates its newfound oil wealth and regional tensions, particularly with neighboring Venezuela.