As Bissau-Guineans go to the polls today to elect a new president, the Gambian president Yahya Jammeh is reportedly backing one of the contenders, hoping for cooperation in return for business partnership.

The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was reportedly supporting the campaign of Malam Bacai Sanha in a bid to have him elected Guinea-Bissau president. Sanha, a PAIGC member, is among eleven other candidates vying for presidency in today's election.

Sources in Bissau alleged Bacai Sanha has asked president Jammeh to support him win the presidential election and in return, he would cooperate with the Gambian leader to open a vibrant market for South American trade.

The suggestion of 'South American' trade sounds highly suspicious, as both the Gambian president and some top officials in Guinea-Bissau military have long been accused of providing transit points for South American illicit drug trade, credible sources said.

President Jammeh is believed to have great influence on Guinean politics. He recently invited the eleven candidates in Banjul and gave each one million dalasis.

Bacai Sanha who was interim president from 1999 to 2000, is one the three leading contenders in today's election.

Senegambia News sources in Banjul have linked Jammeh to both the political crisis and drug trade in Bissau. He is alleged to have a warehouse at his Kanalia ranch containing nothing but dangerous  drugs.

The people of Guinea-Bissau go to the polls today, Sunday, to vote for a new president to replace the slain president Joao Bernardo Vieira.

President Joao Bernardo Vieira was shot dead by soldiers in March in an apparent revenge killing for the death in a bomb explosion of the head of the military, Tagme Na Waie.

Eleven candidates are contesting today's election. One of the top contenders was killed during the election campaign after he was allegedly linked to a failed coup attempt.