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Africa’s longest-serving leader eyes re-election in Equatorial Guinea

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Africa's longest-serving leader, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, was set to extend his 36-year-hold on power Sunday as the tiny oil-rich nation of Equatorial Guinea went to the polls.

Initially scheduled to be held in November, the vote was brought forward to April 24 following a presidential decree, with no reason offered for the change.

Voters lined up outside polling stations in the capital Malabo before they opened at 8am (07H00 GMT). Voting is scheduled to close at 6pm, with results not expected until Thursday.

Obiang, who has ruled the west African country with an iron fist since overthrowing his uncle in a coup in 1979, faces six candidates in Sunday's vote.

The main opposition parties have however boycotted a vote that Obiang looks certain to win.

In the last election in 2009, he was returned to office with a sweeping 95.37 percent of votes.

The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott...
The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott of the vote, saying it would be rigged
, AFP

Aged 73, Obiang became president in 1982, three years after having his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema, who had ruled the country since independence from Spain, shot by firing squad.

Obiang's regime has frequently come under fire from human rights groups for suppressing dissident voices and the media, as well as for widespread corruption.

Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer in recent years, with oil revenues accounting for more than 70 percent of national income.

But the wealth has not trickled down -- while per capita national income stands at over $10,000, more than half the population lives on less than two dollars a day.

The incumbent is running as head of a coalition of 10 parties that includes the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.

His adversaries in Sunday's vote are mainly newcomers and figures with very little political weight.

- 'Fraud' -

The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott of the vote, saying it would be rigged.

Andres Essono Ondo, whose Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) group is part of the FOD, said numerous "irregularities" surrounded the poll, which he said would ensure that "President Obiang wins with a big score as a result of fraud".

Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer  with revenues acc...
Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer, with revenues accounting for over 70 percent of national income, but the wealth has not filtered down
, AFP

The CPDS, the only opposition party represented in parliament, said it "will not recognise the president elected in the poll".

The opposition condemned the lack of an independent electoral commission as well as the regime's grip on the media.

Another FOD member, Guillermo Nguema Ela, branded the election "anti-constitutional".

Obiang and his government "do not respect either the constitution or the law", Ela said in March.

Obiang has called himself "the candidate of the people."

"Whoever does not vote for me is rejecting peace and opting for disorder," he said at a rally in the capital Malabo when he launched his campaign.

"Many say that they are tired of seeing me, it's been 36 years already. True, but I've dedicated my life to this country," he said.

Africa’s longest-serving leader, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, was set to extend his 36-year-hold on power Sunday as the tiny oil-rich nation of Equatorial Guinea went to the polls.

Initially scheduled to be held in November, the vote was brought forward to April 24 following a presidential decree, with no reason offered for the change.

Voters lined up outside polling stations in the capital Malabo before they opened at 8am (07H00 GMT). Voting is scheduled to close at 6pm, with results not expected until Thursday.

Obiang, who has ruled the west African country with an iron fist since overthrowing his uncle in a coup in 1979, faces six candidates in Sunday’s vote.

The main opposition parties have however boycotted a vote that Obiang looks certain to win.

In the last election in 2009, he was returned to office with a sweeping 95.37 percent of votes.

The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott...

The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott of the vote, saying it would be rigged
, AFP

Aged 73, Obiang became president in 1982, three years after having his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema, who had ruled the country since independence from Spain, shot by firing squad.

Obiang’s regime has frequently come under fire from human rights groups for suppressing dissident voices and the media, as well as for widespread corruption.

Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa’s third biggest oil producer in recent years, with oil revenues accounting for more than 70 percent of national income.

But the wealth has not trickled down — while per capita national income stands at over $10,000, more than half the population lives on less than two dollars a day.

The incumbent is running as head of a coalition of 10 parties that includes the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.

His adversaries in Sunday’s vote are mainly newcomers and figures with very little political weight.

– ‘Fraud’ –

The Democratic Opposition Front (FOD) coalition of dissident groups called on March 23 for a boycott of the vote, saying it would be rigged.

Andres Essono Ondo, whose Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) group is part of the FOD, said numerous “irregularities” surrounded the poll, which he said would ensure that “President Obiang wins with a big score as a result of fraud”.

Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer  with revenues acc...

Equatorial Guinea has become sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer, with revenues accounting for over 70 percent of national income, but the wealth has not filtered down
, AFP

The CPDS, the only opposition party represented in parliament, said it “will not recognise the president elected in the poll”.

The opposition condemned the lack of an independent electoral commission as well as the regime’s grip on the media.

Another FOD member, Guillermo Nguema Ela, branded the election “anti-constitutional”.

Obiang and his government “do not respect either the constitution or the law”, Ela said in March.

Obiang has called himself “the candidate of the people.”

“Whoever does not vote for me is rejecting peace and opting for disorder,” he said at a rally in the capital Malabo when he launched his campaign.

“Many say that they are tired of seeing me, it’s been 36 years already. True, but I’ve dedicated my life to this country,” he said.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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