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

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 following a presidential decree, with no reason offered for the change. Voters lined up […]

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 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 8:00 am (07H00 GMT). Polls are scheduled to close at 6:00 pm, with results not expected until Thursday.
Obiang, now 73, has ruled the West African country with an iron fist since 1979 when he ousted his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema, who had ruled the country since independence from Spain in 1968, in a coup and had him shot by firing squad.
The president voted late morning in the race which pits him against six other candidates.
The main opposition parties have however boycotted a vote that Obiang looks certain to win.