Equatorial Guinea’s long-serving President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo will seek a new term in November presidential elections, the country’s vice president said on Friday, reported The Reuters. Mbasogo has been ruling Equatorial Guinea with an iron fist for more than 43 years since he snatched power in a 1979 coup.
His son, Equitorial Guinea’s Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, made the announcement on Twitter on Friday.
“Because of his charisma, his leadership, and his political experience”, the ruling party unanimously chose Obiang as its candidate for the November 20 poll, Obiang Mangue tweeted.
The 80-year-old President Obiangmis the longest ruling head of state in the world excluding monarchs. His ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) holds 99 of the 100 seats in the outgoing lower house of parliament and all 70 of the senate seats.
Earlier this week, Obiang issued a decree confirming the date of the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections. The elections have been brought forward by five months to November 20.
“The presidential, Chamber of Deputies, Senate, and municipal elections are called for November 20, 2022,” said a decree issued by the head of state, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, read out on state television.
He set out a series of justifications for the advancement, including the economic crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative effects arising from the Russian military offensive on Ukraine.
Equatorial Guinea’s president also alluded to the dire consequences of the explosions in Bata in March 2021, which left more than 100 dead and adversely affected the economic forecasts.
He assured that holding of elections is a costly affair and defended that the government already has experience in making several processes coincide in a single appointment.
Equatorial Guinea has 18 legalized political parties, although in practice there is no opposition with strong contenders to contest against Obiang.
