Equatorial Guinea: Prime Minister Francisco Asue And Government Resigns Amid Crisis

The government and prime minister of Equatorial Guinea presented their resignation on Friday to President Teodoro Obiang, who claimed they had failed to help the country at a time of crisis, reported Reuters.

“The head of state regretted that the outgoing government did not fulfil its policy objectives, which undoubtedly led to this crisis situation,” a statement published on the government website read.

Equatorial Guinea has been hit by a double economic breakdown related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and a sharp drop in the price of crude, which provides around three-quarters of the nation’s revenue. The former Spanish colony has reported 4,821 coronavirus cases and 83 deaths so far.

The 78 year old Obiang has ruled the Central African oil producing country since overthrowing his uncle in a 1979 coup, relying on repression of political opponents and the country’s offshore oil riches. In February 2018, the president dissolved the last government and reappointed Francisco Asue as prime minister.  Asue had served as premier since 2016. He has been accused by critics of repressing political opponents.

There has been a lot of speculation over the state of Obiang’s health in recent weeks. His worsening health condition has raised expectations that the cabinet could be reshuffled to include those more supportive of his son, Vice-President Teodorin Obiang, said Tutu Alicante, the head of EG Justice, a U.S.-based organization that promotes human rights and rule of law in Equatorial Guinea.

“They were going to move progressively towards having a government, a cabinet that would not stand in the way of Teodorin fully assuming the governing roles” Alicante said.

He added a new government is expected to be announced soon.

 Equatorial Guinea’s economy is still struggling to recover from a recession caused by a 2014 slump in oil prices and is expected to contract by a further 5.5% in 2020, according to International Monetary Fund figures.