President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea takes the oath of office for a sixth, seven-year term. He currently holds the record for the longest tenure of any living head of state outside of monarchies.
The legitimacy of the PDGE party’s resounding victory with 94.9% of the vote has drawn criticism from members of the international community, including the US government.
Members of the government of the nation in central Africa responded to these uncertainties.
“The only thing the people can expect from the newly re-elected president is to continue the development of our country in all sectors. What the people hope for, and what I personally hope for, is the sustainability of its action in the education sector, in the health sector, in the economic sector, in all sectors of the country and in infrastructure,” said Atalia Ndong, government spokesperson.
“Every country has its own model of democracy. There is no system that governs democracy in absolute terms. In Equatorial Guinea, there is a presidential democracy. A peaceful election. We are pleased that the opposition parties participated and that one of the main candidates in this election came to congratulate us,” added Evita Junto, a politician.
In the oil-rich nation in Central Africa that he has ruled with an iron grip and in the face of a muzzled opposition since 1979, Obiang was re-elected.
Obiang is the longest-serving head of state outside of a monarchy, having presided for more than 43 years.
