By Mohamed Jaward Nyallay
Africa’s longest-serving leader, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, 73, has won a new term in office. He was declared winner of last week’s presidential election after securing his usual 90% and above in the polls. Nguema got 93% of the total vote cast and his party won 153 seats in Parliament out of the available 155.
Nguema has won the last two elections by 95% and 97% respectively, in the process raising some huge questions about the credibility of the election.
The general election that was held on April 17 was initially slated to be held in November 2016. But a decree from the President announced that the elections should be held in April, a decision that the President’s office gave no reason for.
The country boasts the highest GDP per capita in Africa thanks to an oil and gas boom. But it ranks 144 out of 187 states on the United Nations' 2014 Human Development Index.
Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa’s top producers of oil with revenues from the sales contributing to over 70% of the national income.
However, even with its riches, its less than one million citizens have been robbed of their wealth by rampant corruption. This way much of the wealth has not trickled down to the ordinary citizens.
The living condition in the former Spanish colony is one of the worst in Sub Saharan Africa.
Nguema came to power in 1979 after overthrowing his uncle, Francisco Masias Nguema.
During his tenure, he has been constantly criticized by human rights bodies across the world for his intolerance towards dissidents, civil society, opposition and the media.
Last year, Freedom House ranks Equatorial Guinea as the 11th most oppressive country in the world.
After been declared as a winner on Thursday, Nguema is set to rule his county in to his fifth decade as a president.
In the last decade, some African countries have witnessed strong opposition to long term Presidents. The most remarkable ones were the ousting of the Tunisian President, Zaine Al Abideen and the wave of similar actions that were replicated in the middle-east.
Term limits and extension have always been a thorny issue in Africa. It has caused wars and cost lives, most recently in the Central African Republic.
Countries like Senegal and Benin have recently debated to limit the term of the Presidency. In Sierra Leone there have been rumors of a third term for President Ernest Bai Koroma, even though he has denounced any chance of such happening.
In a continent where many are frowning on the extension of Presidential term limits, Nguema and few others are breaking the ground with decades of extension.
(C) Politico 03/05/16
