Equatorial Guinea's longtime president reelected for 6th term

By James Tasamba

KIGALI, Rwanda (AA) - Equatorial Guinea's longtime President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was reelected for a sixth term in office, the country's electoral commission has announced.

The head of the electoral commission, Faustino Ndong Esono Eyang, said on Saturday that Mbasogo got 94.9% of votes, equivalent to 405,910 ballots, in the country's recent presidential elections.

"The results of the general election solemnly proclaim His Excellency Obiang Nguema Mbasogo President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for a term of seven years," said Eyang.

Turnout for the vote in last Sunday's poll stood at 98%, according to the results posted on the government's website.

The two opposition candidates, Andres Esono Ondo and Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu, garnered 9,684 and 2,855 votes, respectively.

Obiang, 80, who has been in power for 43 years, went into the election with the backing of a coalition of 15 parties, including his own Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE).

Obiang's son and Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue said the results of had proved "us right again."

"We continue to prove to be a Great Political Party," he said on Twitter.

The ruling party and coalition also won all 55 seats in the Senate and the 100 seats in the lower parliamentary house.

"Without doubt, we carried out a great campaign, demonstrating with facts that the PDGE is the guarantee for the present and future of GE (Equatorial Guinea)," said Mangue.

Obiang has previously been elected with more than 90% of the vote in the West African nation of around 1.5 million people.

He rose to power after ousting his uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, in a 1979 coup.