President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Wants To Extends His Rule

 

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema is planning on  extending  his rule. Since 1979 he as ruled Equatorial Guinea. Only two presidents have held office and President Nguema came to power through a coup. Equatorial Guinea gained its independence from Spain in 1968. The first president was Nguema's uncle Francisco Macias Nguema. The country has been under the rule of one family for 43 years. The elections that have happened since have been questioned by international observers. Equatorial Guinea has the benefit of oil reserves and production. Although it oil wealth is known, the population still remains in poverty. Political repression and limited press freedom have left the public frustrated. Nepotism has become another concern as his son might be a potential successor. The political opposition does not have the ability to remove him from office. Simultaneously, the demand for non-Russian oil puts President Nguema in a stronger position. Casting a ballot means little in a regime that is authoritarian, but has democratic institutions. Equatorial Guinea closed its borders ahead of elections. The reason stated by the government was to prevent destabilization from mercenaries or foreign powers.  Closing the border during elections harms commerce which Cameroon, Chad, and Gabon are dependent on. The measure is not targeted at merchants, rather it is designed to control the movement of citizens of Equatorial Guinea. Those who flee the country could spread information about abuses to the world.  Equatorial Guinea is a major force in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. Over the decades there has been significant investment in infrastructure. However, the limited amounts of wealth distribution have undermined that accomplishment. Many have suspected that most of the profits from oil have gone to enriching the Nguema family. All the accusations of corruption the government has denied. The list of crimes has become more extensive over the years. Torture and violence by the state security apparatus has occurred. This makes protest or armed uprising impossible to do in Equatorial Guinea.