After spending 43 years in power
President of Equatorial Guinea seeks to extend his rule
The area of poverty in Equatorial Guinea is increasing.
For the British "Economist".
Obiang is accused of stifling dissent and freedom of expression.
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Equatorial Guinea holds elections next Sunday, when President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the world's longest-ruling president, will seek to extend his 43-year rule, which has been marked by rights abuses and corruption, rights groups and opponents say.
The West African oil-producing country of 1.5 million people has been ruled by only two presidents since independence from Spain in 1968.
Obiang overthrew his uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, in a coup in 1979.
The 80-year-old Obiang, who is always elected with more than 90% of the vote in elections questioned by international observers, is running for a sixth term against two candidates, Andres Esono Ondo and Buenaventura Monsue Asomu.
Parliamentary and local elections will be held at the same time.
Oil and gas production accounts for about three-quarters of the country's revenues, an OPEC member.
However, production has decreased in recent years to about 93 thousand barrels per day, from about 160 thousand barrels per day in 2015 due to the depletion of the fields.
And although the tiny nation on the Gulf of Guinea has seen significant investment in infrastructure, opponents say, the oil wealth has ended up in the pockets of the president's entourage, who live in luxury while most of the population lives in poverty.
Obiang is also accused of stifling dissent and freedom of expression.
The government denied these accusations.
Rights groups say protests are mostly banned, the media is tightly controlled, and political opponents are not uncommon for arbitrary arrest and torture.
Activists say intimidation increased in the run-up to the elections, as authorities targeted civil society organizations and critics of the regime.
In September, security forces raided the headquarters of a banned opposition party, the only party with a seat in Parliament, and arrested more than 100 of its members.
If Obiang is re-elected, he will face new challenges.
The economy has been hit by the coronavirus, and although the war in Ukraine has boosted demand for non-Russian oil, it has also led to a sharp rise in food prices.
Although the tiny nation on the Gulf of Guinea has seen significant investment in infrastructure, the oil wealth has ended up in the pockets of the president's entourage, who lead a life of luxury while most of the population lives in poverty.
Activists say intimidation increased in the run-up to the elections, as authorities targeted civil society organizations and critics of the regime.
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