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The world’s longest-serving head of state, the president of Equatorial Guinea, has been sworn in for a sixth term in office.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is 80, took the presidential oath before inspecting a military parade.
He declared he was – and always would be – the leader of all Equatorial Guineans.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo born 5 June 1942 is an Equatoguinean politician and former military officer who has served as the second president of Equatorial Guinea since August 1979.He first seized power in a coup which happened in 1979.
Obiang is regarded as authoritarian leader. He has been widely accused of corruption and abuse of power. Under his rule, Equatorial Guinea continues to have one of the worst human rights records in the world.
He has overseen Equatorial Guinea’s emergence as an important oil producer, beginning in the 1990s. Obiang was Chairperson of the African Union from 2011 to 2012.
Critics say elections since then have been rigged, with the opposition largely prevented from taking part and the media controlled by the government and its allies.
Source: myghanadaily