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The electoral campaign ended Friday, November 18 in Equatorial Guinea. Citizens will be called to the polls on Sunday for the presidential election, but also for the legislative and municipal elections.
With our special correspondent in Malabo, Loïcia Martial
For Sunday’s presidential election, the outgoing president Teodoro Obiang Nguema representing the majority and the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) is seeking a sixth term. In power for 43 years, he holds the world record for longevity outside the monarchy.
He will face two other candidates: the main opponent, Andrés Essono Ondo, of the Convergence for Social Democracy party and Buenaventura Monsuy of the PSCD, the social democratic coalition party.
The economy at the heart of concerns
These elections are without stakes, but the expectations of the populations are high. Equatorial Guinea is in the top 5 oil-producing countries south of the Sahara. But the oil windfall is far from benefiting everyone, according to an election observer who requested anonymity.
The activists of the various candidates, both from the majority and from the opposition, almost all recognize that the country has made a leap forward in terms of development, in particular the construction of infrastructure.
However, they believe that unemployment persists and affects all layers of society, especially young people. Voters therefore want to see leaders curb this scourge. In addition, Equatorial Guineans are also suffering from inflation and therefore expect concrete measures to bring down food prices.
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Meetings and promises
Theodoro Obiang Nguema ended his campaign with a meeting. In front of the Malabo stadium, presidential activists distributed T-shirts to passers-by to encourage them to join the meeting. And during the event, several speakers, including leaders of allied parties, took the floor. Speaking last, the president, wearing a muffler, asked the youth to take action ” for the smooth running of the country “. To women, he promised to increase their quota to 30% in Parliament.
On the opposition side, Andrés Essono Ondo, of the Convergence for Social Democracy party, was at a meeting in Bata, the country’s second city. And his supporters were in consultation and meditation, according to a party official.
The third candidate Buenaventura Monsuy, he deplored the fact that his entire campaign had not been broadcast on public television. He called on the population to vote against the outgoing president for ” put an end to the dictatorship that has lasted too long ».
► To read also: Elections in Equatorial Guinea: the opposition hopes to sit in the National Assembly