Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who also heads the Economic Community of Central African States, urged Gabonese voters Monday to back their leader General Brice Oligui Nguema seven weeks before presidential polls.Former head of the presidential guard, Oligui has been in power since an August 30, 2023 coup, which ended decades-long rule by the Bongo dynasty, and he now leads a transitional administration.Oligui has yet to declare his official candidacy for the April 12 poll but has dropped hints, with a seven-year mandate up for grabs.On Saturday, Obiang, an autocrat who has been in power for 45 years, offered his counterpart strong backing during a ceremony to mark the connection of his country’s electricity grid with Gabon.Under the agreement, Equatorial Guinea will provide 10 megawatts of power to its neighbour and bolster a weak electricity network that has seen frequent power cuts, causing popular discontent.”I want to address my brothers in Gabon. Be wise!… If you want everything to go well for you, this (Oligui) is your leader,” said Obiang.”Don’t listen to those who talk for nothing, because those who want to create chaos are not on the side of Africa,” Obiang added, in a speech on TikTok.”Don’t systematically oppose everything,” added Obiang, 82, whose longevity in power is unmatched globally — save for hereditary monarchies. “All power comes from God. How is it that God appoints a leader and then some people say they don’t accept him? Is this normal? It’s up to you to judge. I am only advising,” Obiang said.General Oligui expressed in response his “deep gratitude” for Obiang’s “wise advice and constant support, since the beginning of the transition in Gabon”.Candidacies for the April poll, which will mark a move back to a constitutional system in Gabon, must be submitted from Thursday.To date, no candidacy has been declared ahead of an electoral campaign scheduled to run from March 29 to midnight on April 11.
