Campaigning ends in Equatorial Guinea ahead of Sunday's polls

Electoral authorities in Equatorial Guinea say all is set for the country’s presidential election on Sunday.

The presidential candidates wrapped up their campaigns on Friday.

The African Union’s observer mission led by the former president of Benin, Thomas Boni Yayi has already arrived in the central African nation.

The country’s Interior Minister, Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguene told a press conference that the electoral commission has taken delivery of all logistics needed for Sunday’s poll.

He also assured that election materials have been made available at the country’s diplomatic missions abroad for accredited Equatorial Guineans to vote.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema will be challenged by six opposition candidates.

#EquatorialGuinea ruling party rally in #Malabo. Last day of campaigning. Presidential election is on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/WzTvzDxSKD

— harumutasa/aljazeera (@harumutasa) April 22, 2016

Some of them who are unhappy with the process so far stayed away from a meeting on Wednesday to assess the level of preparedness for the polls.

The meeting was attended by accredited observers and representatives of some of the political parties taking part in Sunday’s poll.

President Obiang Nguema who has been in power since 1979 is largely expected to win another seven-year mandate.

If that happens, his combined term in office will be 44 years putting at par only to Haile Selassie, the one time Emperor of Ethiopia who ruled for nearly half a century.

AFP