Teodoro Obiang Nguema

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the President of Equatorial Guinea, a small Central African nation. He has held this position since seizing power in a 1979 coup, making him the longest-serving non-royal head of state in the world. While not directly featured in the provided articles about Benin's elections, he is relevant due to an upcoming visit by Pope Leo XIV to Equatorial Guinea in April 2026. News reports highlight public discontent regarding mandatory contributions imposed on the population to fund the papal visit, including salary deductions and uniform purchases. This underscores the ongoing issues of governance and economic pressures within Equatorial Guinea under Obiang's long-standing rule, even as the country prepares to host a significant international event.