MALABO— The people of the Central African country of Equatorial Guinea are voting on Sunday for their new president and representatives in both parliamentary chambers.

Out of a population of less than 2 million, about 400,000 voters are expected to cast their ballots between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time.

The fate of the Central African country is being decided among three political parties in the presence of observers from the African Union and the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries delegation.

Incumbent President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, 80, is the candidate of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea. He has been in power since 1979 after a coup against his predecessor and is seeking a sixth term.

Obiang, the longest-serving leader of the world, will face Andres Esono Ondo, 61, of the Convergence for Social Democracy, the only opposition party that is not banned, and Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu, 63, of the Social Democratic Coalition Party, allied with the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea in the legislative and municipal elections.

Public and international opinion is certain of the forthcoming victory of Obiang, who won 93.7% of the vote in 2016 and whose party holds all 55 seats in the Senate and 99 of the 100 seats in the outgoing National Assembly. In 2011, he lifted the constitutional age limit of 75 for governing.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK