Pope’s visit to Equatorial Guinea is a diplomatic challenge as he closes his Africa trip
Pope Leo XIV visited Equatorial Guinea, a country ruled by Africa's longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, accused of corruption and authoritarianism. The Pope's visit presented a diplomatic challenge as he addressed issues of social inequity and corruption.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea for the final leg of his four-nation African journey. The country is ruled by 83-year-old President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power since 1979 and is accused of widespread corruption and authoritarianism. Despite oil wealth, over half of the country's 2 million people live in poverty. The Catholic Church is central to Equatorial Guinea's politics and society, with around 75% of the population being Catholic. The Pope's visit presented a diplomatic challenge as he addressed issues of social inequity and corruption, having previously spoken out against corruption in Cameroon. The government has taken some steps to improve transparency, but critics say more is needed to ensure independence in investigations and the judiciary.
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