Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (born 5 June 1942) is the President of Equatorial Guinea, having ruled the country since 1979, making him the longest-serving president in the world. He came to power through a military coup that overthrew his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, whose rule had plunged the country into terror and isolation. Obiang initially presented himself as a stabilizing figure, restoring basic state functions and re-opening Equatorial Guinea to the international community. His presidency has since become synonymous with entrenched authoritarian rule. Following the discovery of vast offshore oil reserves in the 1990s, Equatorial Guinea became one of Africa’s largest oil producers, briefly achieving one of the continent’s highest GDPs per capita. However, this wealth has been highly concentrated among the ruling elite, while the majority of citizens continue to face poverty, weak public services, and limited political freedoms. Obiang’s rule is marked by systematic suppression of opposition, tightly controlled elections, and the consolidation of power within his family and inner circle.