Putin met with the “god-like” most permanent president in the world

The visit was postponed due to Prigozhin’s rebellion

Vladimir Putin received the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, at his Novo-Ogarevo residence. The visit comes ahead of the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which will be celebrated next month, however, according to initial plans, Ngema was supposed to visit the Russian Federation back in June.

Welcoming the guest, Vladimir Putin said that the two countries have good prospects for developing cooperation. “There is something to do,” Putin said, noting that all issues of interaction will be discussed both within delegations and in a bilateral format.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema thanked the President for the warm welcome and hospitality that he and his entourage felt already at the airport. According to the African leader, he would like to discuss with his Russian colleague not only bilateral relations, but also the situation in the world. “I would like to strengthen our cooperation in the field of defense, the protection of our countries,” Ngema said, after which he asked to continue communication without the press. “OK, deal. Let’s continue without the press,” Putin agreed with the guest’s wishes.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s visit was originally announced by the Kremlin this summer: on June 25-26 he was supposed to visit Belarus, and on June 27 he was to meet with the Russian president in the Kremlin. However, Prigozhin’s rebellion, which occurred on June 24, made adjustments to these plans: Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s trip to Moscow and Minsk was cancelled.

The President of Equatorial Guinea visited Belarus in early September, and now he has again made a multi-hour flight for negotiations with Vladimir Putin.

Apart from the three living monarchs, Teodoro Obiang Nguema is the longest-serving head of state in the world – he has held the presidency continuously since 1979, invariably winning elections with a result close to 100%. Forbes magazine regularly includes the Guinean leader in the list of the richest rulers in the world. And in Equatorial Guinea itself, back in 2003, he was declared “like God in heaven” and “possessing all power over people and things.”