Equatorial Guinea’s longtime ruler wins elections denounced as fraudulent with 95 percent

Eq. Guinea’s ruler wins 95 percent in elections

JOHANNESBURG — The government of Equatorial Guinea says the African country’s ruler of 30 years has been re-elected with 95.37 percent of votes, while opponents and international human rights groups denounced the electoral process in Africa’s No. 3 oil producer as fraudulent.

A statement Friday on the government’s Web site said President Teodoro Obiang Nguema won 260,462 votes in Nov. 29 elections. Four opponents shared the other votes. The government refused to publish a voters’ roll.

The statement said Obiang would continue health, education and human rights reforms.

U.N. reports show infant mortality has increased and education enrollment decreased since oil was discovered in 1994. Rights activists accuse Obiang of becoming fabulously wealthy while his people are more impoverished.