Equatorial Guinea regime will become more repressive

Significance

According to the state press office, Obiang secured 93.7% of the votes cast, giving him another seven-year term. The poll coincides with both the worst economic crisis in the country's recent history, and complications for succession planning caused by a French anti-graft probe.

Impacts

• US and French investigations into the Obiang family's wealth may push them to move offshore funds to Asian havens such as Hong Kong.
• The recent 29-million-dollar road building contract awarded to China Wuyi adds to the 2 billion dollars in deals made with China in 2015.
• The regime will encourage oil firms to maintain crude production levels and expand into downstream activities.
• Leaders of other Central African states will refrain from criticising the poll -- since theirs were barely more credible.