Government resigns in Equatorial Guinea

ANKARA

The government in Equatorial Guinea has resigned, Prime Minister Pascual Obama Asue said Saturday.

Members submitted their resignations to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, according to a statement by the prime minister's office.

Mbasogo ,78, who has held the post for 41 years, earlier criticized the Asue government for failing to fulfill duties and achieve planned goals.

The new government is expected to be announced by the country's leader within days.

Equatorial Guinea is among the most severely affected countries by the economic crisis triggered by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

It has reported 4,821 COVID-19 cases, 83 fatalities and 2,182 recoveries, according to figures compiled by US-based Johns Hopkins University.

Since originating in China last December, the pandemic has claimed nearly 768,000 lives in 188 countries and regions.

* Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev