E.Guinea lauds 'exceptional' ties with Russia

Equatorial Guinea's presidency on Tuesday lauded relations between the small central African state and Russia, saying they "have reached an unprecedented level of cooperation", notably on security.

The comments came on the back of a visit by a delegation from the Russian defence ministry and also after two previous meetings this year between the countries' respective heads of state, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and Vladimir Putin.

An official statement in Malabo said "diplomatic, security and defence ties between the two countries were deepened" during talks held Sunday at the presidential palace.

Heading the Russian delegation were Deputy Defence Minister Alexey Krivoruchko and Colonel-General Yunnus-bek Yevkurov, according to the African Initiatives website, a news agency run by a former member of the Russian security services.

The meeting saw discussions on "final details of agreements signed in Moscow... in order to progress towards their implementation", according to the Malabo presidency's statement.

Various media in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea have recently made references -- not confirmed officially -- to the presence of Russian troops and mercenaries in the capital Malabo and the port of Bata.

The deepening of ties with Moscow has gathered pace since the conviction in France in 2021 of Obiang's eldest son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who is also vice-president, on charges of obtaining luxury assets with illegally-obtained funds.

President Obiang, 82, governs with an iron grip over his nation of some two million people and is, with the exception of monarchs and leaders installed for life, the world's longest serving head of state having ruled since 1979.