Pope Leo's African Tour: Tackling Corruption in Equatorial Guinea

0:00It's April 21st. This is Canada News today, driven by AI. Pope Leo XIV wraps up his first African tour. Tuesday and equatorial guinea, facing one of the toughest diplomatic spots yet. The small West African nation, a former Spanish colony, has been ruled by 83-year-old President Teodoro Obiang, Oma and Vasogo since 1979. He's Africa's longest-serving leader, dodged by charges of corruption and iron-fisted control. Oil boomed there in the mid-1990s, pumping of nearly half the GDP and over 90% of exports. But with almost 2 million people, more than half-scraped by in poverty, while billions from black gold line the pockets of the ruling family, as rights groups and foreign courts have exposed. Earlier this week in Cameroon, Leo didn't pull punches next to that country's 93-year-old president, slamming corruption as chains that, rec authority and fuel greed over justice. Locals there and activists hope he'll hit similar notes

1:01in this secular but deeply Catholic country where the church walks a tightrope with a regime for influence and funds. Meanwhile, equatorial guinea ranks near the bottom on global corruption lists, though its past anti-corruption laws and set up a commission. Experts say real change needs independent probes and courts, and the Pope's spotlight could rally hope for folks tired of harassment and silenced. Voices. Leo's got a full slate, meetings with Obi-Wan, speeches to officials and students, masses, visits to a hospital, prison, and youth, plus prayers at Abekas. Memorial for last year's deadly barracks blast. Seemstresses are buzzing with Pope print fabric orders, turning the trip into local excitement that might just echo louder than the regime's spin.