Since its independence from Spain in 1968, the country of about 1.5 million people has had only two presidents.

Manuela Roka Botey has become the first female prime minister of Equatorial Guinea.

This followed her appointment by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, according to Reuters.

Botey’s new position was announced late Tuesday on state television.

She was former vice minister of education of in the country

Obiang, 80, was re-elected for a sixth term with 95 percent of the vote in November, cementing his position as the world’s longest-serving ruler.

The US said at the time that it had “serious doubts about the credibility of the announced results”.

It urged authorities to work with all stakeholders to address allegations of voter fraud.

Since its independence from Spain in 1968, the country of about 1.5 million people has had only two presidents.

In August 1979, Obiang deposed his uncle, Francisco Macias Nguema, in a coup.