Believed to be one of the longest serving African dictators, and since the downfall of Libya's Muammar Gaddafi in august 2011, the World's longest ruling Non-Royal Head of State; popularly referred to in Equatorial Guinea as the "country's god" and "he who had power over men and things".
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, came under global search light for alleged Gross Misappropriation of State's Funds.
Teodoro Obiang has been leader of Equatorial Guinea, the only African country where the Spanish is the official language, since 3rd April, 1979, after leading a coup against his equally dictatorial uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in a bloody coup d'état. Francisco Macías Nguema was immediately tried and executed. Obiang thereafter relaxed some of the restrictions of his predecessor like the infamous ban on the Catholic Church, he however, clenched on to the absolute absolute power control he inherited.
Since his ascension to power, Teodoro Obiang has won all elections held in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with percentages close to a hundred. This is evident in the country's December 2002 presidential election, where Mr. Obiang won with more than 97% votes. A similar pattern was repeated in the 2009 presidential elections, where opposition candidates reportedly withdrew from the poll, citing fraud and irregularities.
To secure his position as possibly a lifelong leader of The Republic of Equatorial Guinea, President Obiang Teodoro Mbasogo reportedly eliminated all who opposed his leadership style. Oppositions are put under check, with fear of reprisals, from the government.
Unlawful killings by security forces, government-sanctioned kidnappings, systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life threatening conditions in prisons and detention facilities, arbitrary arrest, detention, and incommunicado detention, impunity, are some of the charges brought against president Obiang's government.
Unlawful killings by security forces, government-sanctioned kidnappings, systematic torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life threatening conditions in prisons and detention facilities, arbitrary arrest, detention, and incommunicado detention, impunity, are some of the charges brought against president Obiang's government.
Equatorial Guinea, officially known as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and formerly Spanish Guinea, is a small, but rich country in West-Central Africa.
The country enjoyed one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world during the 1990s and early 2000s. Going by its Per capital income on timber, crude reserve and population, the people of Equatorial Guinea should be able to afford to live above poverty level. Regrettably the masses live way below poverty lines. A Global Witness news release states that “Equatorial Guinea is one of the poorest and most repressive regimes in the world, despite earning $3 billion in oil revenues annually”.
Equatorial Guinea is the third-largest oil supplier in Africa, after Angola and Nigeria; somehow, the people are impoverished. Appropriation of funds in Equatorial Guinea is treated as a state secret and occurs off the record. Unlike most peripheries, Equatorial Guinea is reported to generate about $50,200 on paper, a figure that comfortably competes with the highest per capita in the world, yet majority of the people is estimated to live on $1 per day.
The country enjoyed one of the fastest economic growth rates in the world during the 1990s and early 2000s. Going by its Per capital income on timber, crude reserve and population, the people of Equatorial Guinea should be able to afford to live above poverty level. Regrettably the masses live way below poverty lines. A Global Witness news release states that “Equatorial Guinea is one of the poorest and most repressive regimes in the world, despite earning $3 billion in oil revenues annually”.
Equatorial Guinea is the third-largest oil supplier in Africa, after Angola and Nigeria; somehow, the people are impoverished. Appropriation of funds in Equatorial Guinea is treated as a state secret and occurs off the record. Unlike most peripheries, Equatorial Guinea is reported to generate about $50,200 on paper, a figure that comfortably competes with the highest per capita in the world, yet majority of the people is estimated to live on $1 per day.
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Living condition of most Equatorial Guineans
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Published reports showed that Obiang Teodoro Mbasogo over the years amassed immense wealth for himself and his family. Critics alleged that President Teodoro Obiang, lavished billions of dollars of the country’s income profits on showpiece projects that does little to improve the lives of its citizens.
A published report indicates that the purchase of a Malibu mansion is typical of President Obiang’s extravagant spending pattern. Beside Malibu mansion, President Obiang reportedly own luxury homes in Los Angeles, Buenos Aires, Paris and Capetown. A couple of years back, Obiang allegedly purchased some fleets of auto mobiles including Bentley and Lamborghini.
A complaint filed by Transparency International France, accused President Obiang of acquiring millions of dollars of real estate in Paris and on the French Riviera, and buying luxury cars with embezzled public money. Consequently, in what was termed the case of "ill-gotten gains", a French Judge in May 2009, disclosed that he would launch a milestone investigation into allegations that President Obiang and two other African leaders looted state strongboxes. An accusation President Obiang debunked. A French appeal court threw out the case citing that it was unconstitutional for activists to bring up charges to act against foreign heads of state. Howbeit, in a subsequent ruling, in November 2010, investigation into the charges was authorized.
Teodoro (Teodorin) Nguema Obiang Mangue, President's Obiang's son is equally believed to be a person of interest for allegedly engaging in "reckless spending", and siphoning state money into personal accounts.
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| Some of Teodoro Obiang's cars reportedly seized by the French Police |
A complaint filed by Transparency International France, accused President Obiang of acquiring millions of dollars of real estate in Paris and on the French Riviera, and buying luxury cars with embezzled public money. Consequently, in what was termed the case of "ill-gotten gains", a French Judge in May 2009, disclosed that he would launch a milestone investigation into allegations that President Obiang and two other African leaders looted state strongboxes. An accusation President Obiang debunked. A French appeal court threw out the case citing that it was unconstitutional for activists to bring up charges to act against foreign heads of state. Howbeit, in a subsequent ruling, in November 2010, investigation into the charges was authorized.
Teodoro (Teodorin) Nguema Obiang Mangue, President's Obiang's son is equally believed to be a person of interest for allegedly engaging in "reckless spending", and siphoning state money into personal accounts.
Possibly for security reasons, and peharps one of President Obiang's showpiece projects, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is constructing a multi-billion dollar mega capital city deep in Equatorial Guinea's rain forest, in Wele-Nzas province, east of the country, called Oyala, otherwise known as Djibloho.
It is thought the present capital city Malabo is vulnerable to seaborne attacks. As a result maybe, the nearest airport and settlements of any kind is said to be at least 10 miles away from the new city. When completed, the new capital will boast of state-of-the-art facilities. Obiang planed to relocate the seat of government to Oyala in 2020.
In an exclusive interview with BBC's Hard Talk in 2012, President Obiang Teodoro Mbasogo whose regime is believed to be one of the world's most controversial, denied all allegations brought against him.
Corruption and misappropriation of public funds by people who either forced their way into power or elected continue to plague Africa and developing nations the world over.
In an exclusive interview with BBC's Hard Talk in 2012, President Obiang Teodoro Mbasogo whose regime is believed to be one of the world's most controversial, denied all allegations brought against him.
Corruption and misappropriation of public funds by people who either forced their way into power or elected continue to plague Africa and developing nations the world over.
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