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Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

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Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
President of Equatorial Guinea
Assumed office
3 August 1979
Prime MinisterCristino Seriche Bioko
Silvestre Siale Bileka
Ángel Serafín Seriche Dougan
Cándido Muatetema Rivas
Miguel Abia Biteo Boricó
Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea
Ignacio Milam Tang
Preceded byFrancisco Macías Nguema
Chairperson of the African Union
Assumed office
31 January 2011
Preceded byBingu wa Mutharika
Personal details
Born (1942-06-05) 5 June 1942 (age 82)
Acoacán, Spanish Guinea
(now Equatorial Guinea)
Political partyDemocratic Party
SpouseConstancia Mangue

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (born 5 June 1942) is an Equatoguinean politician who has been President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. He ousted his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in an August 1979 military coup and has overseen Equatorial Guinea's emergence as an important oil producer, beginning in the 1990s. Obiang has also been Chairperson of the African Union since January 2011.

Early life

Born into the Esangui clan in Acoacán, Obiang joined the military during the colonial period, and attended the Military Academy in Zaragoza, Spain. He achieved the rank of lieutenant after his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, was elected the country's first president. Under Macías, Obiang held various jobs, including governor of Bioko and leader of the National Guard.[1] He was also head of Black Beach Prison, which was notorious for subjecting inmates to severe torture.[2]

Presidency

After Macías ordered the murders of several members of his own family—including Obiang's brother—Obiang and others in Macías' inner circle feared the president had gone insane. Obiang overthrew his uncle on 3 August 1979 in a bloody coup d'état.[1] Macías was placed on trial for his activities over the previous decade and sentenced to death. His activities had included the genocide of the Bubi. He was executed on 29 September 1979 by firing squad.[3]

Obiang declared that the new government would make a fresh start from Macías' brutal and repressive regime. He granted amnesty to political prisoners and ended the previous regime's system of forced labor. However, virtually no mention was made of his own role in the atrocities of his uncle's rule.[1]

New constitution

A new constitution was adopted in 1982. At the same time, Obiang was elected to a seven-year term as president; he was the only candidate. He was reelected in 1989, again as the only candidate. After other parties were permitted to organize, he was reelected in 1996 and 2002 with 98 per cent of the vote[4] in elections condemned as fraudulent by international observers.[5] In 2002, for instance, at least one precinct was recorded as giving Obiang 103 percent of the vote.[2]

He was reelected for a fourth term in 2009 with 97% of the vote, again amid accusations of fraud and intimidation,[6] beating opposition leader Plácido Micó Abogo.[7]

Although his rule was initially considered more humane than that of his uncle, by most accounts it has become more brutal over the years. Most domestic and international observers consider his regime to be one of the most corrupt, ethnocentric, oppressive and undemocratic states in the world. Equatorial Guinea is now essentially a single-party state, dominated by Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). The constitution, while slightly less authoritarian than its predecessor, still grants Obiang wide powers, including the power to rule by decree. Although opposition parties were legalized in 1992, 99 members of the 100-seat parliament are either members of the PDGE or are aligned with it, and there is little opposition to presidential decisions.

The opposition is barely tolerated; indeed, a 2006 article in Der Spiegel quoted Obiang as asking, "What right does the opposition have to criticize the actions of a government?"[2] The opposition is severely hampered by the lack of a free press as a vehicle for their views. There are no newspapers, and all of the broadcast media are either owned outright by the government or controlled by its allies.

International relations

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United States

US President Obama and Obiang with their wives in 2009 at a reception in New York

Equatorial Guinea's relations with the United States entered a cooling phase in 1993, when Ambassador John E. Bennett was accused of practicing witchcraft at the graves of 10 British airmen who were killed when their plane crashed there during World War II. Bennett departed after receiving a death threat at the U.S. Embassy in Malabo in 1994;[8] in his farewell address, he publicly named the government's most notorious torturers – including Equatorial Guinea's current Minister of National Security, Manuel Nguema Mba. No new envoy was appointed, and the embassy was closed in 1996, leaving its affairs to be handled by the embassy in neighboring Cameroon.

Things started to turn around after the 11 September attacks in 2001 on New York and Washington, in the aftermath of which the United States sought a radical re-prioritization in its dealings with key African states. On 25 January 2002, the Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, a Jerusalem-based think tank, sponsored a forum on “African Oil: A Priority for U.S. National Security and African Development” at the University Club in Washington, D.C. According to the Institute, "West African oil is what can help stabilize the Middle East, end Muslim terror, and secure a measure of energy security. First, the Africa Initiative is Africa's Turn. And, turning Africa can help turn the kaleidoscope that will reset misalliances and unseat misrule driven by oil and murder. It's a policy".[9] Speaking at the IASPS forum, Assistant Secretary of State for Africa Walter H. Kansteiner said, "African oil is of national strategic interest to us, and it will increase and become more important as we move forward. It will be people like you who are going to develop that resource, bring that oil home, and try to develop the African countries as you do it."[9]

In a lengthy state visit from March to April 2006, President Obiang sought to reopen the closed embassy, claiming that "the lack of a U.S. diplomatic presence is definitely holding back economic growth."[10] President Obiang was warmly greeted by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who called him a "good friend",[11] and Obiang himself was "extremely pleased and hopeful that this relationship will continue to grow in friendship and cooperation." The PR company of Cassidy & Associates may be partially responsible for this change in the relations between Obiang and the United States government. Since 2004, Cassidy has been employed by the dictator's government at a rate of at least $120,000 a month.[12]

By October 2006, however, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee had raised concerns about the proposal to build the new embassy on land owned by Obiang himself, whom the United Nations Commission on Human Rights has accused of directly overseeing the torture of opponents of his regime.[2]

Controversy

Abuses

Abuses under Obiang have included "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; impunity; arbitrary arrest, detention, and incommunicado detention."[13]

In July 2003, state-operated radio declared Obiang "the country's god" and had "all power over men and things." It added that the president was "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and "can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to hell." He personally made similar comments in 1993. Despite these comments, he still claims that he is a devout Catholic and was invited to the Vatican by John Paul II and again by Benedict XVI. Macías had also proclaimed himself a god.[14]

Obiang has encouraged his cult of personality by ensuring that public speeches end in well-wishing for himself rather than for the republic. Many important buildings have a presidential lodge, many towns and cities have streets commemorating Obiang's coup against Macías, and many people wear clothes with his face printed on them.[15][16]

Like his predecessor and other African dictators such as Idi Amin and Mobutu Sese Seko, Obiang has assigned to himself several creative titles. Among them are "gentleman of the great island of Bioko, Annobón and Río Muni."[17] He also refers to himself as El Jefe (the boss).[18]

Wealth

Forbes magazine has said that he is one of the wealthiest heads of state, with a net worth of US$600 million.[19] Official sources have complained that Forbes is wrongly counting state property as personal property.[20]

In 2003, Obiang told his citizenry that he felt compelled to take full control of the national treasury in order to prevent civil servants from being tempted to engage in corrupt practices. To avoid this corruption, Obiang deposited more than half a billion dollars into accounts controlled by Obiang and his family at Riggs Bank in Washington, D.C., leading a U.S. federal court to fine the bank $16 million.[21]

Coups

In 2004 an attempt to depose Obiang was thwarted. One of those involved was Mark Thatcher, son of the former UK Prime Minister. In 2008 American journalist Peter Maass called Obiang Africa's worst dictator, worse than Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe.[22]

With the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi in August 2011, Obiang became a contender for the longest ruling non-royal head of state (See List of current longest ruling non-royal national leaders) however, using different definitions, Paul Biya of Cameroon and Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen have been heads of state for longer.

Finances

Obiang had a close relationship with Washington, D.C.-based Riggs Bank. He is said to have been welcomed by top Riggs officials, who held a luncheon in his honor.[23] (Publicity regarding this relationship would later contribute to the downfall of Riggs.[24])

His son owns property through his Sweetwater Malibu LLC at 3620 Sweetwater Road, Malibu, CA. This property has the highest-assessed property value in Malibu.[25]

On 10 November 2010, the Supreme Court of France accepted that the complaint filed by Transparency International in France on 2 December 2008, is admissible. The Supreme Court’s decision will allow the appointment of an investigating judge and the opening of a judicial inquiry into claims that the President has used state funds to purchase private property in France.[26]

An article published in Forbes magazine suggested Obiang has gathered roughly $700 million of the country's wealth in US bank accounts.[27]


References

  1. ^ a b c Gardner, Dan (6 November 2005). "The Pariah President: Teodoro Obiang is a brutal dictator responsible for thousands of deaths. So why is he treated like an elder statesman on the world stage?". The Ottawa Citizen (reprint: dangardner.ca). Archived from the original on 12 June 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d Alexander Smoltczyk (28 August 2006). "Rich in Oil, Poor in Human Rights: Torture and Poverty in Equatorial Guinea". Der Spiegel. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "When Macias was duly sentenced to death 101 times, a new Moroccan presidential guard had to form the firing squad, because local soldiers feared his alleged magical powers." Bloomfield, Steve (13 May 2007) "Teodoro Obiang Nguema: A brutal, bizarre jailer" The Independent, last accessed 21 October 2010
  4. ^ Bloomfield, Steve (13 May 2007) "Teodoro Obiang Nguema: A brutal, bizarre jailer" The Independent, last accessed 21 October 2010
  5. ^ United States Central Intelligence Agency (2009) CIA World Factbook 2010 Skyhorse Pub Co Inc., New York, page 214, ISBN 978-1-60239-727-9
  6. ^ Tran, Mark (30 November 2009) "President Nguema of Equatorial Guinea on course to extend three-decade rule" The Guardian, last accessed 21 October 2010
  7. ^ Nguema wins re-election
  8. ^ A Touch of Crude
  9. ^ a b Proceedings of an IASPS Symposium
  10. ^ Larry Luxner (2001-08). "Equatorial Guinea Goes from Rags to Riches With Oil Boom". Retrieved 2007-11-01. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |comment= ignored (help)
  11. ^ Remarks With Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Before Their Meeting
  12. ^ Kurlantzick, Joshua (7 May 2007). "Putting Lipstick on a Dictator". Mother Jones. Retrieved 22 August 2007. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ United States State Department (25 February 2009) "2008 Human Rights Report: Equatorial Guinea", archived at Freezepage
  14. ^ "Equatorial Guinea's 'God'". BBC. 26 July 2003. Retrieved 1 November 2007.
  15. ^ Maass, Peter (2005) "A Touch of Crude" Mother Jones 30 (1): pp. 48–89
  16. ^ Silverstein, Ken (2010) "Saturday Lagniappe: UNESCO for Sale: Dictators allowed to buy their own prizes, for the right price" Petroleumworld, originally published by Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2010, archived at Freezepage
  17. ^ "In his address UNESCO’s annual meeting of governments on 30 October 2007 the “Gentleman of the great island of Bioko, Annobón and Río Muni, El Jefe (the boss), “a god who is ‘in permanent contact with the Almighty’” and “can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to hell” His Excellence, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, ..." Kabanda (3 October 2010) "Money for good causes: does the source matter?" Sunday Times (Rwanda), premium content that requires login, last accessed 21 October 2010
  18. ^ Staff (28 September 2010) "Africa's Worst Dictators: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo" MSN News (South Africa), archived at Freezepage
  19. ^ "Fortunes Of Kings, Queens And Dictators" (Document). Forbes. 5 May 2006. {{cite document}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |url= ignored (help) and part of a slideshow
  20. ^ Kroll, Luisa (15 May 2006) 'Fortunes of kings, queens and dictators: A look at the world's wealthiest leaders" Forbes on MSNBC.com, last accessed 21 October 2010
  21. ^ Ken Silverstein. "Oil Boom Enriches African Ruler: While the people of Equatorial Guinea live on a dollar a day, sources say their leader controls more than $300 million in a Washington bank". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 22 January 2003. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  22. ^ Maass, Peter (24 June 2008). "Who's Africa's Worst Dictator?". Slate. The Washington Post Company. Retrieved 30 June 2008. But Mugabe may not be Africa's worst. That prize arguably goes to Teodoro Obiang, the ruler of Equatorial Guinea
  23. ^ Montgomery, David (17 July 2004). "Critics Say Allbritton Ruined Bank He Loved". Washington Post. Retrieved 8 July 2008. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Gurulé, Jimmy (2008) "Chapter 11: Private causes of action: using the civil justice system to hold terrorist financiers accountable" Unfunding terror: the legal response to the financing of global terrorism Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, England, footnote 10, page 356, ISBN 978-1-84542-962-1
  25. ^ Staff (11 August 2006) "African Minister buys multi-million dollar California mansion" Global Witness
  26. ^ Newstime Africa, 22 November 2010
  27. ^ http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/10/20101021155522938291.html
Political offices
Preceded by President of Equatorial Guinea
1979–present 		Incumbent

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