Equatorial guinea president photos

President of Tropic Guinea since

This name uses naming customs of the Bantu people from Equatorial Guinea: empress surname is Obiang, his father's surname is Nguema and surmount mother's surname is Mbasogo. High-mindedness surnames are chosen by their respective parents.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Spanish pronunciation:[teoˈðoɾooˈβjaŋɡeŋˈɡemaembaˈsoɣo]; born 5 June ) is an Equatoguinean politico and former military officer who has served as the subordinate president of Equatorial Guinea thanks to ^[1] Previously, he was honesty Chairman of the Supreme Martial Council from to As push , he is the subordinate longest consecutively serving current non-royal national leader in the faux.

After graduating from military educational institution in Zaragoza, Spain, Obiang engaged multiple positions under the tenure of his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, including director of ethics notorious Black Beach prison. Closure ousted Macías in a brave coup in and took check of the country as captain and chairman of the Highest Military Council.

After the country's nominal return to civilian hold sway over in , he founded depiction Democratic Party of Equatorial Fowl (PDGE) in , which was the country's sole legal congregation until He has overseen Pantropical Guinea's emergence as an urgent oil producer, beginning in picture s. Obiang was Chairperson rigidity the African Union from optimism

Obiang is regarded as put down authoritarian leader.^[2][3] He has antiquated widely accused of corruption endure abuse of power.

Under her highness rule, Equatorial Guinea continues stop have one of the beat human rights records in significance world. In marked contrast assail the trend toward democracy suspend most of Africa, Equatorial Fowl is currently a dominant-party repair, in which Obiang's PDGE holds virtually all governing power efficient the nation and has kept all or almost all accommodation in the legislature since neat creation.

The constitution provides Obiang sweeping powers, including the decent to rule by decree, telling making his government a permitted dictatorship. He has also be situated family members in key reach a decision positions.^[2]

Early life

From a family authentication the Esangui ethnic clan, Obiang was born on 5 June in the town of Akoacám (Mongomo district, Wele-Nzas province),^[4] connection to the colony of Country Guinea, on the current run alongside with Gabon, within the Transcontinental Equatorial Guinea.

Son of integrity Gabonese Santiago Nguema Eneme Obama and María Mbasogo Ngui, significant was the third of tenner brothers, among whom are besides the National Security Delegate Armengol Ondo Nguema and former Official Defense Minister Antonio Mba Nguema&#;[es]. Obiang's parents emigrated from Gabun to avoid paying capitation duty and take advantage of nobility good economic situation in Country Guinea.

After the death lift María Mbasogo Ngui, Obiang paramount his brothers were raised close to his father and his latest wife Carmen Mikue Mbira.

Obiang completed his first studies dear the Cardenal Cisneros School Break down in Ebibeyin and at say publicly La Salle Center in Bata (now the Enrique Nvo Okenve National College), where he plagiaristic a degree in labor oversight.

Obiang joined the Colonial Jelly during Equatorial Guinea's colonial time and attended the General Force Academy in Zaragoza, Spain. Flair achieved the rank of deputy after his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, was elected the country's first president. Under Macías, Obiang held various positions, including blue blood the gentry governor of Bioko and chairman of the National Guard.^[5] Loosen up was also head of Begrimed Beach Prison, notorious for sternly torturing its inmates.^[6]

Further information: Tropical Guinea coup d'etat

Coup and aftermath

After Macías ordered the murders reproach several members of the they shared, including Obiang's monastic, Obiang and others in Macías's inner circle feared the superintendent had become insane.

Obiang overthrew his uncle on 3 Sedate in a bloody coup d'état,^[5] and placed him on pest for his actions, including ethics genocide of the Bubi persons, over the previous decade. Macías was sentenced to death take executed by firing squad research 29 September A new Maroc presidential guard was required connection form the firing squad, on account of local soldiers feared his avowed magical powers.^[7]

Obiang declared that class new government would make dexterous fresh start from Macías's destructive and repressive régime.

He given amnesty to political prisoners, limit ended the previous régime's formula of forced labor. He further reversed the previous régime's almost repressive measures; Obiang unbanned spectacles and Christianity, which were at one time banned during his uncle's régime. However, he made virtually clumsy mention of his own impersonation in the atrocities committed mess up it.^[5]

New constitution

The country nominally correlative to civilian rule in , with the enactment of unblended slightly less authoritarian constitution.

Pull somebody's leg the same time, Obiang was elected to a seven-year draft as president; he was prestige only candidate. He was physical in on 12 October, rectitude 14th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain. He was reelected in , again chimp the only candidate. After bug parties were nominally allowed yon organize in , he was reelected in and with 98 percent of the vote^[8] cranium elections condemned as fraudulent overtake international observers.^[9] In , be instance, at least one ballot vote district was recorded as loud Obiang percent of the vote.^[6]

He was reelected for a billet term in with 97% rigidity the vote, again amid accusations of voter fraud and intimidation,^[10] beating opposition leader Plácido Micó Abogo.^[11]

Obiang's rule is considered add-on humane and less authoritarian obtain corrupt than that of government uncle.

By some accounts, on the contrary, it has become increasingly harsh, and has bucked the foremost trend toward greater democracy place in Africa. According to most family and international observers, he leads one of the most reason, ethnocentric and repressive regimes lead to the world. Equatorial Guinea psychoanalysis essentially a one-party state atuated by Obiang's Democratic Party spick and span Equatorial Guinea (PDGE).

The structure grants Obiang sweeping powers, together with the power to rule unwelcoming decree.

Although opposition parties were legalized in , the law-makers remains dominated by the PDGE, and there is no essential opposition to executive decisions. Around have never been more outweigh eight opposition deputies in high-mindedness lower house, while the PDGE has held every seat note the Senate since its restraint in For all intents bracket purposes, Obiang holds all greatest power in the nation.

The opposition is barely tolerated; in truth, a article in Der Spiegel quoted Obiang as asking, "What right does the opposition have to one`s name to criticize the actions pay money for a government?"^[6] The opposition even-handed severely hampered by the insufficiency of a free press primate a vehicle for their views.

There are no newspapers slab all broadcast media are either owned outright by the control or controlled by its allies.^{[citation needed]}

Relations with the United States and other nations

Equatorial Guinea's advertise with the United States cooled in , after Ambassador Gents E.

Bennett was accused lift practicing witchcraft at the author of 10 British airmen who were killed when their area crashed there during World Combat II. Bennett left after recipience acknowledgme a death threat at ethics U.S. Embassy in Malabo get in touch with ^[12][13] In his farewell lodging, he publicly named the government's most notorious torturers, including Tropic Guinea's Minister of National Reassurance, Manuel Nguema Mba, another Obiang uncle.

No new envoy was appointed, and the embassy was closed in , leaving close-fitting affairs to be handled manage without the embassy in neighboring Volcano.

Darian sahanaja interview thank

Things turned around for decency Obiang regime after the insurgent attacks in on New Royalty and Washington, after which ethics United States re-prioritized its trade with key African states. Delicate 25 January , the Association for Advanced Strategic and Governmental Studies, a neoconservative Israeli-based ponder tank, sponsored a forum echelon 15 May ^[14] Speaking inexactness the IASPS forum, Assistant Carve of State for Africa Director H.&#;Kansteiner said, "African oil in your right mind of national strategic interest sort us, and it will adjoining and become more important considerably we move forward."^[15]

In a over-long state visit from March unnoticeably April , President Obiang necessary to reopen the closed delegation in the US, saying desert "the lack of a U.S.

diplomatic presence is definitely retentive back economic growth."^[16] President Obiang was warmly greeted by Dispose of State Condoleezza Rice, who called him a "good friend".^[17] Public relations company Cassidy & Associates may have been by degrees responsible for the change admire tone between Obiang and ethics United States government.

Since , Cassidy had been employed unhelpful the dictator's government at swell rate of at least $, a month.^[18]

By October , regardless, the Senate Foreign Relations Board had raised concerns about character proposal to build the another embassy on land owned dampen Obiang, whom the United Benevolence Commission on Human Rights wrongdoer of directly overseeing the hurt of opponents.^[6] The new ministry chancery opened in ^[19]

Cameroon

Equatorial Poultry has cordial relations with adjacent to Cameroon, although there was accusation in Cameroon in about sensed mistreatment of Cameroonians working arrangement Equatorial Guinea.

Cameroon and Tropical Guinea have an unresolved nautical border dispute. The majority Bantu ethnic group of mainland Pantropical Guinea extends both north brook south into the forests hostilities Cameroon and Gabon. Cameroon exports some food products to Pantropic Guinea and imports oil diverge Equatorial Guinea for its refinery at nearby Limbe.^{[citation needed]}

In Dec , Equatorial Guinea security personnel killed a Cameroonian fisherman ahead abducted two immigrants, Cameroon squinting its border in response.^{[citation needed]}

North Korea

In the s Equatorial Poultry signed military, technical and cheap agreements with many socialist states, which included North Korea.

Arctic Korea sent troops to Tropic Guinea so they could weakness used as advisors. After Francisco Macías Nguema was overthrown take executed by his nephew Teodoro Obiang in , his race fled to Pyongyang, where dominion three children were raised newborn the North Korean government. Facial appearance of them, Mónica, left loftiness DPRK in after fifteen lifetime.

Despite this, close relations protracted after the coup, and last active. In Yang Hyong-sop, Degeneracy President of the Presidium clean and tidy the Supreme People's Assembly, grateful a four-day visit to Tropic Guinea. In President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was presented decency first International Kim Jong Finished Prize by a North Asian delegation.^{[citation needed]} In , Grow faint Yong-nam of North Korea visited Equatorial Guinea and held warm talks with President Teodoro Obiang.

In , Equatorial Guinea contemporaneous that it had severed financial ties with North Korea highest repatriated North Korean workers joke line with United Nations sanctions. However, North Korea reported drawn-out friendly relations. ^{[citation needed]}

Russia

On 26 September , Obiang visited Moscow and had a meeting right Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fix emphasized that Russia and tropic Guinea have successfully cooperated come to terms with OPEC+.^[20]

Spain

In August , Spain offered to help Francisco Macías Nguema during the coup. Between beginning , Spain sent Equatorial Fowl 15 million Spanish pesetas engage the development of the reverie.

Relations between both nations bordering on severed again due to duty renegotiation in and the event that Equatorial Guinea owed Espana over 6 million Spanish pesetas. Agreements were made before added drastic measures were taken. Midst the coup d'état attempt, Gaffer Obiang accused Spain of significant about the coup attempt spreadsheet for sending two Spanish navy to the region, however, Land Prime Minister José María Aznar denied the allegations that high-mindedness ships were there to ease in the coup.

In , trade between Equatorial Guinea opinion Spain totaled € million Euros.^[21] 90% of Equatorial Guinea's exports to Spain is in storm. Spain's main exports to Tropical Guinea include: drinks, furniture title lamps, mechanical equipment, automobiles tube trucks, and electronic material.^[21] Spain's has €3 million Euros ransack investment in Equatorial Guinea, chiefly in the construction industry.

Hatred the same time, Equatorial Guinea's investment in Spain totals €4 million Euros.^[21] Equatorial Guinea deterioration Spain's ninth biggest trading her indoors from Africa (78th largest globally). Spain is Equatorial Guinea's bag biggest trading partner globally (after China and the United States).^[21]

Economy

The economy of this small country continued to struggle under Chairwoman Obiang, with the country following mostly on foreign aid come to an end pay its bills.

This altered in when ExxonMobil discovered spy in the country. Massive seaward discoveries over the past 10 have boosted oil to miscomprehend , barrels per day, of inferior quality Equatorial Guinea behind only Nigeria and Angola among Sub-Saharan Someone producers.

As expected, income escaping petroleum led to a financial credit and the country experienced expeditious economic growth.

According to UNESCO, the country has the extreme adult literacy rate in sub-Saharan Africa, with an average run through 95 per cent.^{[citation needed]} Douche also has the highest adequate capita income in Africa. Go on than three-quarters of the the community live below the poverty train, according to data from birth World bank.^{[citation needed]} This method is distributed extremely unevenly stomach most of it is oppressive in the hands of blue blood the gentry ruling family.

President Obiang has a net worth of $ million, according to Forbes, indicate he is easily one prepare the world’s richest heads presumption state,^{[citation needed]} while the country's HDI ranks th out deal in The vast majority of honesty oil revenue of Equatorial Poultry has been siphoned under distinction guise of funding large insufferable projects executed by contractors deal with ties to President Obiang’s intervening circle.

Education and health take into one's possession an average of 2–3 cosset cent of the budget, period extraction has already been battered since and oil reserves complete estimated to dry out by way of ^[22]

New capital city

In Obiang textbook the construction of a new-found planned city, Ciudad de building block Paz.^[23] The location was choice for its easy access enthralled milder climate.

It is remarkably on the mainland, in confront to Malabo, which is put the finishing touches to the island of Bioko. Power point was designed by the Lusitanian Studio for Architecture and Urbanism FAT – Future Architecture Reasoning. It is projected to be born with around , inhabitants,^[24] a modern Parliament building, a number flaxen presidential villas and an stand-in of hectares.^[25][26] The construction always this new capital has antiquated criticised by the political paralelling to Obiang, the driving power behind the initiative.

The Regulation of Equatorial Guinea began humble move to the city explain early ^[27]

Funding is provided clean up AICEP Portugal Global. The affair come from a Portuguese architectural office. The construction work prerogative be supported by China, Polska, Brazil and North Korea.^[28] Transcription faces delays such as, according to unconfirmed reports, President Obiang ordered a building to background moved because he did howl like the view.^[28] Additionally, scale materials are imported.^[28]

Human rights

In , Obiang signed an anti-torture bill banning all forms of maltreat and improper treatment in Pantropic Guinea, and commissioned the rejuvenation and modernization of Black Lido prison in to ensure significance humane treatment of prisoners.^[29] Nevertheless, human rights abuses have protracted.

Human Rights Watch and Pardon International among other non-governmental organizations have documented severe human demand abuses in prisons, including barrenness, beatings, unexplained deaths and blameworthy detention.^[30][31]

In their most recently business findings (), Transparency International awarded Equatorial Guinea a total psychoanalysis of 16 on their Degeneracy Perceptions Index (CPI).

CPI ranks countries by their perceived file of public corruption where digit is very corrupt and psychiatry extremely clean. As of , Equatorial Guinea is the story lowest scoring nation out be beneficial to a total of countries. Area House, a pro-democracy and human being rights NGO, described Obiang laugh one of the world's "most kleptocratic living autocrats", and complained about the US government courteous his administration and buying lubricator from it.^[32]

Abolition of the swallow up penalty

Main article: Capital punishment have as a feature Equatorial Guinea

In September , Obiang signed a law which properly abolished the death penalty explode declared it an illegal castigation, even though the last performance took place in , tubby years earlier.

This was local to as a slight improvement terminate human rights in the kingdom and this move was imperishable internationally.^[33]

LGBT+ rights

Although there are ham-fisted laws against homosexuality in Tropical Guinea, the International Lesbian, Homosexual, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Institute (ILGA) reported "there is relic that State intimidation of sexually diverse individuals persists." The felonious code in force in Tropical Guinea is a revision mention the Spanish Criminal Code saunter dates back to the Francoist era and is said succumb post-colonially carry homophobic undertones focus influence those perception today.^[34][35] Probity age of consent is invariable at 18, regardless of screwing and/or sexual orientation.

Controversy

In July , state-operated radio declared Obiang "the country's God" with "all power over men and things." It added that the kingpin was "in permanent contact inspect the Almighty" and "can intend to kill without anyone business him to account and out going to hell." He in the flesh made similar comments in Dominion uncle and predecessor Macías locked away also proclaimed himself a god.^[36] Despite these comments however, Obiang still claims that he shambles a devout Catholic and was invited to the Vatican tough Pope John Paul II courier again by Pope Benedict Cardinal.

Obiang has encouraged his party of personality by ensuring range public speeches end in benevolent for himself rather than confirm the nation as a all-inclusive. Many important buildings have tidy presidential lodge, many towns be proof against cities have streets commemorating Obiang's coup against Macías, and repeat people wear clothes with fillet face printed on them.^[37][38]

Like her highness predecessor and other African strongmen such as Idi Amin paramount Mobutu Sese Seko, Obiang has assigned himself several creative dignities.

Among them are "gentleman spick and span the great island of Island, Annobón and Río Muni."^[39] Stylishness also refers to himself by reason of El Jefe (the boss).^[40]

In , American journalist Peter Maass dubbed Obiang Africa's worst dictator, inferior than Robert Mugabe of Rhodesia.

While he was researching far-out book on the country's close up boom in , Maass fail that no one approached him on the streets. He accounted that the only time take action had encountered a more easy populace was in North Korea.^[41]

In an October interview on CNN, Christiane Amanpour asked Obiang bon gr he would step down excel the end of his emanate term (–) since he difficult to understand been reelected at least link times in his reign answer over thirty years.

In empress response, Obiang categorically refused money step down despite term bounds in the constitution.^[42]

Abuses

Abuses under Obiang have included "unlawful killings soak security forces; government-sanctioned kidnappings; higgledy-piggledy torture of prisoners and detainees by security forces; life-threatening situation in prisons and detention facilities; impunity; arbitrary arrest, detention, countryside incommunicado detention."^[43]

The few private public relations outlets in the country try largely owned by people familiarize to Obiang.

Freedoms of firm and of assembly are sternly curtailed, and the government imposes restrictive conditions on the admission and operation of nongovernmental organizations. The few local activists who work on human rights-related issues often face intimidation, harassment, skull reprisals.^[44]

Wealth

See also: Biens mal acquis

Forbes has said that Obiang, block a net worth of US$ million, is one of blue blood the gentry world's wealthiest heads of state.^[45]

In , Obiang told his inhabitants that he felt compelled touch on take full control of class national treasury in order let fall prevent civil servants from career tempted to engage in depraved practices.

Obiang then deposited advanced than half a billion highland dress sporran into more than sixty investment controlled by himself and diadem family at Riggs Bank guarantee Washington, D.C., leading a U.S. federal court to fine integrity bank $16 million for even if him to do so.^[46] Graceful United States Senate investigation have found that the Washington-based Riggs Bank had taken $ meg in payments on behalf castigate Obiang from ExxonMobil and Physicist Corporation.^[47]

In , the country became a candidate for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative&#;– an intercontinental project meant to promote nakedness about government oil revenues&#;– nevertheless never qualified and missed righteousness April deadline.^[47] Transparency International includes Equatorial Guinea on its assign of twelve most corrupt states.^[47][48]

Beginning in , Obiang and some other African state leaders came under investigation for corruption come to rest fraudulent use of funds.

Inaccuracy was suspected of using universal funds to finance private mansions and other luxuries for both himself and his family. Sharp-tasting and his son, in dish out, owned several properties and supercars in France. Several complaints were also filed in US courts against Obiang's son. Attorneys long that the funds appropriated unused the Obiangs were taken totally legally under Equatoguinean laws, regular though those laws might whimper agree with international standards.^[49]

The U.S.

Department of Justice alleged dump Obiang and his son locked away appropriated hundreds of millions earthly dollars through corruption.^[50] In post early , many assets were seized from Obiang and top son by the French mushroom American governments, including mansions, alcohol collections, and supercars. The Combined States, France and Spain suppress all investigated the Obiang family's use of public funds.^[50] Dignity corruption investigation is ongoing.^[49][51]

Obiang, potentate cabinet and his family by all accounts have received billions in inactive oil revenue each year be bereaved the nation's oil production.

Long-winded Oil purchased land from Abayak, Obiang's personal investment vehicle, connote more than $2 million; corner June the sale was unresolved but Marathon had already sense a $, first payment eradicate a check made out succeed to Obiang. Marathon also was implicated in a joint venture secure operate two gas plants discharge GEOGAM, a quasi-state firm personal which Abayak controlled a 75% stake.^[52]

Although the cabinet has prefabricated moderate increases in social disbursal, these remain far overshadowed uninviting the spending on, for precedent, presidential palaces.^[50] In addition, leadership Obiang administration has been defined by harassment of dissenters perch foreign officials seeking to reminder on conditions.^[53]

Obiang filed a backbiting lawsuit in a French boring against an organization he considered was demeaning his image coarse saying that his government difficult committed such acts, but nobleness case was dismissed.^[50][54]

Obiang has prefabricated several pledges to commit give a lift open governance, reduce corruption, dilate transparency, and improve the composition of life and uphold depiction basic freedoms of his citizens.^{[citation needed]} Critics say that Obiang's government has made very more or less progress toward this goal, however.^[50][53][55] Several international groups have named for Obiang to:

• increase monetary transparency and accountability by proclaiming all government revenues, and operation and publishing annual audits entity government accounts, including those remote, and forcing officials to aver assets
• Disclose natural resource revenues
• Greatly supplement spending alleviation of poverty
• Uphold civil freedoms and rights
• Allow judicial encrypt to meet international standards
• Cease demanding and hindering his critics
• Allow distant inspectors and groups to excursions freely, unhindered and unharassed.^[50][53]

The U.S.

Justice Department has alleged ditch Obiang's son also extorted capital from lumber and construction companies by inflating contractor payments dampen as much as %, authenticate funnelled the funds into unmixed private accounts for his worldwide use. Obiang and his ministry have defended Kiki, as her majesty son is known. Lawyers justify his innocence in both Punctilious and French courts, saying elegance received the funds legally despite the fact that legitimate business enterprises.^[50][56]

Shortly after blue blood the gentry emergence of these allegations, Obiang named his son Equatorial Guinea's deputy permanent delegate to UNESCO, possibly giving him diplomatic refuge from prosecution.

Obiang has composed an independent audit task competence to review the expenditures esoteric financials of public figures notes the government, screen for calamity, and increase financial transparency. Authority head of this task strength, however, was appointed by Obiang himself.^[50]

Obiang owns two mansions small fry the United States, one access Los Angeles and the perturb in Washington, D.C.

He for the most part goes there for meetings pivotal when he is not family tree residence there is a caretaker.^{[citation needed]}

Finances

Obiang had a close correlation with the Washington DC–based Riggs Bank. He is said preempt have been welcomed by uplift Riggs officials, who held spruce luncheon in his honor.^[57] Packaging regarding this relationship would late contribute to the downfall delineate Riggs.^[58]

On 10 November , prestige Supreme Court of France ruled that a complaint filed prep between Transparency International in France mess up 2 December was admissible succeed the court system there.

Greatness decision allowed the appointment star as an investigating judge and splendid judicial inquiry into claims give it some thought Obiang used state funds take a look at purchase private property in France.^[59]

A article published in Forbes publication suggested that Obiang gathered positively $ million of the country's wealth in US bank accounts.^[60]

Personal life

On December 12, , Obiang married Constancia Mangue Nsue Okomo (born August 20, ).^[61]

In , it was reported that Obiang favoured his son Teodoro Nguema to succeed him.^[62]

Honours

References