Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
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Obiang in 2014
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| 2nd President of Equatorial Guinea | |
| Assumed office 12 October 1982 |
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| Prime Minister |
See list
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| Vice President |
See list
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| Preceded by |
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| Chairman of the Supreme Military Council | |
| In office 3 August 1979 – 12 October 1982 |
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| Deputy |
See list
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| Preceded by | Council established |
| Succeeded by | Council dissolved; Himself (as President) |
| 9th Chairperson of the African Union | |
| In office 31 January 2011 – 29 January 2012 |
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| Preceded by | Bingu wa Mutharika |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Boni Yayi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 June 1942 Acoacán, Spanish Guinea (now Equatorial Guinea) |
| Political party | Democratic (since 1987) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouse |
Constancia Mangue
(m. 1968) |
| Children |
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| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | Colegio Nacional Enrique Nvó Okenve |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |
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| Branch/service | Armed Forces of Equatorial Guinea |
| Years of service | 1968–1982 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | Chief of General Staff |
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was born on June 5, 1942. He is a politician and former military officer from Equatorial Guinea. He has been the second president of Equatorial Guinea since 1982. Before that, he led the Supreme Military Council from 1979 to 1982. He is one of the longest-serving national leaders in the world who is not a king or queen.
After finishing military school in Spain, Obiang worked in different roles under his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, who was the president at the time. He even managed a prison called Black Beach. In 1979, Obiang took control of the country in a military takeover. He became president and head of the Supreme Military Council.
When the country returned to civilian rule in 1982, he started the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) in 1987. For a while, this was the only legal political party. Since the 1990s, Equatorial Guinea has become an important country for oil production under his leadership. Obiang also served as the leader of the African Union from 2011 to 2012.
Obiang is seen as a leader who holds a lot of power. His government has been accused of not always respecting human rights. Equatorial Guinea is mostly controlled by Obiang's party, the PDGE. This party holds almost all the power in the country's government. The country's rules give Obiang strong powers, allowing him to make decisions quickly. He has also given important government jobs to members of his family.
Early Life and Education
Growing Up in Equatorial Guinea
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was born in Acoacán, a town in what was then called Spanish Guinea. This area is now part of Equatorial Guinea. He comes from the Esangui family group. His parents, Santiago Nguema Eneme Obama and María Mbasogo Ngui, moved from Gabon to Spanish Guinea. They wanted to avoid certain taxes and find better economic opportunities. Teodoro was the third of ten children. After his mother passed away, his father and stepmother raised him and his siblings.
School and Military Training
Obiang went to school at Cardenal Cisneros School Group in Ebebiyin. He also studied at the La Salle Center in Bata, which is now called the Enrique Nov Okenve National College. There, he earned a degree in labor administration.
Later, Obiang joined the Colonial Guard during the time Equatorial Guinea was a colony. He attended the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Spain. He became a lieutenant after his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, became the country's first president. Under his uncle's rule, Obiang held several important jobs. He was the governor of Bioko and a leader of the National Guard. He was also in charge of the Black Beach prison.
Presidency and Leadership
Taking Power and New Beginnings
After his uncle, Macías, caused harm to several family members, Obiang and others close to Macías became worried. Obiang led a military takeover on August 3, 1979, removing his uncle from power. Macías was put on trial for his actions and was executed.
Obiang announced that his new government would be different from the harsh rule before. He allowed political prisoners to go free. He also ended forced labor and other strict rules. For example, he made it legal again to wear glasses and practice Christianity, which had been banned. However, he did not talk much about his own role in the difficult times under his uncle's rule.
New Rules and Elections
In 1982, Equatorial Guinea started to have a civilian government again. A new, slightly less strict constitution was put in place. At the same time, Obiang was elected president for a seven-year term. He was the only person running for president. He officially started his term on October 12, which was the 14th anniversary of the country's independence from Spain.
He was re-elected in 1989, again as the only candidate. In 1992, other political parties were allowed to form. However, Obiang was re-elected in 1996 and 2002 with very high percentages of the vote. International observers had concerns about these elections.
He was re-elected for a fourth term in 2009. He won with a large majority of the votes, beating opposition leader Plácido Micó Abogo. There were still concerns about how the votes were counted.
Obiang's rule is seen as less harsh than his uncle's. However, many observers believe his government still has strong control. Equatorial Guinea is largely a one-party state, meaning Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) has most of the power. The country's rules give Obiang wide-ranging powers.
Even though other parties were allowed in 1992, the PDGE still controls the government. There are very few members from other parties in the parliament. This means Obiang has almost all the governing power in the country.
The government does not allow much criticism. There are no independent newspapers, and all TV and radio stations are either owned by the government or controlled by its supporters.
Working with Other Countries
Equatorial Guinea's relationship with the United States became difficult in 1993. The U.S. Ambassador was accused of unusual behavior. The U.S. Embassy in Malabo closed in 1996.
Things changed after the terrorist attacks in 2001 in the United States. The U.S. then focused more on its relationships with important African countries. In 2002, a U.S. official said that African oil was very important for the United States.
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In 2006, President Obiang visited the U.S. and wanted the embassy to reopen. He said that not having a U.S. embassy was slowing down economic growth. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice welcomed him. The new U.S. embassy opened in 2013.
Cameroon Equatorial Guinea has friendly relations with its neighbor, Cameroon. However, there have been some disagreements, like a dispute over their sea border. The Fang ethnic group, which is common in Equatorial Guinea, also lives in parts of Cameroon and Gabon. Cameroon sells food to Equatorial Guinea and buys oil from it. In 2008, there was a small border issue that led Cameroon to close its border for a short time.
North Korea
In the 1970s, Equatorial Guinea made agreements with many socialist countries, including North Korea. North Korea sent advisors to Equatorial Guinea. Even after Obiang took power, close ties continued. In 2013, Obiang received the first International Kim Jong Il Prize from North Korea. In 2018, Equatorial Guinea said it had stopped economic ties with North Korea to follow United Nations rules. However, North Korea still reported friendly relations.
Russia
On September 26, 2024, Obiang visited Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin noted that Russia and Equatorial Guinea work well together in OPEC+, a group of oil-producing countries.
Spain In 1979, Spain offered help during the takeover. Between 1979 and 1983, Spain sent money to Equatorial Guinea to help the country develop. Relations became difficult again in 1983 because Equatorial Guinea owed Spain money. Agreements were made to solve this. In 2004, when there was an attempt to overthrow the government, President Obiang accused Spain of knowing about it. Spain denied these claims.
In 2016, trade between Equatorial Guinea and Spain was worth €748 million Euros. Most of Equatorial Guinea's exports to Spain are oil. Spain mainly sells drinks, furniture, cars, and electronics to Equatorial Guinea. Spain has invested in construction in Equatorial Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea has invested in Spain. Spain is Equatorial Guinea's third biggest trading partner in the world.
Economy and Wealth
For a long time, Equatorial Guinea's economy struggled. The country relied on help from other countries to pay its bills. This changed in 1995 when ExxonMobil found oil in the country. Huge oil discoveries have made Equatorial Guinea a major oil producer in Africa.
Because of the oil, the country's economy grew very quickly. Equatorial Guinea has a high percentage of adults who can read and write. It also has the highest income per person in Africa. However, most of this wealth is not shared equally. More than three-quarters of the people live below the poverty line. Much of the oil money is controlled by the ruling family.
President Obiang is one of the richest heads of state in the world. However, Equatorial Guinea ranks low on the Human Development Index, which measures things like health, education, and living standards. Education and health services receive only a small part of the country's budget. Oil production has been decreasing since 2012, and it is estimated that the oil reserves will run out by 2035.
Building a New Capital City
In 2012, Obiang decided to build a new planned city called Ciudad de la Paz. The spot was chosen because it's easy to get to and has a milder climate. It is on the mainland, unlike the current capital, Malabo, which is on an island. The city was designed by a Portuguese architecture firm. It is planned to have about 200,000 people, a new parliament building, and many presidential homes. The government started moving to the new city in early 2017.
The construction of this new capital has been criticized by those who oppose Obiang. The project gets money from Portugal. China, Poland, Brazil, and North Korea are helping with the building work. There have been some delays, partly because all the building materials have to be brought in from other countries.
Human Rights and Progress
In 2006, Obiang signed a rule against torture. This rule banned all forms of abuse in Equatorial Guinea. In 2007, he ordered the renovation of Black Beach prison to make sure prisoners were treated humanely. However, human rights groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have reported that problems still exist in prisons. They have documented unexplained deaths and illegal detentions.
Transparency International measures how corrupt countries are. In 2020, Equatorial Guinea scored 16 out of 100, where a lower score means more perceived corruption. As of 2023, it ranks 120th out of 180 countries. Freedom House, a group that supports democracy and human rights, has also raised concerns about the government.
Ending the Death Penalty
In September 2022, Obiang signed a law that officially ended the death penalty. This means it is no longer a legal punishment in Equatorial Guinea. The last execution in the country had taken place eight years earlier, in 2014. This step was seen as an improvement in human rights and was praised by other countries.
Personal Life
On December 12, 1968, Obiang married Constancia Mangue Nsue Okomo.
In 2006, it was reported that Obiang preferred his son Teodoro Nguema to take over as president after him.
Honours
Bolivia:
Grand Collar of the Order of the Condor of the Andes (November 2017)
Eswatini:
Collar of the Royal Order of the Crown (2012)
Philippines:
Grand Collar of the Order of Lakandula, Rank of Supremo (May 2006)
Serbia:
Order of the Republic of Serbia, Second Class (February 2022)
Spain:
Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (December 1979)
Suriname:
Grand Officer Honorary Order of the Yellow Star (February 2012)
Uganda:
Most Excellent Order of the Pearl of Africa: Grand Master (2012)
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See also
In Spanish: Teodoro Obiang Nguema para niños
