Who is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo?
Q: Who is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo?
A: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the President of Equatorial Guinea since 1979. He came to power in a military coup, deposing the former leader Francisco Macías Nguema.
Q: What was his background before becoming president?
A: Before becoming president, Mbasongo had attended the military academy in Zaragoza, Spain.
Q: How did he come to power?
A: He came to power in a military coup, deposing the former leader Francisco Macías Nguema. Ngema had ruled the country for the previous decade and was known to be very cruel; he was sentenced to death and executed by a firing squad.
Q: What changes did he make after coming into office?
A: After coming into office, Mbasongo promised to start over and do a better job at governing the country. In 1982, a new constitution was made and MBasogo was given the newly created post of president. He has been re-elected in 1989, 1996 and 2002 (although international observers said that election results were false).
Q: How is his regime viewed domestically and internationally?
A: Most domestic and international observers consider his regime to be one of the most corrupt, ethnocentric, oppressive and undemocratic states in the world. It is essentially a single-party state dominated by Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). Opposition politicians are severely hampered by lack of free press or other means of expression; around 90% live in exile while 550 anti-Obiang activists have been jailed unfairly or killed since 1979.
Q: What comments has he made about himself?
A: In 2003 state-operated radio declared Obiang to be a god who is "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and "can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account." He personally made similar comments in 1993 although still claims that he is devout Catholic which has earned him invitations from both John Paul II and Benedict XVI at The Vatican . His predecessor Macías had also proclaimed himself as god .
Q: Is there any indication that another term may be on its way ?
A: In November 2021 , Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was appointed at his party's congress as candidate for sixth term in 2023 election .
