Equatorial Guinea - You are invited to a coup - Quiet Americans welcome

Only the friends of Brigadier General (ret.) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo or as he likes el Jefe (The Boss) will be at the birthday party on June 5th of this 63 year old Dictator and President of Equatorial New Guinea. Listed by Forbes at the world's 8th richest ruler this despot attained his position by overthrowing his uncle Macias Nguema on August 3, 1979 aided by mercenaries supplied by King Hassan of Morocco. Obiang is not among the ordinary: In 1999 he paid $2.6 million -- cash -- for a mansion outside Washington, D.C. One of his wives had a $10,000 daily limit on her Riggs Bank debit card - she was in good company 21 President's have used the small, secretive bank's services.

Obiang pardoned political prisoners of the Nguema regime by decree and a new constitution for Equatorial Guinea was drafted and approved on 22 August 1982 by 95.38% majority in a "referendum".

Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish Colony (Spanish Guinea), is a small country (pop. 1/2 Mn.) on the western coast of central Africa, is divided into two parts. Most of the land is on the African mainland, between Gabon and Cameroon; but an island off Cameroon, where the capital city of Malabo is located, is also included.

The principal product for export was Cocoa Beans but in 1996 now ExxonMobil (then Mobil Corp and now correctly Mobil Equatorial Guinea, Inc) struck oil in the world class Zafira field and by 2004, 185,000 BPD (at current prices US$12/13 Bn a year revenue) were being produced. Halliburton and ChevronTexaco are also involved in projects today in what is now third-largest oil exporter in sub-Saharan Africa, after Nigeria and Angola.

West Africa currently supplies 15 % of America’s energy, and that figure is expected to rise to 25 % within a few years. The African Oil Policy Initiative Group (AOPIG), a panel of U.S. government and energy industry officials brought together by the Jerusalem-based neo-con Institute for Advanced Strategic and Political Studies, proposed that the Gulf of Guinea be declared a “vital interest” in U.S. national security policy in a report in 2002

In 2003, the Bush administration reopened the embassy, a move sharply criticized by human rights groups.The building it rents to house embassy is owned by Manuel Nguema Mba, who is the minister of national security, a relative of Obiang’s, and an accused and proven torturer.

There is a weekly flight from Malabo to Houston, Texas, nicknamed "The Houston Express". ExxonMobil and Marathon workers live in gated compounds that operate their own electrical, water, and communication systems.

Senate and Treasury Department documents detail how the US Riggs Bank helped Obiang shuttle millions into offshore accounts.In May 2004, the Treasury Department fined Riggs $25 million for “systemic” violations of anti-money-laundering laws -- the largest fine ever imposed under the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970. Oil companies, meanwhile, made payments to his regime that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is scrutinized under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - but ... er.. did nothing.The state is said (IMF report) to receive only 15 to 40 percent of the revenues from its oil fields, while the norm in sub-Saharan Africa is 45 to 90 percent.

When the Senate banking Committee grilled oil executives Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said, "“But I’ve got to tell you, I don’t see any fundamental difference between dealing with an Obiang and dealing with a Saddam Hussein.”


As a result the economy has surged, and along with it , cronyismm, corruption and associated violence and the routine imprisonment torture and killing which Amnesty have long detailed. His uncle Macias, it is claimed who once tortured and killed political opponents in a soccer stadium, drowning out their screams by playing “Those Were the Days” on the loudspeakers - evidently a sort of family tradition.Some of his victims were crucified on the road leading to the airport.

In addition to oil, natural gas was also discovered in Equatorial Guinea and the US energy company Marathon is building a large LNG processing / export plant . The major finds of oil and natural gas have given the country significant importance to US interests.The country has been described as the new Kuwait.

Equatorial Guinea is a one party state, dominated by Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) only 2 members of the national parlimanet do not belong to it and 80% of the county's politicians live abroad.

Obiang was "elected" and re-elected" in 1996 and 2002, in joke elections unacceptable to international observers.

Like his uncle Obiang had the state radio in July 2003 declare the president is a God who is "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and can "kill anyone without being called to account", he personally made similar comments in 1993.Obiang has total control of the media . He is also criticized for nepotism, as he has appointed many family members to key posts in the government.(he was the 3rd of 10 brothers)

Support for Obiang at public rallies seems to be fervent and zealous, with literally thousands of followers literally screaming their support publicly; his practice of giving away wheelchairs at rallies surely helps in lending him loyalty among some of his population. He has a unique style of representing his country, asked by the BBC in 2002 Before the 2002 elections I asked him why so much public oil money had apparently disappeared.

He said simply, this was a state secret. He did not have to tell anyone where it had gone.

The succession when Obiang goes / dies / is assassinated

In In March 2004, a plot to overthow him was exposed which ultimately led to the disgrace of Sir Mark Thatcher and the imprisonment in Zimbabwe of a gang of plotter led by Nick du Toit President who planned to install the head of Equatorial Guinea's government-in-exile, Severo Moto Nsá, as president.

Obiang won't enjoy his Birthday Bash too much as he has reportedly terminal prostate cancer, amongst other illnesses, and weighs as little as 110 lbs and twice a month travels overseas for medical treatment. His succession either peacefully or by a violent coup is awaited with interest, not least among the owners of oil leases in this oil rich land.

Obiang wants his Paris based playboy son, Teodorín Nguema Obiang, to take over (he is one of a reputed 40 children by endless wives) but plots are alive in the tiny country and outside it, many centred around a leadership arising from within the Esangui clan.

In November 2005, Obiang held an important meeting with the PDGE, in which it was believed that he intended to create a position of vice president and fill that position with his son.

The country is mainly Catholic and Obiang had a private audience with Pope Benedict XVI on December 9th 2005 and also met Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Angelo Sodano

Whatever happens the successor will be manipulated by the US , the country that exports Democracy. Look our for Quiet American's in the sunset on Malabo and San Tome wher a small US fleet cruises.

Happy Birthday Obiang.