THE LONGEST SERVING PRESIDENT IN AFRICA, TEODORO OBIANG' NGUEMA MBASOGO

Following the death of Queen Elizabeth, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo , the diminutive president of Equatorial Guinea now takes over as the world’s longest serving leader.Today, Nguema, who is 80, has declared that he will be seeking another term as president.

He came to power in 1979 in a bloody coup that led to the execution of president Francois. Nguema is deputised by his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who serves as the country’s . The family has been accused of embezzling public funds and stashing them abroad. Nguema junior is known for lavish lifestyle,and has been the subject of a number of international criminal charges and sanctions for alleged embezzlement and corruption.In October 2011, seven years after the United States Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations exposed the Nguema’s family secret accounts at Riggs Bank in Washington and five years after non-profit Global Witness discovered his mansion purchase in Malibu; the US Justice Department went to court to seize $70 million (£44m) of his US assets, which include a Gulfstream jet, yachts, cars and Michael Jackson memorabilia.In February 2012, a Parisian mansion belonging to Nguema, worth around €100 million, was raided by French police and they discovered luxury goods inside worth millions of euros. In July 2012, an arrest warrant was issued for him.On 22 July 2021, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on Nguema over “lavish lifestyle” spending, which he spent on mansions, private jets, among other things. In retaliation, the Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea, Simeón Oyono Esono Angue, announced the closure of the country’s embassy in London, as the British government sanctioned

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the long-serving President of Equatorial Guinea, a small oil-rich country in Central Africa. Here’s a brief overview of him:

🧑‍💼 Profile Summary

Full Name: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Date of Birth: June 5, 1942
Place of Birth: Acoacán, Mongomo District, Equatorial Guinea
Current Position: President of Equatorial Guinea
Years in Power: Since August 3, 1979 (making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world)
Political Party: Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE)

🏛️ Rise to Power

Obiang came to power after overthrowing his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, in a coup d’état in 1979. Macías had ruled the country with extreme brutality, and Obiang initially presented himself as a reformer who would rebuild Equatorial Guinea and restore international relations.

💰 Leadership and Controversy

While Obiang’s rule brought some economic growth due to the discovery of vast oil reserves in the 1990s, his regime has been heavily criticized for:

Corruption and misuse of oil wealth
Human rights abuses
Lack of political freedom
Suppression of opposition

He and his family — especially his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (Teodorín) — have faced international investigations for corruption and money laundering, particularly in France, the U.S., and Switzerland.

🛢️ Economy

Equatorial Guinea is one of sub-Saharan Africa’s largest oil producers, and it has one of the highest per-capita incomes on the continent. However, wealth distribution is highly unequal, with most citizens living in poverty.

👪 Family and Succession

His son, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (Teodorín), is the Vice President and widely seen as the heir apparent. Teodorín has also been accused of lavish spending abroad using public funds — buying luxury cars, mansions, and even Michael Jackson memorabilia.