Editing Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (section)

==Biography==
Born into the Esanguii clan in Akoakam, son of Santiago Nguema Eneme and María Mbasogo Ngui. Obiang joined the military during Equatorial Guinea's colonial period and attended the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Spain. He achieved the rank of lieutenant after his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, was elected the country's first president. Under Macías, Obiang held various positions, including governor of Bioko and leader of the National Guard. He was also head of Black Beach Prison, notorious for severely torturing its inmates.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/campaigns/2021/06/the-living-hell-of-equatorial-guinea-missing-prisoners/ The living hell of Equatorial Guinea’s missing prisoners and their families], Amnesty International</ref>

After Macías ordered the murders of several members of the family they shared, including Obiang's brother, Obiang and others in Macías' inner circle feared the president had become insane. Obiang overthrew his uncle on 3 August 1979 in a bloody ''coup d'état'', and placed him on trial for his actions, including the [[genocide]] of the Bubi people, over the previous decade. Macías was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on 29 September 1979. A new Moroccan presidential guard was required to form the firing squad, because local soldiers feared his alleged magical powers.

Obiang declared that the new government would make a fresh start from Macías' brutal and repressive régime. He granted amnesty to political prisoners, and ended the previous régime's system of forced labor. However, he made virtually no mention of his own role in the atrocities committed under his uncle's rule.

Several opponents have accused him of [[cannibalism]] and also has tortured people and lead unlawful killings.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/meet-teodoro-obiang-nguema-equatorial-8808273 Sick African dictator 'eats his enemies' testicles and brains to boost his sexual prowess'], ''The Mirror''</ref> He and his family live very rich and lavish lifestyles, hogging massive amounts of money from acts of corruption and allegedly appropriating public funds and oil revenue. Although Equatorial Guinea has among the highest GDP per capita in Africa of around $34,000, many of the country's population lives in extreme poverty due to severe wealth inequality and greed.

In July 2003, state-operated radio declared Obiang "the country's god" with "all power over men and things." It added that the president was "in permanent contact with the Almighty" and "can decide to kill without anyone calling him to account and without going to hell." He personally made similar comments in 1993. Macías had also proclaimed himself a god.<ref>[https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/julyweb-only/7-28-11.0.html Weblog: Our President Is God, Says Equatorial Guinea's State Radio], ''Christianity Today''</ref>

Obiang has encouraged his [[cult of personality]] by ensuring that public speeches end in well-wishing for himself rather than for the republic. Many important buildings have a presidential lodge, many towns and cities have streets commemorating Obiang's coup against Macías, and many people wear clothes with his face printed on them.

Like his predecessor and other African dictators such as [[Idi Amin]] and [[Mobutu Sese Seko]], Obiang has assigned himself several creative titles. Among them are "gentleman of the great island of Bioko, Annobón and Río Muni." He also refers to himself as "El Jefe" (the boss).

In an October 2012 interview on CNN, Christiane Amanpour asked Obiang whether he would step down at the end of the then-current term (2009–2016) since he had been reelected at least four times in his reign of over thirty years. In his response, Obiang categorically refused to step down at the end of the term despite the term limits in the 2011 constitution.<ref>[http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1210/05/ampr.01.html Interview with President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea], ''CNN''</ref>

After [[Yahya Jammeh]] was forced from power in the Gambia in 2017, Obiang offered him asylum, even providing him with a mansion in the town of Mongomo.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/27/equatorial-guinea-says-it-will-protect-yahya-jammeh-former-gambian-leader Equatorial Guinea says it will protect former Gambian leader], ''The Guardian''</ref>

In December 2017, an attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea at the end of December 2017, with the purpose of overthrowing President Teodoro Obiang. A large number of political opponents were involved in the coup attempt, both from the opposition based in the country and from that established in exile; It was also militarily carried out by foreign mercenaries.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42557638 Equatorial Guinea 'stops coup attempt by mercenaries'], ''BBC News''</ref> From the military point of view, the leader of the coup would have been Chadian General Mahamat Kodo Bani, who confessed to having signed a contract for 5,000 million CFA Franc with Guinean opposition politicians. The coup would have started in the Cameroonian town of Kye-Ossi, located on the border between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. About fifty armed mercenaries were detained there and the border was closed on the orders of the Equatorial Guinean government.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/08/02/equatorial-guinea-coup-trial-travesty-justice Equatorial Guinea: Coup Trial Travesty of Justice], Human Rights Watch</ref> According to the official government version, the objective of the mercenaries was to assassinate Obiang and his family. The Chadian government, under then-President [[Idriss Déby]], denied any involvement in the events.