Obiang's Impact On Equatorial Guinea

Parents to a home and teachers to a classroom are just like dictators to their countries. Dictators are authoritative figures who have complete control over a country, just as parents have control over a household, teachers have control over a classroom, and Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has control over Equatorial Guinea. Obiang is a man that not only has control over his country, but has also instilled fear into the hearts of his people. During his 30 year reign, Obiang has marginally benefited the Equatorial Guinea and has predominantly hindered the country that he continues to control (Norman).
Obiang uses the fear of his people to achieve and gain more power, which is detrimental to Equatorial Guinea because Obiang’s is focused on his
power and not his country. In 1979 after executing his uncle, Teodoro Obiang was elected as the president of Equatorial Guinea for a seven year term with 90% of the votes. Since 1979 Obiang has been continually reelected, allowing for his thirty year reign. This is possible due to the 90% of opposing politicians that live in exile and the vast amounts of anti-Obiang activists that have been arrested or killed (Teodoro). Consequently, in 2002, six months before Obiang’s election he had eighty-six of the opposing politicians arrested, tortured, and sentenced to anywhere from six to twenty-one years in prison. Additionally in 1991, Obiang created a new constitution that prohibited the impeachment of the head of the government, which is making it harder for the Equatoguineans to escape Obiang’s rule. Although Obiang overthrew his uncle to rid his people and family of brutal oppression, Equatorial Guinea is still heavily oppressed by Obiang, their vicious dictator. Obiang’s use of fear to control his country has hindered Equatorial Guinea, as his people are constantly being subjugated.
Obiang’s oppressive behavior has resulted in Equatorial Guinea being known to have one of the worst human rights records.
Obiang is not only oppressive in his physical torture, but also in the financial decsions that he makes for his country. Notably, large deposits of oil were discovered in Equatorial Guinea, which caused the gross domestic product to triple. This is beneficial to the country as this indicates that Equatorial Guinea has a healthy economy. In fact, the per capita income also increased, which means that life for the people of Equatorial Guinea should have heftily improved. Instead, Obiang pocketed most of the money for himself and his family claiming that his people were not poor, but just used to living in a different way. All while 70% of his people are living below the poverty line, only 43% percent of his people have access to clean drinking water, the infant mortality rate is at an all-time high, the life expectancy rate is relatively low at only fifty-one years old, and malnutrition is common problem. Furthermore, Obiang continued to acquire full control of the national treasury, declaring that he was trying to prevent civil servants from being tempted to complete corrupt activities. Through Obiang’s hunger for wealth and control we witness him singlehandedly destroy his country, which leaves his people to suffer; meanwhile, Obiang is living a life of luxury
(Dictator). Obiang’s craving for power has resulted in the hindering of his country, as his oppressiveness towards his people cause them to live in fear and his mooching off the countries money leaves many of his people malnourished and in deep poverty. Plus, the fear that he instills in his people allows him to maintain his rule, as no one wants to challenge Obiang’s power, which prevents the Equatorial Guinea from ever improving. Ultimately, it is Obiang’s need for control, power, and money that leads to the hindering of his country, as he disregards his people and his duty in order to maintain power and to maintain a life of leisure for himself and his family.
Works Cited
"Dictator of the Month: Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea."AllGov. 25 July 2015.
Web. 03 Feb. 2016. .
Norman, Joshua. "The World's Enduring Dictators: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,
Equatorial Guinea." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 19 June 2011. Web. 02 Feb. 2016. .
"Teodoro Obiang: Facts About The Equatorial Guinea President." Answers Africa. 2015. Web.
02 Feb. 2016. .