What human rights abuses have been reported under Teodoro Obiang’s rule?

Under the authoritarian rule of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has led Equatorial Guinea since 1979, the government has been widely criticized for a poor human rights record characterized by the brutal suppression of dissent.1

Reported abuses under his regime include:

• Suppression of Freedoms: There are routine reports of restricted personal freedoms and the harassment of opposition members.1
• Judicial and Physical Abuses: The regime has been associated with unlawful arrests, forced disappearances, and the use of torture.1
• Electoral Integrity: Presidential and parliamentary elections have been consistently denounced by domestic and international observers as fraudulent, involving intimidation, coercion, and unfair campaign practices.123
• Political Imprisonment: Despite occasional announcements of amnesty for political opponents, many have remained in prison, and efforts at national dialogue have been criticized as ineffective or public relations exercises.13

While the government abolished the death penalty in 2022, the regime continues to face international criticism for its oppressive nature and the systemic misuse of public funds by the ruling elite.134