Why was the creation of a vice presidency controversial in Equatorial Guinea?

The creation of the vice presidency in Equatorial Guinea, introduced via a 2011 constitutional referendum, was highly controversial because it was widely denounced as a mechanism to consolidate and extend the power of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.12

Critics and observers viewed the move, along with other constitutional changes, as a strategic effort by the president to control his succession. This perception was reinforced when, in 2012, President Obiang appointed his son, Teodoro ("Teodorin") Nguema Obiang Mangue, to a vice presidential role—a position that was not even provided for under the newly amended constitution. Because Teodorin was already widely seen as his father's preferred successor, the appointment fueled concerns that the regime was effectively establishing a dynastic grip on the country's leadership.132

Furthermore, the 2011 referendum itself faced significant international and domestic criticism, with widespread allegations of voting irregularities, intimidation, and harassment, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the constitutional changes as a whole.12