Teodoro Nguema Obiang

Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (born c.1971, nicknamed Teodorín) is the son of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the president of Equatorial Guinea, by his first wife, Constancia Okomo. According to opposition figures, Teodoro is a ruthless killer tipped as the favourite to succeed his father, who is suffering from prostate cancer. He is much feared and reviled but exercises power through his domination of Equatoguinean media, being the owner of the only private radio station, Radio Asonga and the director of state owned TV Asonga.

Teodoro, officially the agriculture and forestry minister in his father's government, lives much of the time in Paris, London, Rio de Janeiro, and Malibu. He drew criticism from the international media for spending close to R10,000,000 over a weekend in South Africa on champagne, property renovations, a black 2004 Bentley Arnage, a cream 2005 Bentley Continental R from MG Rover Cape Town and a 2005 Lamborghini [cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2089-2340345,00.html | title = Playboy waits for his African throne | publisher = The Sunday Times | date = 2006-09-03 ] , although the properties may soon be forcibly auctioned due to his failure to pay a South African businessman [cite news | url = http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=594&art_id=vn20060216040234789C722016 | title = Equatorial Guinea playboy's Cape homes seized | publisher = IOL | date = 2006-02-16 ] .

Obiangs' foreign concerns include two houses in South Africa, worth a combined R50,000,000 , a $31,000,000 compound in Malibu, California, a 5,000 square feet home in the affluent 16th arrondissement of Paris, and the hip hop music record label TNO Entertainment. He also owns (as of 2008) one of the 30 models of the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 sports car David Servenay, [http://www.rue89.com/2008/07/15/transparency-porte-plainte-pour-saisir-la-ferrari-domar-bongo Transparency porte plainte pour saisir la Ferrari d'Omar Bongo] , "Rue 89", 15 July 2008 fr icon] (estimated at 1 100 000 euros) and a Maserati MC 12 at 700 000 euros .

2004 attempted coup

After the attempted coup involving Nick du Toit, Simon Mann and which embroiled Mark Thatcher in March 2004, he threatened to kill his uncle, Armengol Ondo Nguema for his business dealings with du Toit via TRIPLE OPTIONS. Armengol had previously opposed Teodorín's ascension to the presidency. Scattered reports of shots being fired during a meeting appeared in South African newspapers after the incident. It has been reported [cite news | url = http://www.afrol.com/articles/17227 | title = Equatorial Guinea asks Angolan military aid to plan succession | publisher = afrol News | date = 2005-11-11 ] that he is to be made vice president of Equatorial Guinea, which, according to the constitution would allow him to accede to the presidency upon his father's retirement. He will reach the age of 35 during 2006, enabling him to take over his father's position. Along with his uncle, many in the military forces are opposed to his ascent. Given the big man nature of EquatoGuinean politics, this opposition has ushered in fears of a civil war.

Teodorín is also reported to be interested in taking over his younger brother Gabriel's position in the oil industry.

References

External links

* [http://www.guardian.co.uk/equatorialguinea/story/0,,1944445,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=12 The tiny African state, the president's playboy son and the $35m Malibu mansion]
* [http://www.laweekly.com/news/news/malibu-bad-neighbor/15436/ Malibu Bad Neighbor: A dictator in training buys his way in, as politically active superstars stay mum]