afrol News, 28 November - A video of Equatorial Guinea's dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema dancing and partying at the luxurious birthday celebration of Gabon's President Omar Bongo has been released on Youtube, to the disgust of the country's opposition. Watch the video here.
Gabonese President Bongo has a reputation for holding the Central African region's best parties and events. A seldom video documents how these events, with the participation of political leaders from the region and Gabon, are arranged, with a great sense of luxury and party mood.
The video was shot at President Bongo's birthday party, mainly to document the famous Congolese band "Madilu System", which stood for the music entertainment at the event. The Congolese superstar, who died at 57 in Kinshasa in August 2007, was also known as Jean de Dieu Makiese.
Madilu System played live at the event, putting regional leaders in a party mood while drinks and luxurious dished were served. Several leaders, including Equatoguinean Dictator Obiang and his wife Costancia, were quick to take on the dance floor.
The publication of the video has raised eyebrows among Equatoguineans, who live in deep poverty while the Obiang family has enriched itself on the country's enormous oil revenues, opposition critics have said.
Also pro-democracy activists are shocked by the video. The Madrid-based group ASODEGUE says the "priceless images" document how regional leaders are engaging in an "excessive luxury" while the extent of poverty in Central Africa remains the highest in the world.
But the video is also a deception for the Equatoguinean opposition, which for years has maintained that President Obiang is a very sick man, who could die at any moment. The video shows the Dictator to be in a very good shape, having his 66-year age in mind.
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