Equatorial Guinea
Rumours of US arrest of president's son

afrol.com, 16 March - The rumours of a detention of Equatoguinean President Teodoro Obiang's first-born son "Teodorín" in the United States for drug trafficking are mounting. Usually credible sources have reported that Teodoro Obiang Mangue, alias "Teodorín" is detained in New York involved in the import and sale of a large quantity of cocaine.

Teodoro Obiang Mangue has occupied the post of Minister of Fisheries, Woods and Environment for the last years, and is seen as the probable heir of his cancer sick father to the Equatoguinean presidency. When the government stepped down following corruption charges last month, and a new government was appointed, "Teodorín" was the only minister to keep his post. 

Rumours of his detention in the US were strengthened when the President's son was the only minister missing at the inauguration ceremony of the new government. Various sources confirm that "Teodorín" has not been seen publicly in Equatorial Guinea since January, a surprise considering the fact that he had been the leading force behind the fall of the last government. 

The Spanish Association for a Democratic Solidarity with Equatorial Guinea (ASODEGUE), including several Spanish MP's, on Thursday presented statements by "credible sources", which this week had "confirmed the detention of one of [President] Obiang's sons in New York" for being "contributory in the sale of a an important shipment of cocaine." The involvement of Equatoguinean officials in drug trafficking has earlier been thoroughly documented. 

According to ASODEGUE's sources, however "Teodorín" was not the detained. One of the President's sons was detained in New York, but it was not "Teodorín", but a younger one "which is not minister". Other reports from Equatorial Guinea however confirm that all the adult sons of the President, other than "Teodorín" are presently in the country. Those living in the US are children, going to school "not old enough to be involved in such activities."

The US-based sources used by ASODEGUE also indicate that one Fausto Abeso Fuma, son-in-law and trustee of the President, currently is in the US, in charge of getting the detained son freed. Other sources, based in Equatorial Guinea's old capital Malabo, claim that Ricardo Mangué and Rubén Mayé, both being ministers and lawyers and considered the "lawyers of the regime", had left for the US last week. Their mission allegedly was to "take charge of the liberation of Teodorín." afrol has also gotten several request if the redaction was able to "confirm the rumour that [President] Obiang" had "travelled to the US" himself. 

"Teodorín" himself is a person that has tried to avoid publicity. From his political carrier, few details are known, according to ASODEGUE. It is however known that he has been sentenced twice for drug trafficking in France in the 1990s. "He alters between short periods in Guinea (where he continuously is campaigning for the succession of his father) and long stays abroad, where he spends the great revenue he has from his businesses (mainly wood and telecommunications)," ASODEGUE claims. 

The credibility of this rumour is still difficult to appraise. Equatorial Guinea is a very closed society, where there so far has been no room for an independent and investigating press. Afrol.com has never been able to get comments on its news coverage from the government. Even the Special Representative of the UN Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Equatorial Guinea, Gustavo Gallón, does not get access to the information he requests. In such an environment, rumours spread. 

The rumour of "Teondorín's" detention in New York has however circulated for more than a week, in Equatorial Guinea and among exiled dissidents. In these circumstances, one would have expected a public appearance of the President's son, in the country or abroad. 

Sources: Based on ASODEGUE, La Diáspora and afrol archives 

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