African Union Should Reject Chairmanship of Equatorial Guinea
Washington
President Teodoro Obiang N’guema of Equatorial Guinea is one of the world’s worst human rights abusers, and the African Union should categorically reject his impending assumption to the chairmanship of the organization, according to Freedom House.
Equatorial Guinea is set to take over the helm from Malawi under the annual rotational system of the African Union chairmanship, which allocates the next slot to central Africa. The candidacy of a given country must be approved by the other nations in its region and then all member states. The central African states have already approved Obiang’s candidacy. Barring a rejection by the full AU membership, the chairmanship will be turned over at the close of the 16th summit of the Pan-African organization on January 31. Equatorial Guinea, led by President Teodoro Obiang N’guema, has consistently been rated by Freedom in the World, Freedom House’s annual global assessment of political rights and civil liberties, as one of the world’s worst human rights abusers.
“With rising political turmoil in Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, Egypt and Zimbabwe, and as the continent continues to confront challenges to fundamental democratic principles, the leadership of critical bodies such as the Africa Union must be led by those committed to promoting freedom and good governance,” said David J. Kramer, executive director of Freedom House. “Given Equatorial Guinea’s poor record on democracy, human rights and good governance, Obiang should not be considered for this role. Freedom House calls on the member states of the A.U. to reject his bid.”
Obiang has ruled Equatorial Guinea for more than 30 years with an iron fist. Despite being Africa’s third largest oil exporter, citizens in Equatorial Guinea live in abject poverty as Obiang and members of his inner circle continue to amass huge personal profits from the country’s oil windfall. Authorities have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, including torture, detention of political opponents, and extrajudicial killings. The media is tightly restricted and Equatorial Guinea ranks near the bottom of Transparency International’s corruption scale. Additionally, constitutional and legal guarantees of equality for women are largely ignored, and violence against women is reportedly widespread.
Equatorial Guinea is ranked Not Free in Freedom in the World 2011, Freedom House's survey of political rights and civil liberties, and Not Free in Freedom of the Press 2010.
For more information on Equatorial Guinea, visit:
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