In an announcement made on state television on Wednesday July 2016, President of Equatorial Guinea, elevated his son Teodorin Nguema Obiang to the role of Vice President responsible for security and defense.
The decree from President Obiang stated, “In accordance with the Basic Law of Equatorial Guinea, I appoint His Excellency Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue Vice President of the Republic.”
Teodorin Nguema Obiang, a 47-year-old potential successor to his father, served as second vice president from 2012 to the present.
“In accordance with the Basic Law of Equatorial Guinea, I appoint his Excellency Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue Vice President of the Republic.”
Following the constitutionally mandated dissolution of the government on June 17 following the April 24 presidential election, President Obiang announced additional appointments.
Later this week, the names of the new government’s remaining members will be made public.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema, the president since 1979, won reelection in April with 93.7% of the vote.
His son went on trial in France for stealing money from the government of Equatorial Guinea in order to gain wealth. Later, the case was dropped.