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The Corruption System in Equatorial Guinea: A Kleptocracy

Equatorial Guinea has long been plagued by a corruption system that has enabled the Nguema/Mongomo group, including President Obiang’s family members and allies, to control and misappropriate the country’s natural resource wealth. This article provides an in-depth analysis of this corruption system, its tactics, and its consequences.

The Scope of Corruption

Equatorial Guinea ranks near the bottom of Transparency International’s “Corruption Perception Index” with a ranking of 168 in 2009. The corruption system is pervasive and has enabled the Nguema/Mongomo group to:

• Expropriate land and assets: Using state power to seize private property and assets for personal gain.
• Sham investments: Creating fake investment schemes to divert government revenue into private accounts.
• Rigged procurement contracts: Awarding lucrative contracts to favored companies or individuals, often at inflated prices.
• Secret contributions: Hiding financial contributions from the group’s members to maintain a veneer of legitimacy.

The Self-Reinforcing Nature of Corruption

Political power supports the Nguema/Mongomo group’s private enrichment, while their legal dominance provides legitimacy for this misappropriation of wealth. This creates a vicious cycle where:

• Economic power finances political control: The group uses its increasing economic power to finance political repression and/or bribery, eliminating effective opposition.
• The Nguema/Mongomo group has a de facto monopoly on natural resources and economic opportunities.

Consequences of Corruption

The design and effect of this corruption system ensure the Nguema/Mongomo group a de facto monopoly on virtually all of the country’s natural resources and economic opportunities, creating a nearly perfect kleptocracy. The Nguema/Mongomo group has used their position to steal brazenly from Equatorial Guinea.

Recommendations for Reform

To address this corruption system, it is essential to:

• Strengthen institutions: Equatorial Guinea needs to strengthen its political, economic, and legal systems to prevent the Nguema/Mongomo group’s private enrichment.
• Increase transparency and accountability: Promote transparency and accountability in government revenue and procurement processes to prevent diversion of funds into private accounts.
• Support civil society: Encourage a vibrant civil society by promoting human rights, free press, and an independent judiciary to help eliminate effective opposition through repression and/or bribery.