The Trump administration plans to grant Equatorial Guinea’s vice president a temporary waiver from U.S. corruption sanctions. Teodoro “Teddy” Nguema Obiang, accused of embezzling millions to fund a life of mansions, superyachts, and luxury cars, would be allowed to travel.
The one-month waiver aims to permit Obiang to attend a high-level U.N. meeting in New York and visit other American cities.
U.S. officials said the decision is partly motivated by a desire to counter China’s growing influence in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. Obiang, son of Africa’s longest-serving leader, oversees national defense and security while facing longstanding U.S. and international sanctions for corruption.
Despite his country’s oil wealth, nearly 70% of Equatorial Guinea’s population lives in poverty while officials and relatives enrich themselves abroad. French and South African courts have seized Obiang’s luxury homes, cars, and yachts as restitution for embezzlement and human rights violations.
The U.S. has previously required Obiang to stay within New York during visits, highlighting tensions between sanctions enforcement and diplomatic engagement. Administration officials argued the waiver could strengthen U.S. business ties, particularly in oil and gas, while curbing Russian influence in the region.
This move contrasts with broader visa restrictions targeting leaders from Palestine, Iran, Brazil, and others, reflecting selective enforcement in U.S. foreign policy. Critics decry the waiver as rewarding corruption while many Americans and international observers question the ethics of facilitating Obiang’s travel.
Officials emphasized that denying the waiver could damage U.S. relations with Equatorial Guinea and complicate strategic counter-influence efforts in Africa. The State Department declined immediate comment, and representatives from Equatorial Guinea could not be reached for reaction to the impending decision.
Source:RadarAfrica