See The African Country Where Father Is President And Son Is Vice President

With an estimated population of 1,308,975 people, and covering a total geographical area of 28,050 km2 (10,830 sq mi), this West African country is a former Spanish colony that gained independence in October 1968.



It is one of Africa’s largest producers of Oil and the richest country per capita in Africa. Its GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita ranks it as 43rd in the world. However, over 70% of the country’s population is said to live in extreme poverty.


Since independence, only 2 people have ruled this tiny, oil-rich West-African country called Equatorial Guinea. Francisco Macías Nguema first ruled the country with an iron fist from 12 October 1968 to 3 August 1979 when he was overthrown and executed by the current president who is co-incidentally his nephew. The current president Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has ruled the country since then, from 1979 to date, a regime spanning over 4 decades. He is the second longest serving President in the world, second only to Paul Biya of Cameroun who is currently the longest serving president in the world.

Equatorial Guinea is basically run like a one-party state dominated by President Obiang's Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). And the constitution of the country has been repeatedly amended to give Obiang sweeping powers, including the power to rule by decree.

In 2011, Obiang instituted a constitutional referendum that established and imposed a 7 years term with a 2 term limit. But when asked in an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in 2012 if he would step down at the end of his current term which was supposed to run from 2009 to 2016, the President responded in the negative. Apparently, a new constitution meant he was allowed to run for fresh terms

The 2011 constitution also abolished age restriction so as to allow the then 69 years old president eligible for office when he is 75. In addition to that, the constitution made provision for two Vice Presidents who were to be appointed by the President. These positions had earlier been established in 1968, but were abolished in 1982 and then re-introduced in 2011.

In May 2012, President Obiang apponinted Ignacio Milam Tang, who was until then serving as Prime minister, as 1st Vice President, and his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who was previously serving as minister of Agriculture as 2ndVice President.

In June 2016, 2 months after the presidential elections that marked the beginning of his first of the possible two 7-years terms under the new constitution, President Obiang swore in his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue as Vice-President of the republic, while Ignacio Milam was named and sworn in President of the Council of the Republic, Charged with Advising the Head of State in State Public Affairs. Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has been Vice President of Equatorial Guinea since then while his father serves as president.