• Two brothers at war over who succeeds Nguema Mbasogo
By Obinna Uballa
An Equatorial Guinea court has sentenced Ruslan Obiang Nsue, son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, to six years in prison for illegally selling a plane belonging to the state airline, Ceiba Intercontinental, a case analysts say reflects growing rivalry within the ruling family over succession.
The Supreme Court’s press director, Hilario Mitogo, confirmed on Tuesday that Obiang Nsue, 50, a former head of the national carrier, sold the ATR 72-500 aircraft to a Spanish company and pocketed the proceeds.
The court ruled that Nsue could avoid jail if he repays about $255,000 to the airline and settles additional fines and damages. He was acquitted of separate charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.
Obiang Nsue, who previously served as secretary of state for sports and youth, was placed under house arrest in 2023 on the orders of his half-brother and current vice-president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
Analysts note the case underscores simmering tensions between the two siblings, widely seen as rivals in the battle to succeed their father, who has ruled the oil-rich Central African country for 46 years.
In a related development, Obiang Mangue himself was handed a suspended prison sentence and a $35 million fine by a French court in 2021 after being convicted of embezzling public funds.
