Equatorial Guinea: The good, the bad and the ugly

Obiang is chummy with Spain's left and right. Foreign minister Moratinos (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party) declared in 2006 that Spain aimed to 'accompany, encourage, and motivate Guinea to progress on the path of democratisation and the defence of human rights'. Pressure groups have also been very influential in this regard. Frank Ruddy, former US Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea declared, 'A few years ago, at least US officials wouldn't talk about the relationship with Equatorial Guinea, or they would admit all the problems and horrible human rights abuses. Now, you would have thought this is Mother Teresa's brother running Equatorial Guinea.' Since she is not able to attract the attention that she feels her 'office' deserves, she spends her time frequenting and promoting the forum - a task for which she is probably paid. In one message, she refers to an article on Equatorial Guinea that was going to appear in Hola magazine in August 2008. 'It was I who encouraged the emotive human interest angle of the story, that is in line with the magazine's character'.