MELISSA GIAIMO
Assistant Perspectives Editor
The son of the president of Equatorial Guinea’s move to Malibu is a return to his college stomping grounds. Corruption groups first suspected Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue for misappropriation of his government’s funds when he purchased in cash a $35 million oceanfront mansion in February 2006. But Obiang Mangue’s extravagance in Malibu dates to his time at Pepperdine.
Obiang Mangue’s father, President Teodoro Obiang, presides over a brutal dictatorship. As Africa’s third-largest oil producer, Equatorial Guinea earns $3 billion annually, but the country ranks at the bottom of the U.N. Development Index. Corruption groups question how he purchased a 14-acre mansion on his listed salary of $5,000 as Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. Obiang Mangue was unavailable for comment.
Obiang Mangue attended an English as a second language four-term program held at Pepperdine for two terms from October 1991 through February 1992 known as W.A.V.E.S., or “Working to Achieve Vital English Skills,” a now retired, non-degree program to prepare students for the Test of English as a Foreign Language.
But school was not young Teodoro’s focus during his time at Pepperdine, according to those who knew him.
“He was definitely not interested in academics,” said Alisa Wax, former director of W.A.V.E.S.
According to Wax, Obiang Mangue was among many students from prominent international families who appreciated the program’s security. The only admission requirement of W.A.V.E.S. was paying $3,400 per term, which included room and board.
“[Obiang Mangue’s attendance] has nothing to do with the fact that he was the son of a dictator,” said Kanet Thomas, Pepperdine’s director of special programs. “It just proves he had the money to come here.”
Obiang Mangue rarely attended class and was extremely difficult to locate, earning him a reputation as a “phantom student.”
The university frequently received rowdiness and damage complaints from hotels and limousine services. Also, a fire broke out at a house Obiang rented in Malibu, according to Wax and John Bennett, former U.S. ambassador to Eqitorial Guinea. However, the Los Angeles County Fire Department public records office was unable to retrieve records of Malibu residential fires prior to 1993.
When Obiang Mangue’s behavior got out of hand, Associate Provost Terri Giboney “cut him loose from W.A.V.E.S.,” according to Wax.
A Texas oil company, Walter International, financed President Obiang’s son’s education as part of an agreement with Equatorial Guinea, which allowed the company to lift offshore oil, according to Bennett. The company paid for Obiang Mangue’s studies and living expenses, which totaled at least $50,000, officials at Walter International told Bennett.
Although his tuition included housing, Obiang Mangue preferred to live in a hotel in Beverly Hills and also rented a house in Malibu near Point Dume, according to Wax.
Obiang Mangue was not discrete about his identity, arriving on campus in a limousine complete with an entourage. Wax did not receive any student complaints about Obiang Mangue who interacted normally with students.
To maintain power, President Obiang keeps his people oppressed, uneducated and in fear of the government.
“Torture [occurs to] virtually 100 percent of all people arrested,” Bennett said. “You can tell someone who has been tortured in Equatorial Guinea, because he limps on both legs.”
A common torture method is to beat the bottom of prisoners’ feet with a rubber hose so that they can no longer stand. Electric shock and stretching wrist bones so the hands permanently become lifeless flippers and are other torture methods.
Although Bennett said he is slow to believe oil conspiracies, he says there is no question about the United States’ interest in Equatorial Guinea, especially as the Bush administration tries to rely less on Middle Eastern oil.
“Don’t think [Obiang] would have been in the Department of State if his country were without oil,” Bennett said. “He has bought himself a seat at the table.”
Gustavo Envela, son of a former ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Nations, said he is confident the Obiang regime is approaching its demise.
“The regime is in its last throws [and is] making errors along the way that are going to cost them financially and politically,” Envela said.
Envela has informed Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., of Obiang Mangue’s presence in Malibu. Sen. Levin has played a major role in bringing transparency to Equatorial Guinea.
According to a representative in Levin’s office, there is no active investigation into Obiang Mangue at this time.
03-01-2007
