We have detected that the browser you are using is no longer supported. As a result, some content may not display correctly.
We suggest that you upgrade to the latest version of any of the following browsers:
close notification
A to
p presidential aide yesterday categorically denied rumours of a
foreign-backed military coup attempt in the oil-rich west African
state of Equatorial Guinea.
According to stories circulating here, fears of a coup had brought
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema rushing back to the capital Malabo
from his customary residence.
"We wish categorically to deny this rumour, which is unfounded,"
said Miguel Oyono Ndong Mifumu, the president's special foreign
policy adviser: "The situation in the country is completely normal
and no-one has been arrested as part of any coup attempt," he said,
responding to rumours that a supposed coup had been crushed by
security forces.
Obiang Nguema, who had recently visited the capital on Bioko
Island, returned for no apparent reason last Saturday along with
several family members.
Civilian and military sources here said his sudden reappearance was
due to the coup rumours.
But the presidential aide insisted the head of state was on routine
business: "The president returned to Malabo to chair an African
ministerial session, that's all," he said: "All else is completely
false and without basis".
Oyono said he was scandalised by the stories.
The president and several members of his government had spent most
of the last five months in the second city Bata on the west African
mainland.
According to persistent rumors in the capital over the past few
days security forces had crushed a coup attempt by the
military.
Earlier, a journalist had reported that soldiers in Malabo were
ordered confined to barracks with security stepped up at strategic
locations including the state radio station.
Police in Malabo said two west African nationals were being
questioned by security forces, but did not elaborate.
Obiang seized power in the former Spanish colony in 1979 and was
returned to office in 2002 in an election widely condemned as
rigged, amid widespread reports of arbitrary arrests and detention
and torture of political opponents.
Authorities foiled another attempted coup that year.
Equatorial Guinea is ranked third among African oil producers
behind Nigeria and Angola, with several US oil companies operating
in the country including world leader ExxonMobil.
The US in mid-October reopened its embassy in Malabo after an
eight-year hiatus. – Sapa-AFP.
Map
