deputy ministers received The wealth amassed by about $138,000, according Obiang during his long reign to AfricaCheck.org. By comin the tiny, oil-rich central parison, a member of the U.S. African nation has been estiCongress made $174,000 in mated by Forbes magazine to be around $600 million. His 2017. son, Teodorin, was sentenced in absentia by a French court POLITICAL PERKS in 2017 to three years in prison. He was also given a susIn addition to African popended fine of €30 million for liticos’ and bureaucrats’ base embezzlement, money launsalaries, they get numerous dering, corruption and abuse perks. In South Africa, these of trust, and he had his €107 are outlined in a document million mansion near the called the Ministerial HandChamps-Elysées confiscated. book, which is supposed to be “Obiang, who was appointsecret, but which journalists CREDIT: OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY LAWRENCE JACKSON PHOTO: BY MINISTRY OF THE PRESIDENCY. GOVERNMENT OF SPAIN, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ed a vice-president by his fagot their hands on and pubther, was accused of spending Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, president of Equatorial Guinea, is seen at left meeting with Spanish politician Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo lished several years ago. In in May 1982 and at right, with President Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, along with his wife Constancia Mangue de Obiang, at a more than 1,000 times his of- reception in New York City in 2009. Obiang is now Africa’s longest-serving leader, ruling over his oil-rich state for 40 years. 2007, the handbook showed ficial annual salary on the sixthat ministers got 25 percent story mansion in one of Paris’s newspaper, “In 2000, when cronies, relatives and party It also had a redundancy of Pence. But the big difference of their salary to put toward most exclusive postal codes, Obiang began building up hacks in a multiplicity of ministries: a ministry of avia- between the U.S. and other the purchase, maintenance as well as a fleet of fast cars his car collection, Equato- parallel institutions and min- tion, ministry of roads and wealthy nations, and many of and insurance of a private and artwork, among other rial Guinea was on paper the istries with overlapping func- highways, ministry of roads the low- and middle-income vehicle — whether or not assets,” Angelique Chrisafis wealthiest African country tions,” Ayittey told The Wash- and transport, ministry of countries in Africa (and Asia they bought a car. They were of The Guardian newspaper per inhabitant, yet a majority ington Diplomat by email. ports and railways — all of and South America) is not entitled to buy two other ofwrote. “The house was deco- of its people lived below the They’re royally paid and have which could have been incor- how many government offi- ficial cars valued at no more rated with more than €40m U.N. poverty line.” perks that would make many porated into a single ministry cials there are but how much than 70 percent of their salary Western government workers of transport, which also ex- they’re paid. [million] worth of furniture, for use in Pretoria and Cape seriously consider moving to isted, said Ayittey. including a €1.6m Louis XV LIKE FATHER, In many African countries, Town; and could maintain Africa. And there’s a reason desk, a Rodin sculpture and In each ministry, there are even officials who are not two houses. for that: It keeps them loyal to principal secretaries, deputy given free rein to buy sumpa dozen Fabergé eggs. Obiang LIKE SON South Africa’s cabinet was NOTE: every effort is made to assure your the ad president. is free of mistakes in spelling and contentassistant it is ultimately up to theincustomer make thebyfinal proof. owned two Although Bugatti Veyrons, tuous mansions Paris are to expanded principal secretaries, Obiang and Sassou Nguesformer PresiMany African countries deputy principal secretaries paid handsomely and enjoy dent Jacob Zuma (estimated the most expensive and fastest so aren’t the only African The firststreet two car faxed changes will be made at no cost to the advertiser, subsequent changes will be billed at a rate of $75 per faxed alteration. Signed ads are considered approved. in the world, costing leaders who have showered also have top-heavy bureau- and so on. Then, there are enviable perks. In South Afri- net worth of $20 million) cracies. Take where Mark about €1m a piece and capable their sons and other close relca, one of the more transpar- when he took office in 2009. governors, Please check thisGhana, ad carefully. any regional changesministers to your ad. of reaching 250 mph — part atives with riches. Gaddafi did Ayittey originally hails from. and their deputies, senators ent countries in Africa, the That expansion continued fleet thatand filledfaxtheto: (301) it in Libya. Mubarak in Egypt. The West African country and members of parliament. president was paid roughly during Zuma’s second term. If the adofisluxury correct sign 949-0065 needs changes garages around the cobbled Eyadéma in Togo. Bongo in had 110 cabinet and regional The U.S., by comparison, $198,000 a year in 2017, cabi“We are very concerned The Washington (301) 933-3552 Approved __________________________________________________ courtyard Diplomat of his mansion.” ministers, along with depu- has 20 cabinet officials, in- net members received an anGabon. In fact, the public secAnd yet, wrote the British tor in Africa “is packed with ties to the ministers, in 2017. cluding Vice President Mike nual salary of $168,000 and SEE AF R ICA • PAGE 16 Changes ______________________________________________________________________________________________________
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