Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the son of long-serving Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been convicted for the unauthorized sale of a national airline aircraft.
Sources in Equatorial Guinea informed the media on August 28, 2025, that the Supreme Court had announced, two days earlier, that the 50-year-old former Director of Ceiba Intercontinental and former Secretary of State for Sports and Youth faces up to six years in prison unless he reimburses the state an estimated $255,000 (UGX 908,184,000).
The prosecutors had, however, initially sought 18 years in prison, along with a fine of $847,000 (UGX 3 billion).
The source further explained that the controversy revolves around an ATR 72-500 aircraft, which had been undergoing routine maintenance in Spain since 2018. Investigations launched in November 2022 revealed that the aircraft was sold without board approval to the Spanish maintenance company, Binter Technic.
“Obiang Nsue reportedly pocketed the proceeds from the sale, which led to his arrest in 2023. The arrest was ordered by his half-brother, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue,” the source said.
The source stated that, according to the court, the $255,000 covers the value of the aircraft, damages incurred, and a fine imposed by the court.
However, the court acquitted Obiang Nsue on separate charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.
Additionally, this is not the first time members of the ruling dynasty have been entangled in corruption-related legal troubles. In July 2021, Vice President Obiang Mangue was convicted by a French court for embezzling public funds. He was handed a suspended prison sentence and fined $35 million.
The Obiang family, which has dominated Equatorial Guinea’s political landscape for 46 years under President Obiang, has been marred with corruption scandals.
The Equatorial Guinean government has yet to comment on the Supreme Court’s decision.
