Well Oiled

Oil and Human Rights in Equatorial Guinea

Map of Equatorial Guinea’s Major Offshore Oil and Gas Fields

I. Summary

Methodology

II. Background

The Macías Dictatorship, 1968-79

Obiang—Democracy Pledged but Authoritarianism Preserved

Human Rights Record of Recent Governments

The Onset of Oil

III. The Equatoguinean Economy: Corrupt, Mismanaged, and Non-Transparent

Corruption Defining the Oil Boom

Equatorial Guinea Indications of Corruption

Government of Equatorial Guinea’s Response to Corruption Allegations

Financial Mismanagement and Lack of Transparency

IV. Impact of Corruption and Oil Revenue Mismanagement on Economic and Social Rights in Equatorial Guinea

Inadequate Funding of Health, Education, and Social Services

The Rights to Health and Education Under International Law..

Equatorial Guinea’s Efforts to Fight Poverty

V. The Government’s Record on Civil and Political Rights

Overview

Media and Information Freedom Heavily Curtailed

Restrictions on Freedom of Assembly

Imprisonment of Opposition Politicians and Perceived Government Opponents

Extrajudicial Killings Abroad

VI. The “Wonga Coup” Attempt of 2004

Trials for the Coup Attempt Seriously Flawed

Crackdown on Foreigners

VII. The Role of the International Community

The United States

China

Other International Actors

VIII. Recommendations

To the government of Equatorial Guinea

To EITI

To the US government

Appendix: Letters from Oil Companies to Human Rights Watch

Acknowledgements