Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was born on June 5, 1942, in Acoacán, a town in Spanish Guinea which is now part of Equatorial Guinea. He was the third of ten brothers, growing up in a large family in a tumultuous political climate.
Obiang earned a degree in labor administration from what is now known as the Enrique Nvo Okenve National College. He then joined the Colonial Guard during Equatorial Guinea's colonial period and later attended the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Spain. His military career saw him rise through the ranks, eventually becoming the director of the infamous Black Beach prison.
Obiang's uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, was the president of Equatorial Guinea until Obiang ousted him in a violent coup d'etat in 1979. This marked the beginning of Obiang's long tenure as the country's president, making him the second-longest consecutively serving non-royal national leader in the world.
In July 2003, state-operated radio in Equatorial Guinea declared Obiang to be "the country's god" with absolute power over its people. This statement, along with others made by the president himself in 1993, sparked outrage and condemnation from the international community.
Despite his controversial reputation, Obiang has managed to maintain diplomatic relationships with other countries. In 2006, Condoleezza Rice referred to him as a "good friend," highlighting the complexities of international politics. In 2014, he and his wife were even invited to the White House where they posed for photos with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
Throughout his long presidency, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has faced scrutiny and criticism for his governance of Equatorial Guinea. Despite these challenges, he has managed to remain in power for over four decades, solidifying his status as one of the longest-serving leaders in modern history.