Holidays: Equatorial Guinea vice president claims superyacht at Italian resorts is a military vessel

We previously reported on the wealth of the family of the ruler of Equatorial Guinea, who uses public resources for their personal pleasure. One immediate example was yachting on the Côte d'Azur.

According to open sources, Bellingcat managed to locate the yacht Blue Shadow, belonging to the Ministry of Defense of Equatorial Guinea, and a second yacht, presumably also belonging to the government of the country, in various ports and bays of Portugal and Italy from June to October 2023.

It was also discovered that a private jet often used by the country's vice president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang, made several trips from and to airports in Italy, right next to Blue''of his country's national resources in France and is sanctioned in the UK.

These facts raise justifiable concerns about corruption and impunity in Equatorial Guinea. While members of the ruler's family enjoy luxury and wealth, ordinary citizens of the country suffer from a low standard of living.