Ruslan Obiang Nsue, the son of long-serving Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been convicted for the unauthorised sale of a national airline aircraft.
The Supreme Court announced on August 26, 2025, that the 50-year-old former director of Ceiba Intercontinental and former secretary of state for sports and youth faces six years in prison unless he reimburses the state approximately $255,000 (UGX 908,184,000 M).
The prosecutors had, however, initially sought 18 years in prison, along with a fine of $847,000 (UGX 3 billion).
The controversy centres on an ATR 72-500 aircraft, which had been undergoing routine maintenance in Spain since 2018.
Investigations, launched in November 2022, revealed that the plane had been sold without board approval to the Spanish aircraft maintenance company Binter Technic.
Obiang Nsue reportedly pocketed the proceeds from the sale, leading to his arrest in 2023. The arrest was ordered by his half-brother, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue.
According to the court, the $255,000 sum is intended to cover the aircraft’s value, damages, and a court-imposed fine.
However, the court acquitted Obiang Nsue on separate charges of embezzlement and abuse of office.
This is not the first time members of the ruling dynasty have faced legal challenges related to corruption.
Vice President Obiang Mangue was convicted by a French court in July 2021 for embezzling public funds, but he received a suspended jail sentence and a $35 million fine.
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.
