Cándido Nsue Okomo (born 1977) is an Equatoguinean politician and former corporate executive who, for over a decade, was one of the most powerful “gatekeepers” of the country’s oil wealth. As the younger brother of First Lady Constancia Mangue, he was a central figure in the inner sanctum of the Obiang regime until a bitter falling out with his nephew, Vice President Teodorín Nguema Obiang, forced him into political exile.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Cándido Nsue Okomo |
| Born | April 1977 |
| Family Ties | Brother of First Lady Constancia Mangue; Uncle of Teodorín Nguema Obiang |
| Key Former Roles | CEO of GEPetrol (2005–2016); Minister of Youth and Sports (2017–2018) |
| Current Status | In Exile (Residing in Dubai, UAE) |
| Legal Status | Subject of international money laundering investigations; formerly subject to a Spanish arrest warrant (rescinded). |
The GEPetrol Era (2005–2016)
For eleven years, Cándido Nsue Okomo served as the Director-General of GEPetrol, Equatorial Guinea’s national oil company.
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Oil Gatekeeper: In this role, he was the primary point of contact for international oil majors (including ExxonMobil and Hess) operating in the country. He oversaw the flow of billions of dollars in oil revenue, making him one of the most influential technocrats in Central Africa.
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Family Rivalry: His tenure was marked by a quiet but intense rivalry with Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima (the President’s other son), who controlled the Ministry of Mines and Hydrocarbons. Cándido was a staunch ally of his sister, the First Lady, in her efforts to secure the family’s financial interests and promote her son, Teodorín.
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Corruption Allegations: Investigations by NGOs and international journalists have long alleged that GEPetrol, under his leadership, served as a “slush fund” for the presidential family, with funds reportedly diverted into offshore accounts in Dubai, Spain, and the US.
The Falling Out and Exile
Despite his loyalty to the First Lady’s faction, Cándido became a casualty of the regime’s internal power struggles in the late 2010s.
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Conflict with Teodorín: Relations between Cándido and his nephew, Vice President Teodorín, soured significantly around 2018. Reports suggest Cándido opposed Teodorín’s increasingly erratic leadership style and his rapid ascent toward the presidency.
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Revocation of Passport: In a dramatic display of family friction, Teodorín reportedly revoked his uncle’s diplomatic passport and accused him of massive embezzlement and abuse of power during his time at GEPetrol.
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Exile in Dubai (2019–Present): Faced with the threat of arrest in Malabo, Cándido fled to Dubai. He has since remained there, living in high-end real estate—including a luxury apartment in the Burj Khalifa—that became the subject of the “Dubai Unlocked” investigative reports in 2024.
Current Status (Late 2025)
As of late 2025, Cándido Nsue Okomo remains a figure of significant intrigue in Equatoguinean politics, representing the “lost” generation of the Mongomo clan’s inner circle.
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Diplomatic Wedge: His presence in Dubai has occasionally been a point of diplomatic tension. In 2020, he was briefly detained in the UAE following a Spanish arrest warrant related to money laundering (the “Villarejo Case”), though Spain later rescinded the warrant.
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Potential “Kingmaker” in Exile: Analysts monitor his status closely; as someone who knows the “financial secrets” of the Obiang regime, he remains a potential threat to Teodorín’s future presidency should he ever choose to cooperate with international investigators or rival family factions.