Rights group slams Equatorial Guinea leader’s pledges of reforms in transparency, human rights

Group slams E.Guinea leader’s sweeping reform plan

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Equatorial Guinea’s longtime leader is promising sweeping reforms in transparency and human rights, but an international group says it’s empty posturing from a corrupt leader.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema says the plan he introduced Monday at a Cape Town meeting will dramatically improve the tiny, oil-rich West African nation. Obiang says the 10-year plan includes investing “substantial” oil profits in public projects, reviewing the legal system and inviting the Red Cross to assess the human rights situation.

But Global Witness says Obiang’s claims don’t match his government’s record of human rights abuses. Critics say he’s drained his nation’s oil wealth to fabulously enrich family and cronies while his people suffer in slums. Obiang seized power in a 1979 coup.