It was in an article published last Dec. 30 in The New York Times. In it, the US State Department spokesman, Phillip J. Crowley, calls the President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema, a “dictator” and says that "it is a fact that President Obiang has a disastrous record on human rights."

The Equatorial Guinean government has been quick to respond to Crowley showing its "strong support for Human Rights" and invited US officials to visit the country to "verify on the ground."

This "strong" defense of human rights has been verified "from August 3, 1979, the day of the Freedom Coup, in which he lead the historic revolt that ended precisely with the real genocide that had bled our State, with the total passivity of the international community ", adds the statement of the Government of Equatorial Guinea.

After weighing the "radical development" in the economy and human rights in the country since the discovery of oil in 1996, thanks to the policies of Obiang - who have benefited "U.S. companies," says the statement - the Government invited "Phillip J. Crowley, representatives of other democratic institutions in the United States and other independent observers, to visit the country and to verify 'in situ' the clear evidence of these changes," according to the statement quoted by Europa Press.

The opposition in exile has followed with great interest the "struggle" between the American power and the rule of Obiang. "the statements of the US spokesman has had a great impact on Guinean circles," said Severo Moto, president of the Progress Party, in exile. "President Obama has just said he will pay special attention to Africa in 2011, where many and decisive elections will be hold. He seems willing to put an end to some anti-democratic practices," he adds.

Moto adds that there is a feeling that some things may start to change on the continent and, of course, in Equatorial Guinea. "France and England also want more democracy in their former colonies, in this context, Spain should not be left behind," says Moto.