Miguel Abia Biteo Boricó

Who was Miguel Abia Biteo Boricó?

Miguel Abia Biteo Boricó was a former Prime Minister of Equatorial Guinea having served from June 14, 2004, to August 14, 2006. He was a member of the Bubi ethnic group.

Biteo lived and studied in the Soviet Union, where he became a mining engineer. After returning to Equatorial Guinea he began to work for the government and became one of the most powerful officials in his country's oil industry. He was Minister of Finance from 1999 until 2001, when he was forced to resign following a corruption scandal. He was once a close ally of the President, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

He served as Minister of State in charge of Relations with Parliament and Legal Affairs of the Presidency prior to being appointed as Prime Minister on June 14, 2004; his government was announced on June 15.

President Obiang directed serious criticism at Abia Biteo Boricó during 2006, and his government resigned on August 10, 2006. Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea was appointed to succeed him on August 14.

Biteo remained tortured in Black Beach prison in Malabo as of 2007 and died on the 6th of December 2012 apparently due to a cardiac arrest.