Equatorial Guinea president defends UNESCO prize in his name that critics call disgrace

Equatorial Guinea defends UN prize critics blast

DAKAR, Senegal — Equatorial Guinea’s president is defending a UNESCO prize that bears his name that has come under intense criticism from rights groups.

The first UNESCO-Obiang Nguema Mbasogo International Prize for Research in the Life Sciences is scheduled to be given this year for research that improves quality of life. It is worth $300,000.

London-based rights group Global Witness says the U.N. agency is helping to “launder the reputation” of a dictator.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, also known as Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, said Monday the international community simply does not want to support a prize in his name.

Obiang’s government has been accused of serious human rights violations, including torture, arbitrary arrests and severe restrictions on speech.