President Obiang sponsored the $3m (£2m) life sciences prize A United Nations agency has suspended plans to grant a prize sponsored by Equatorial Guinea President Teodor Obiang Nguema after lobbying by human rights groups.
Mr Obiang is accused of rights abuses, rigging elections and corruption. He has previously denied such charges.
The UN scientific and cultural agency, Unesco, said its executive board agreed to suspend the life sciences prize.
It said it would continue consultations on the award’s future.
The decision was welcomed by campaigners opposed to the $3m (£2m) prize.
Tutu Alicante, of EG Justice, said: “The suspension is a sign that the Obiang government cannot pull the wool over the eyes of the international community with empty human rights public relations campaigns.”
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