The move, which President Obiang stated was made "in response to the circumstances of Teodoro Obiang Mangue," seems clearly designed to grant Teodorín diplomatic immunity. This could shield Teodorín from the French government's ongoing investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering by high-level officials from Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and the Republic of Congo.
Akizungumza kabla ya kukabidhi tuzo hiyo,Waziri Migiro amesema kuwa kwa kupata tunuku hiyo sasa Rais Kikwete anajiunga na waafrika wengine mashuhuri ambao wamepata tuzo hiyo ambao ni Rais wa zamani wa Ghana, Hayati John Atta Mills, Mwenyekiti wa Kamisheni ya Umoja wa Afrika Mama Nkozana Dlamini Zuma na aliyekuwa kiongozi wa Kanisa la Anglikana na Duniani na mwanaharakati mashuhuri waAfrika, Askofu Mkuu Desmond Tutu.