In the oil rich Central African country of Equatorial Guinea, a government crackdown on political activists continues.
Last month, two opposition leaders, Guillermo Nguema Ela, a leader of the opposition party Republican Democratic Force, and party member Luis Nzo Ondo, were detained and forcibly moved from the island capital of Malabo to the nation’s mainland territory. Equatorial Guinea’s security services placed restrictions on their movements, effectively keeping them in detention in their home villages.No official charges have been filed against either man.
Last month’s detentions follow the arrests and imprisonment in January of political activists who were peacefully protesting the government’s use of tens of millions of dollars to host the Cup of African Nations football tournament. Despite the country’s oil wealth and an estimated per capita Gross Domestic Product of $25,700, more than 70% of its population is estimated to live on less than two dollars per day, without access to basic services such as potable water.
Recent unsubstantiated allegations in Equatorial Guinea’s official media against opposition party Convergence for Social Democracy are of concern as well.
The United States urges the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to end these restrictions and harassment of opposition parties, in accordance with Article 13 of the Constitution of Equatorial Guinea, which guarantees freedom of expression, association and movement, and in accordance with its commitments under international human rights conventions.
We also call upon the Government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to allow political parties to register and participate freely in peaceful political activities, as agreed to during the National Political Dialogue in November 2014.
