Why Has Spain Ordered the Arrest of the Equatorial Guinea President’s Son?

Spain’s High Court has recently taken a significant step by ordering the issuance of arrest warrants for the Equatorial Guinea President’s Son, Carmelo Ovono Obiang, along with two other officials. The charges brought against them include allegations of torture and kidnapping.

The case was brought to light by the Movement for the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea Third Republic (MLGE3R), a Spain-based opposition group. They claim that in 2019, while on a trip to South Sudan, four of their members were abducted. Among the victims were two Spanish citizens, who were allegedly transported to Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish colony, on a government plane and subjected to torture.

Tragically, one of the Spanish citizens, Julio Obama, died last year while imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea. Reports suggest that testimonies from the victims and statements from protected witnesses provide compelling evidence of the kidnapping and torture carried out by the Equatorial Guinea President’s Son and the other accused officials.

Despite the serious nature of these allegations, the Equatorial Guinea government has not yet responded. The government has previously dismissed such accusations as unfounded. President Teodoro Obiang, who has been in power for 44 years, has faced numerous accusations of human rights abuses, including the torture of political opponents and corruption, all of which he denies.

The decision by Spain’s High Court to issue arrest warrants marks a significant step in holding the Equatorial Guinea President’s Son and the other officials accountable for their actions. The international community will be watching closely as this case unfolds, hoping for justice for the victims and a step forward in the fight against impunity for human rights abuses.