Equatorial Guinea: Reverend Jackson should Press on Fundamental Freedoms

(Tampa, 5 May 2016) Renowned civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson, visiting Equatorial Guinea this week, should call on the government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to stop denying basic freedoms to its people and urgently address corruption.

Following Presidente Obiang’s reelection by 94% of the votes, Reverend Jackson has traveled to Equatorial Guinea at the president’s invitation.  Details on the motives of his trip have not been disclosed, although the Equatoguinean government website claims  “the reverend will visit places of interest on the Island of Bioko Norte, and will analyze the sectors in which Rainbow Push, a non profit NGO, can work in favor of justice and civil rights in our country.”

 “Reverend Jackson has been at the center of the struggle for civil rights, and has worked tirelessly to strengthen the democratic fabric of the United States of America. He knows all too well the importance of protecting citizens’ rights to peaceful assembly and protest.” Said Tutu Alicante, Executive Director of EG Justice.  “The Obiang government uses visits by prominent leaders to legitimize his 37-year misrule and lopsided elections. The least Reverend Jackson can do, is to press President Obiang to stop targeting activists and others who speak out against him.”

EG Justice has documented an increasing backlash against independent voices before and after the April 24 presidential elections, including severe crackdown on the political opposition, media, and civil society groups. Furthermore, the US Department of State 2015 human rights country report identifies citizen’s inability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections, disregard for the rule of law, denial of freedom of speech, and widespread corruption as some of the most significant challenges in Equatorial Guinea.

EG Justice calls on Reverend Jackson to pressure the government of Equatorial Guinea to stop harassing civil society and political activists; and to stop torturing and committing violent acts—like the recent brutal attacks unleashed on members of political party, Ciudadanos por la Innovación, or the torture of Celestino Okenve. The government should release Cipriano Nguema Mba, Luis Nzo, Ernesto Mabale Eyang, Juan Antorio Mosuy Eseng and many other prisoners unjustly detained in prison. We call on Reverend Jackson to use this visit to highlight the human rights violations committed in the country and call the government to take immediate and irreversible steps to protect human dignity, combat corruption, and use public funds to address basic economic and social rights.