CONFIDENTIAL
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Report by HM Embassy, Yaoundé.
General Observations
Equatorial Guinea probably competes with Uganda for
the position of bottom African country on the list. President Macias is pathologically suspicious of opposition and probably many hundreds of Equatorial Guineans have died, many under torture, in his prisons.
Right No.
(i)
(ii)
Almost all suspected opponents of the regime have been tortured and killed in prison so there are probably few long- term political prisoners.
The use of torture is common, including reputedly by Macias himself.
(iii) Slavery is probably widespread as an
(iv)
(v)
Rating suggested
by Post
economic instrument to try to maintain cocoa production in Macias Nguema Biyogo (formerly Fernando Po). Three main ethnic groups are involved:-
(a) Nigerian Ibo contract labour. Most
of these were repatriated earlier this year by the Nigerians, but some probably remain. The Nigerians allege that many have been tortured and killed;
(b) Boubis (original inhabitants of the
Island of Fernando Po) forced to work in the plantations against their will;
(c) Fangs originally imported from the
mainland to work in the plantations.
No freedom of expression either in public or private is tolerated and people are known to disappear even after a single indiscreet remark.
There is no judiciary in any real sense.
(vi) There are no trades unions.
(vii) In contrast with all neighbouring states,
freedom to emigrate is denied even to those living in border regions. The fear that they will leave the country illegally has caused the canoes of most Equatorial Guinean fishermen to be removed. An official request to leave the country would be equated with treason and suitably punished.
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CONFIDENTIAL