Press Release
Equatorial Guinea: Human Rights NGOs Spotlight Abuses at UN Human Rights Council
EG Justice

Geneva – On Friday, September 12, 2025, during the 60th Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, EG Justice, the Equatoguinean Commission of Jurists (CEJ), and the Africa Association of Education for Development (ASAFED) jointly hosted a side event to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in Equatorial Guinea.

Titled “Civil Society in the UPR and the Death Penalty Debate,” the event provided an in-depth update on key human rights concerns in the country, following last year’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The event drew attention due to the persistent violations that have gone unaddressed by the government, despite prior commitments to make improvements.

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Speakers & Key Issues Raised

The panel featured leading human rights advocates and experts who spoke on critical and often overlooked topics:

  • Lucas Olo Fernandes (EquatoGuinean Commission of Jurists) discussed systemic issues in education and healthcare, pointing to chronic underinvestment, lack of infrastructure, and inequities affecting vulnerable populations.

  • Tutu Alicante (EG Justice) focused on the shrinking civic space, targeting of sexual minorities, and increasing threats to freedom of expression—particularly in digital spaces where online surveillance and censorship are widespread.

  • María Jesús Bikene Obiang (EquatoGuinean Commission of Jurists) highlighted violations of the right to freedom of association, particularly the repression of independent NGOs and political movements, as well as abuses faced by migrant workers within Equatorial Guinea.

  • Cruz Melchor Eya Nchama (ASAFED) delivered a powerful presentation on the continued use of the death penalty, conditions of torture, arbitrary detention, and the deplorable state of prisons. He noted that, despite government claims of abolition, the death penalty remains in force under the Military Justice Code, and is still applicable to civilians.

Civil Society’s Message: A Call for Accountability

This side event built on previous advocacy efforts—including those presented during the March 2025 Universal Periodic Review panel titled “La Sociedad Civil en el EPU y el Debate Sobre la Pena de Muerte” (Civil Society Organizations at the UPR and the Debate about the Death Penalty) in Geneva. At that event, civil society organizations stressed that:

  • The death penalty remains legally enforceable through military legislation, undermining the government’s claims of abolition.

  • Torture, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary arrests remain common, with activists, political opponents, and journalists frequently targeted.

  • The government continues to restrict civic space, banning or disabling the operations of independent organizations and silencing dissenting voices.

  • Key political prisoners such as Joaquín Elo Ayeto and Anacleto Micha Ndong remain detained under fabricated charges, while cases like the death of Julio Obama Mefuman remain uninvestigated.

  • Equatorial Guinea has not yet ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR to formally abolish the death penalty and reinforce human rights protections through binding international law.

A Coordinated Civil Society Effort

By jointly organizing this event, EG Justice, CEJ, and ASAFED aim to amplify the voices of Equatoguinean civil society actors who face repression at home. Their joint advocacy at the UN Human Rights Council calls on the international community to:

  • Pressure the government of Equatorial Guinea to fulfill its international obligations;

  • Support mechanisms for independent monitoring and accountability;

  • Protect local human rights defenders facing criminalization and harassment.

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