Pope Leo criticises Equatorial Guinea prisons as he winds up Africa tour

Final stop on four-nation African journey highlights human rights concerns

During his concluding leg of a four-country African tour, Pope Leo voiced concerns about the treatment of prisoners in Equatorial Guinea. The nation, noted for its poor human rights record and significant wealth disparities, is the final destination of his journey. On Wednesday, the Pope addressed the country at a Mass attended by approximately 100,000 people, including President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power since 1979.

“My thoughts go to the poorest, to families experiencing difficulty and to prisoners who are often forced to live in troubling hygienic and sanitary conditions,” the Pope said.

Equatorial Guinea, rich in oil, is set to host the Pope’s visit to a notorious prison in Bata, its economic capital, on Wednesday evening. Amnesty International has highlighted that inmates there are “reportedly routinely beaten as punishment,” with many prisoners “neither seen nor heard from, and their relatives do not know whether they are alive or dead,” according to the group.

At the Mass in Mongomo, held at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Pope Leo urged the people to “serve the common good rather than private interests, bridging the gap between the privileged and the disadvantaged.” He emphasized that the country’s natural wealth should benefit all citizens, not just a select few. “The Creator has endowed you with great natural wealth. I urge you to work together so that it may be a blessing for all,” he stated, cautioning that the nation’s future hinges on collective choices.

Obiang’s administration faces accusations of corruption, with oil revenues allegedly funneled to the elite. The president’s son, currently vice-president, was fined in a French court in 2020 for misusing public funds to support a lavish lifestyle abroad. His assets were later seized. Transparency International has ranked Equatorial Guinea among the world’s most corrupt states, while the World Bank reports that over half of its population lives in poverty.

Political dissent is limited in Equatorial Guinea, where the lack of a free press restricts opposition voices. All broadcast media is either state-owned or controlled by allies of the government. The Pope’s remarks, delivered pointedly, called for “greater room for freedom” and the “safeguarding of human dignity.”

Before the trip, the Pope had criticized Donald Trump for his threats against Iran. In response, the U.S. president labeled the pontiff as “bad for foreign policy.” The African continent continues to be a focal point for the Pope’s advocacy, with BBCAfrica.com offering further updates.

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