Two Spanish citizens have been held for the past seven months in Black Beach prison in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. Recently, for the first time in a long while, they were allowed to see their loved ones and representatives of the Spanish diplomatic mission. The wife of one of the inmates, Victoria, was able to visit her husband, accompanied by a friend who is a doctor and conducted a medical examination. Fortunately, his health was found to be satisfactory.
Early last week, staff from the Spanish Embassy—the deputy head of mission and the consul—visited the prisoners. They managed to meet with both Spaniards, who are still in custody on corruption charges. Following this meeting, the prison administration promised that relatives would be allowed to continue visiting the inmates. However, access was once again restricted the very next day. Attempts by one prisoner’s wife to see her husband were denied, despite prior arrangements.
The charges and circumstances of the arrest
Both Spaniards, natives of Andalusia, were working for a company installing digital television in Guinea. They were detained after attending a meeting with local officials regarding the project’s implementation. Immediately after the meeting, their passports were confiscated, and a few days later, they were arrested and accused of being involved in the disappearance of part of the funds allocated to the project. According to the prosecution, out of the 15 million euros paid for the first phase of equipment installation, about six million were either stolen or used for bribes.
The families of those detained insist their relatives had no involvement in financial activities and were solely responsible for the technical side of the project. They believe the main suspicion should have fallen on the company’s management, who left the country. In March, local prosecutors announced a search for the company’s president, who also holds high-ranking positions in Granada.
Detention conditions and diplomatic efforts
For the first two and a half months after their arrest, the Spaniards were held at a guard post where they could regularly communicate with their families. However, in April they were transferred to Black Beach — an infamous prison where, according to human rights activists, prisoner rights are frequently violated. From that point, contact with the outside world was almost entirely cut off.
Spanish diplomats continue to monitor the situation and provide detainees with necessary consular assistance. Meanwhile, the lawyer in Guinea has still not been able to meet with his clients, and a court date has yet to be set. In Spain, the attorney representing the detainees is preparing an appeal to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, believing that international pressure is the only real chance to achieve justice.
Negotiations between countries and unofficial attempts to help
Alongside official efforts, informal channels have also become involved. For instance, the Salesian order, which has schools both in Granada and Malabo, is trying to assist through its local connections. Recently, after Spanish diplomats visited the detainees, representatives of the mission met with the president of Equatorial Guinea. During the meeting, they discussed a digital television project, as well as the possibility of working together to resolve the detainees’ case. The head of state voiced an interest in cooperating with Spain to recover stolen funds, but nothing specific was said about the fate of the Spaniards.
For now, the situation remains uncertain: families and lawyers continue fighting for the rights and freedom of their loved ones, while Spanish authorities look for diplomatic solutions to the conflict. The question of a fair trial and access to the detainees remains unresolved.
