Equatorial Guinea President Sues Annobón Independence Leader for Alleged Cannibalism
The escalating dispute between the government of Equatorial Guinea and the independence movement of Annobón, a small island with a population of approximately 5,000, has taken a bizarre turn. President Teodoro Obiang, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 46 years, has filed a lawsuit in Spain against Orlando Cartagena, a leader of the Annobón independence movement, alleging defamation and accusing him of making false and disturbing claims of witchcraft and cannibalism.
The Lawsuit and Allegations
Obiang is seeking €1 million in damages from Cartagena, according to court documents filed in Catarroja, Spain. The lawsuit stems from statements Cartagena made during an interview on an Argentine television channel last year, even as seeking international support for Annobón’s independence. Cartagena reportedly claimed that Obiang “practices witchcraft and eats human flesh,” and further alleged that the president and his leadership “eat frozen babies.”
Obiang’s legal representatives argue that these statements falsely imply the president “procures” the consumption of human remains, either directly or indirectly, and that they are deliberately morbid and disturbing. The lawyer representing Obiang is Javier Gómez Bermúdez, a former president of the Criminal Chamber of the National Court of Spain, who also presided over the trial for the 2004 Madrid train bombings.
Cartagena’s Defense and Counterclaims
Cartagena, who resides in Valencia, Spain, and identifies as the prime minister of the self-proclaimed Republic of Annobón, claims the lawsuit is a form of “political persecution” and “judicial intimidation.” He maintains that the accusations of cannibalism have been reported in the international press in relation to practices associated with the Fang ethnic group, the largest ethnic group in Equatorial Guinea, and specifically linked to Obiang by opponents and dissidents for over two decades.
The self-proclaimed Government of the Republic of Annobón released a statement asserting that the complaint is retaliation against Cartagena for his opposition to Obiang’s regime and for filing complaints with international justice bodies regarding crimes against humanity and human rights violations committed in Equatorial Guinea.
Background: Annobón’s Independence Movement
Annobón, originally named Anno bom (“good year” in Portuguese) by Portuguese explorers in 1475, was ceded to Spain in the late 18th century and later became part of Equatorial Guinea in 1968. Despite its geographical distance from the mainland and distinct ethnic identity and language, Annobón has been governed as a province of Equatorial Guinea.
Residents of Annobón have long protested against what they describe as systematic repression, military abuses, and deliberate isolation by the Equatoguinean authorities, particularly since Obiang came to power in 1979. In 2022, Ambo Legadu, the organization promoting Annobón’s independence, unilaterally declared independence, a move rejected by Equatorial Guinea, which considers the island an inalienable part of its territory. Leaders of the independence movement, including Cartagena, have faced criminal charges and exile.
Argentina Connection
The Annobón independence cause has gained traction in Argentina, as leaders have explored the possibility of the island becoming part of Argentina, citing a shared history as part of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata. Cartagena stated last year, “We have to be free before deciding,” suggesting that joining Argentina is a potential option once independence is secured.
Upcoming Conciliation Hearing
A conciliation hearing is scheduled in Catarroja, Spain, where Obiang’s representatives are demanding that Cartagena retract his statements about cannibalism and issue a public apology on all social media platforms. The court acknowledges that Annobón is not a recognized state and that Cartagena does not hold an elected political office, but is proceeding with the case based on the defamation claims.