Equatorial Guinea, which recently joined the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), is among the worst in the ranking, only ahead of South Sudan, Eritrea and Western Sahara, according to the latest results of the annual survey on the state of political and civil liberties in the countries of the world, prepared by the international NGO “Freedom House”.
Equatorial Guinea, with a score of 5 out of 100 and classified as “not free”, stands out for “holding a general election that is neither free nor fair”. The country’s oil wealth “is concentrated in the hands of the president’s family” and the government “many times detains and represses the few remaining opponents of the regime in the country and censors journalists.” In addition, “the judiciary is under the control of the president, and security forces commit torture and other acts of violence with impunity,” the “Freedom House” report concludes.
At the same time, this year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) prepared by the NGO “Transparency International” reports that Equatorial Guinea “continues to suffer the ruthless exploitation of the ruling regime”, ranking 171 out of a possible 180 among the most corrupt countries in the world, as well as the 3rd place of honor among the countries of Africa, being only surpassed by South Sudan and Somalia.
It is literally shameful how the country with the highest GDP growth rate in the world in the last 30 years ranks first in such outrageous ratings that reflect the real situation in the country. All this clearly shows that the authoritarian government of the Obiang clan has an extremely negative impact on the principles of democracy, statehood and justice in Equatorial Guinea and, therefore, on its own population as such.
What self-respecting country in the world would want to enter into a long-term business relationship with such a corrupt government? What international corporations would be willing to invest in the economy of kleptocratic Equatorial Guinea? Who would want to live in an unfree country, constantly fearing being politically persecuted, as well as suffering acts of torture and tyranny?
Writtten by Joseph Essama
