What changed

B100438/2025

B100442/2025

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the arbitrary detention of EU citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea

(2025/2904(RSP))

The European Parliament,

having regard to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948,

having regard to its resolution of 16 February 2023 on violence against opposition activists in Equatorial Guinea, notably the case of Julio Obama Mefuman (2023/2552(RSP)),

having regard to Rule 150(5)150 of its Rules of Procedure,

Whereas thewhereas Spanish citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta,Ballesta were arrestedarbitrarily detained in JanuaryEquatorial 2025Guinea infor Equatorialallegedly Guinea,being involved in connectiona withcorruption illegalscheme, commissionswhere relatedthey are claimed to ahave Digitalbenefited Terrestrialfrom Televisionpublic (TDT)contracts project;in exchange for bribes;

Whereas they have been in pretrial detention since then in the Black Beach prison, which is known for inhumane conditions and serious human rights violations; whereas they have been denied all contact with their families and lawyer;

whereas in April 2025 the authorities reportedly spied on conversations between the detainees and Spanish diplomats; whereas, following this, both men were completely isolated and prohibited from receiving any visits, including from lawyers or family members;

Whereaswhereas Javier Marañón has been onMontero hungeris strikereportedly foron overthe averge monthof indeath protestfollowing againsta hisprolonged isolation,hunger extortion,strike andin humiliationBlack byBeach prisonprison, authorities;notorious whereasfor hisneglecting healthand isbrutalising critical;inmates;

whereas the escalating diplomatic tension between Spain and Equatorial Guinea; whereas the Government of Equatorial Guinea accuses the Spanish judiciary of persecuting several members of the Equatorial Guinea government; whereas Spain is conducting multiple judicial proceedings against senior officials of the government of Equatorial Guinea, including Carmelo Ovono Obiang, son of the president, for alleged offenses including torture, kidnapping, and money laundering;

whereas Equatorial Guinea is an authoritarian hereditary dictatorship, ruled since 1979 by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has concentrated political power and the nation’s oil wealth within his family;

Calls on the Equatorial Guinean authorities to end Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta’s prolonged detention without trial and to ensure due process without undue delay before an independent and impartial court;

whereas Equatorial Guinea has a notorious human rights record, though the country abolished the death penalty in 2022; whereas human rights concerns include torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, arbitrary arrest and detention, transnational repression, crackdowns on civil society and opposition politicians, as well as serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom;

Calls on the authorities to comply with the legal time limits for holding a person in pre-trial detention; stresses that pre-trial detention should remain exceptional, justified only by necessity and proportionate to the circumstances; highlights that according to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, the right to a speedy trial serves to avoid uncharged people being held for prolonged periods in detention;

whereas in most cases the authorities have failed to hold accountable officials responsible for human rights violations; whereas the country’s judicial system is subordinate to the executive;

Calls on the judicial authorities to uphold and respect its international obligations under the African Commission on Human Rights and People's Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Equatorial Guinea is a party, and notably Article 14 thereof on the right to a fair and timely trial before independent courts of law and based on clear charges and ensuring the respect of the defendants’ rights;

whereas the UN Human Rights Council’s Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review examined Equatorial Guinea on 11 November 2024; whereas Equatorial Guinea claims to have adopted the Nelson Mandela Rules on minimum rules for the treatment of prisoners, allocated funds to prisons, and reduced overcrowding through expedited trials; whereas these claims remain questionable given persistent reports of poor detention conditions, lack of due process, and widespread violations of detainees’ rights;

Requests that adequate prison conditions be guaranteed for the detainees, in accordance with international human rights standards and norms of humane treatment, in particular access to proper medical care, sufficient and safe food, appropriate hygiene conditions, communication with their families, and legal assistance, ensuring that their physical and psychological integrity is preserved throughout the entire period of detention;

Expresses grave concern at the arbitrary detention of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta in Equatorial Guinea; calls on the authorities to secure their immediate release;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the EU institutions, Member States, and the Equatorial Guinea authorities.

Is extremely concerned about Javier Marañón Montero’s critical health condition; demands that he receives an urgent medical evacuation;

Expresses serious concern over the persistence of torture and inhumane prison conditions, the continued persecution of political opposition, severe restrictions on freedom of expression, and other human rights violations in the country;

Calls on the authorities in Equatorial Guinea to respect their human rights obligations and to ensure that all detainees are held in humane conditions, receive fair trials and have access to legal defence and family visits;

Urges the authorities of Equatorial Guinea to substantially improve the democratic governance in the country to the benefit of all its citizens;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the HR/VP, the African Union, the United Nations and the authorities of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea;