What changed

B100440/2025

B100441/2025

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

The European Parliament,

having regard to Rules 150150(5) and 136(4) of its Rules of Procedure,

whereas Spanish citizens Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta were arresteddetained inwithout Malaboformal incharges mid-Januaryon 22 January 2025 in connection with allegations of bribery and fraud against their employer, and were later transferred on 7 April 2025 to the failedBlack €34Beach millionprison, digitala televisionfacility (TDT)known project;for its inhumane conditions and systematic human rights violations;

whereas they have since been held in pretrial detention at Black Beach prison, notorious for torture and inhumane conditions, without verdict or effective judicial safeguards;

whereas, considering current diplomatic tensions between Spain and Equatorial Guinea, the detention of both men can be considered a politically motivated pressure tactic, particularly as they are simple employees without any decision-making power;

whereas on 9 April 2025 they were shown publicly before a Malabo judge after months in custody, and Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang ordered the suspension and arrest of prison officers accused of showing them leniency;

whereas both men were placed in retaliatory isolation and denied access to their lawyers and families, following the illegal interception of their private conversations with Spanish diplomats

whereas Mr Marañón Montero launched a hunger strike by July 2025 in protest at his arbitrary detention and degrading conditions; whereas reports describe his health as critical and worsening, amid allegations of humiliation, isolation and denial of adequate medical care;

whereas neither at the time of their detention nor subsequently were either men informed of their charges;

whereas Spanish consular requests have been delayed or obstructed and the ambassador was summoned for intervening; whereas the detention of these EU citizens has strained relations between Spain and Equatorial Guinea and raises concerns for the protection of Union citizens abroad;

whereas the health of both men is severely compromised, especially by pre-existing chronic illnesses that are life-threatening in the inhumane prison conditions; whereas, furthermore, Mr Marañón is on the verge of death following a prolonged hunger strike;

whereas the TDT investigation revealed overbilling and corruption implicating presidential family members, while prosecutions focus solely on foreign nationals, shielding regime insiders;

whereas the the judiciary in Equatorial Guinea is subordinated to the executive, with arbitrary detentions widely used to suppress political opposition;

Strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta; deplores the lack of due process and the conditions of their imprisonment; underlines that their prosecution appears politically motivated and aimed at unjustly shifting responsibility away from members of the regime;

whereas the regime in Equatorial Guinea is responsible for one of Africa's worst human rights situations, while systemic corruption ensures that the nation's immense oil wealth benefits a small elite, leaving the majority of the population in extreme poverty;

Insists that any proceedings respect international fair trial standards and that the detainees be granted full access to their families, independent lawyers and Spanish consular officials;

whereas Equatorial Guinea is strengthening its ties with Russia, as part of a wider trend of Russian influence in Africa;

Calls on the Equatoguinean authorities to ensure urgent medical treatment for Mr Marañón Montero and to guarantee humane conditions for all detainees, ending practices of incommunicado detention and denial of adequate healthcare;

Urges the Equatorial Guinean authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta;

Condemns political interference in the judicial process, including actions by the Vice-President, and recalls that separation of powers is a fundamental principle of the rule of law;

Demands that Mr. Marañón be granted urgent and adequate medical evacuation and treatment to save his life, and that his safety be guaranteed;

Urges the Spanish Government and the EU to intensify efforts to secure the detainees fair trial, including through coordinated démarches, high-level engagement and trial monitoring;

Condemns in the strongest possible terms the inhumane treatment, extortion, and denial of legal counsel suffered by both citizens;

Calls on the VP/HR, Council and Commission to raise this case systematically in EU–Africa relations, at the UN and AU, and to consider targeted sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against officials responsible; stresses that any cooperation with Equatorial Guinea must be conditioned on respect for human rights, the rule of law and accountability, and deplores systematic impunity for regime insiders despite credible evidence of corruption;

Denounces the lack of judicial independence, the contempt for the rule of law, and the systematic use of arbitrary detention by the authorities in Equatorial Guinea;

Recalls the case of Spanish-Equatoguinean citizen Julio Obama Mefuman, who died in custody in 2023, and reiterates concern at the systematic use of arbitrary detention and repression by the Obiang regime;

Expresses grave concern about the climate of impunity in Equatorial Guinea and stresses the need that those responsible for these and other serious human rights violations are held accountable;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the VP/HR, the Council, the Commission, EUROPOL, EUROJUST, the AU, the CPLP, the UN SG and the Government of Equatorial Guinea.

Calls on the VP/HR and the the EEAS, in close coordination with the Spanish authorities, to intensify diplomatic efforts to secure the immediate release of Mr. Marañón and Mr. Ballesta and to raise their cases at the upcoming Annual EU-AU Human Rights Dialogue;

Urges Equatorial Guinea to sign the Samoa Agreement;

Encourages the opening of an EU “antenna” office in Equatorial Guinea;

Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, the authorities of the Kingdom of Spain, the authorities of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, the African Union, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.