Teodoro Obiang, the authoritarian president of Equatorial Guinea, has initiated legal proceedings against Orlando Cartagena, a leading figure of the independence movement from Annobón island, demanding one million euros. This lawsuit is centered around serious accusations made by Cartagena against Obiang, including claims of 'cannibalism' and 'witchcraft'. The case highlights the ongoing tensions between the Equatorial Guinean government and those advocating for independence from the predominantly autocratic regime.

Orlando Cartagena contends that his legal troubles are part of a broader political persecution by the Obiang government, aimed at silencing dissent and stifling the expression of independent political aspirations. Living in exile in Valencia, Spain, Cartagena asserts that he will not retract his statements, which he believes are rooted in truth and representative of the political struggles faced by the people of Annobón, a small island with roughly 5,000 inhabitants.

This legal dispute is emblematic of the oppressive political climate in Equatorial Guinea, where dissent has often been met with severe repercussions. The court proceedings occurring in Spain may serve as a platform for highlighting issues of freedom of speech and human rights abuses not only in Equatorial Guinea but also within the larger context of international law concerning political persecution.