<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The leadership of the Equatorial Guinea Progress Party exiled in Spain has expressed its hope that, after a 2024 marked by “the systematic violation of our rights” by the regime of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 2025 will be “the year of political change, the beginning of the transition to democracy and the expected return in freedom of all exiles.”</strong></h4> “The end of this 2024 finds us, once again, far from our homeland, but with our hearts beating strongly for Equatorial Guinea,” wrote Armengol Engonga Ondo, president of the Equatorial Guinea Progress Party, through a press release. “These have been twelve months marked by tireless struggle, the denunciation of the systematic violation of our rights and the reaffirmation of our commitment to a free and dignified future for our people,” added the note, published by 'El Confidencial de Guinea Ecuatorial (La Voz de la Democracia)'. According to Engonga, the Equatorial Guinean people “can no longer bear the yoke of an inhuman and corrupt dictatorship, headed by the Obiang family.” “The despotism and arrogance of this regime have left a deep mark of suffering, misery and despair” and its “uncivil and primitive behavior has not only plundered the wealth of our country, but has also sullied the soul of a noble, affable and supportive nation,” he denounced. “After 45 years of misgovernment, Equatorial Guinea still has no state project or vision for the future,” lamented the opposition leader, who lives in Madrid. “While our dictator tries to impose a linguistic tripartite with Spanish, French and Portuguese, our people struggle to communicate in their mother tongue, Spanish, which should be a bridge to development and not a barrier imposed by whims,” he said. In addition, he continued, “despite the enormous wealth from oil, gas, wood, fishing and other resources, the profits have been squandered by the Obiang family on luxuries, real estate, cars and jewellery around the world.” “What could have become of Equatorial Guinea if those resources had been invested in hospitals, schools, roads, housing and drinking water? How much less would we have suffered if we had had the necessary infrastructure to live with dignity?” he asked. “Today, we are rich in potential, but we live like pariahs. This humanitarian tragedy has only one person responsible: Teodoro Obiang Nguema, his family and his court of parasitic acolytes,” he said. In the face of all this, Armengol Engonga appealed to the “firm hope” that, “built on the constant work of the democratic opposition, political parties, civil society, the media and activists, both inside and outside the country,” has allowed us to unite, “from the diaspora,” the “voices to demand urgent change and to prepare the way towards a free Equatorial Guinea.” “2025 must be the year of political change, the beginning of the transition towards democracy and the expected return in freedom of all exiles,” declared the opposition leader. “Our dream is to see Equatorial Guinea as a country where men and women are treated with dignity, where corruption is replaced by transparency and justice, and where opportunities are accessible to all,” he continued. “May 2025 be a year of hope, action and, ultimately, freedom,” he concluded.
