Foreign Ministry assures it is closely monitoring the case of the two Spaniards imprisoned in Malabo at the highest level

Eduardo González The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Monday that it is closely monitoring the case of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta, two Spaniards imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea since January 2025, at the highest level, "in order to provide them with the corresponding protection and consular assistance, as required by international law." This information was provided to The Diplomat by sources within the Ministry in response to a non-binding resolution from the People’s Parliamentary Group in Congress, which calls for the direct involvement of Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares to secure the immediate release of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta. According to the aforementioned sources, the Ministry is “closely monitoring” the case through its central services and the Spanish Embassy in Malabo. Since January 2025, the two Spanish citizens have been visited 23 times by staff from the Spanish Embassy in Malabo (16 in La Luna and seven in Black Beach). “This close monitoring reiterates to the local authorities the importance of this case for our country,” the same sources affirm. “To facilitate these visits, multiple contacts with local authorities at all levels have been necessary,” they note. In this regard, they continue, “the involvement of the Spanish Ambassador (Javier Conde) in this case is particularly significant,” as he “constantly advocates for them to receive medical and legal assistance, as well as visits from their families, to ensure that their human rights are fulfilled and respected.” According to sources, the ambassador met on May 14 with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, “who expressed his willingness to facilitate more frequent family visits.” Among the high-level contacts, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that both Minister Albares and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Global Affairs, Diego Martínez Belío, “have engaged with their Equatorial Guinean counterparts to request that the human rights of the detainees be respected.” “Furthermore, 40 diplomatic notes have been issued: an average of three per month,” they add. In addition, they continue, “the legal and administrative process involving both detainees is being closely monitored to ensure their rights are protected.” “Finally, both the Spanish Embassy in Malabo and the central services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in constant contact with the families to keep them informed of all the actions being taken,” they conclude. On May 6, José Manuel Albares met in Madrid with the families and lawyers of Javier Marañón Montero and David Rodríguez Ballesta. The case Javier Marañón and David Rodríguez, employees of a Spanish digital services company in Equatorial Guinea, were arrested in January 2025 in Malabo for allegedly paying illegal commissions to secure a public contract for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project. They were subsequently transferred to Black Beach prison in Malabo without charges, without a reasoned court order, and without access to legal counsel. Following their arrest, the Vice President of the Republic and head of the security apparatus (and Obiang's eldest son), Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, ordered the complete isolation of both businessmen and prohibited them from receiving any visits, not even from their lawyers or family members. In April 2025, after Guinean authorities installed hidden microphones in one of the prison's visiting rooms to eavesdrop on conversations between the two prisoners and Spanish diplomats, the Attorney General, Anatolio Nzang Nguema, called a press conference to demand that the Spanish Embassy in Malabo "respect judicial independence." According to their families, Javier Marañón, who suffers from respiratory problems, has lost more than 20 kilos and has been at risk on at least two occasions due to hunger strikes, while David Rodríguez has suffered a worsening of his hypertension. The families of the two detainees have gathered more than 61,000 signatures, which were delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asking the government to take action for their release.

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