Equatorial Guinea - Q&A from the press briefing (14 February 2020)

Q: Malabo accused the ambassadors of the U.S., France, and Spain of interference, denouncing them for going to the home of the former president of the Supreme Court of Justice, Juan Carlos Ondo Angue, on Monday evening, even though he was about to be arrested by gendarmes as part of an investigation into the coup attempt of December 2017.
Can you confirm that on the evening of February 11, the French ambassador, accompanied by his Spanish and American colleagues, went to the home of the former president of the Supreme Court to prevent his arrest? Where is the former Supreme Court president, has he taken refuge at the embassy?

A: The ambassador of France to Equatorial Guinea went to the home of Juan Carlos Ondo Angue at the latter’s invitation on February 11. He was accompanied by several of his counterparts.

It was never the intention of the ambassador of France to prevent legal proceedings. In fact, he informed the Equatoguinean minister for foreign affairs and cooperation of his presence at Mr. Ondo Angue’s home.