Equatorial Guinea accuses former Supreme Court Chief of orchestrating plot to destabilize country

Equatorial Guinea has issued an international arrest warrant for Juan Carlos Ondo Angue, the former Supreme Court president accused of masterminding a plot to destabilize the nation.

The warrant, announced on Friday through state television, seeks Ondo Angue’s arrest and return to Malabo, where he faces a litany of charges including corruption, fraud, money-laundering, abuse of power, and influence trafficking.

Prosecutor General Anatolio Nzang Nguema, in an address to TVGE, revealed that Ondo Angue, who fled to Europe in 2020, is believed to be residing “between Spain and France.” The accusations against him stem from an alleged scheme unveiled in January, when the government seized videos depicting discussions between the former judge and a young woman following sexual intercourse. These videos were subsequently posted on official government and TVGE websites.

In one of the incriminating recordings, Ondo Angue purportedly confesses to leading the destabilization plan while divulging details to his companion. The government claims that he admitted to collaborating with certain Western countries, who suggested devising a political project to overthrow Equatorial Guinea’s government and seize power.

Furthermore, Ondo Angue is reported to have informed the woman about his plans to visit the United States, stating that he aimed to forge alliances and revealing that the US State Department had secured financing for the alleged scheme.

Ondo Angue’s escape from Equatorial Guinea dates back four years when he fled the country following an attempt by soldiers to arrest him at his Malabo residence during investigations into a coup plot in December 2017. Malabo authorities accused the French, Spanish, and US ambassadors of aiding his escape and interfering in domestic matters during the attempted arrest.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has held power since a 1979 coup, governs the oil-rich Equatorial Guinea with an iron fist, making him the world’s longest-serving president. The unfolding drama surrounding the former Supreme Court chief adds a new layer of complexity to the political landscape of this central African nation.