Organized Crime in Equatorial Guinea: A Threat to the Country’s Stability

Presence of Organized Crime

While there is limited publicly available data on organized crime in Equatorial Guinea, several concerns have been raised:

• Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is known to exist in the country, but a lack of data makes it difficult to assess the scope of the problem.
• Foreign Criminal Actors: The presence of foreign criminal actors operating in Equatorial Guinea is not well-documented, adding to the complexity of addressing organized crime.
• Mafia-like Structures: Unlike some other countries, there appears to be no significant mafia-like structures present in Equatorial Guinea.

Government and Governance

Equatorial Guinea’s government has been criticized for its handling of power and governance:

• Dictatorship: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been in power since 1979 and is regarded as one of Africa’s most brutal dictators.
• Corruption and Embezzlement: The government is accused of widespread corruption, embezzlement, and exploitation of natural resources at the expense of the population.
• Lack of Accountability: There are no prosecutions or convictions for human trafficking suspects.

Criminal Justice and Security

The country’s judicial system and law enforcement agencies face significant challenges:

• Judicial Independence: The judicial system is not independent, with the president acting as chief magistrate.
• Specialized Units: No specialized judicial units exist to counter organized crime.
• Police Presence: Police have a limited presence in major cities and rural areas and often engage in extortion.
• Human Rights Abuses: National security forces are accused of torture and other human rights abuses.

Economic and Financial Environment

Equatorial Guinea’s economic growth has been driven by the exploitation of oil and gas reserves, but this has declined due to fluctuating prices and declining production:

• Anti-Money Laundering Laws: Anti-money laundering laws are weakly implemented, and officials have been investigated for money laundering and corruption by foreign authorities.
• Cross-Border Transactions: There are no measures in place to tackle cross-border currency transactions.

Civil Society and Social Protection

The government’s efforts to address human trafficking and other social issues are inadequate:

• Protection Efforts: Protection efforts against human trafficking are extremely weak.
• Witness-Protection Programme: There is no witness-protection programme or harm reduction measures for drug use.
• Awareness Campaigns: The government has not initiated any human-trafficking awareness campaigns, implemented programmes to address forced child labor, or made efforts to prevent trafficking.