Latest news with #Obiang
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
France faces colonial-era accusations as Equatorial Guinea challenges asset seizure
Tensions between France and Equatorial Guinea have intensified as the Central African nation accuses Paris of breaching international law and undermining its sovereignty. Equatorial Guinea criticizes France over seized assets linked to claims of corruption. The seizure involves luxury assets of Vice President Teodoro Obiang Mangue, accused of embezzlement. Equatorial Guinea challenges France's actions as violating sovereignty and files a petition with the ICJ. The controversy surrounds allegations that France is unfairly holding onto assets seized from the nation's Vice President, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, based on corruption charges. Equatorial Guinea claims the assets rightfully belong to the state and should be returned, and it has filed an urgent petition at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing France of violating its sovereignty, as reported by Radio France Internationale The disputed residence, which features a private cinema, a hammam, and marble fittings with gold taps, was confiscated under French legislation targeting wealth illicitly acquired by foreign leaders. ' France's approach can be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial, ' said Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's ambassador to France. ' We cannot accept such disregard for our sovereignty... we simply cannot accept it,' he added. The backstory The dispute centers on a long-running corruption case in which French courts found Obiang guilty of embezzling public funds to acquire luxury properties. Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea and son of the country's long-time president, received a three-year suspended prison sentence and a €30 million fine in 2017. French authorities also seized several assets, including a €100 million mansion near the Arc de Triomphe. After the sentencing and asset confiscation, the British government also sanctioned Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue. Then–Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab accused him of engaging in ' corrupt contracting arrangements and soliciting bribes, to fund a lavish lifestyle inconsistent with his official salary as a government minister.' Equatorial Guinea later claimed the mansion was part of its diplomatic mission, accusing France of violating the Vienna Convention. But the court sided with France, ruling the property served no diplomatic purpose and belonged to Obiang personally. In a fresh filing to the ICJ, Equatorial Guinea alleges French police recently re-entered the building and changed its locks. The country is demanding ' immediate, full and unrestricted access ' to the site. Under new French legislation, seized assets are to be sold, with proceeds intended to be returned to Equatorial Guinea rather than absorbed by the French state. However, the Equatorial Guinean government has expressed skepticism, accusing France of harboring ulterior motives regarding how the funds will be used after the sale. ' France still does not seem to understand that we Africans will no longer tolerate interference in our domestic affairs, ' said Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's legal representative. ' It is now evident that France intends to sell the property and to unilaterally determine how the proceeds will be used.' In response, Diego Colas, legal adviser to France's foreign ministry, argued the case is ' clearly without merit. ' Speaking further, he said any potential sale was 'a long way off' and that the authorities' recent visit to the property was merely a 'fact-finding mission ' to assess its condition.
LeMonde
15-07-2025
- Politics
- LeMonde
Equatorial Guinea accuses France of 'neo-colonial' behavior in fight over seized Paris mansion
Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of "neo-colonial" behavior on Tuesday, July 15, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest installment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach "may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his "Bad" tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a UN anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
15-07-2025
- Politics
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
THE HAGUE, Netherlands -- Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
San Francisco Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
The Independent
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Equatorial Guinea urges UN to block the sale of a Paris mansion seized by France
Lawyers for Equatorial Guinea accused France of 'neo-colonial' behavior on Tuesday, urging United Nations judges to block the sale of a mansion on one of Paris' poshest avenues in the latest instalment in a long-running legal tug-of-war over the multimillion-dollar property. The African country filed a case at the International Court of Justice in 2022, alleging France is violating international law by refusing to return assets seized during a corruption investigation into Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of Equatorial Guinea's long-serving president. France's approach 'may be described as paternalistic and even neo-colonial. We cannot accept such disdain for our sovereignty from France," Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, Equatorial Guinea's agent, told The Hague-based court. Equatorial Guinea has asked the court for a series of urgent orders, known as provisional measures, to return the swanky mansion on one of Paris's most prestigious streets, Avenue Foch, and to prevent France from selling the building. Obiang was convicted in 2017, and given a three-year suspended sentence for embezzling millions of dollars in public money. French authorities seized money, luxury vehicles and the building, which boasts a hammam, a cinema and a night club. The 57-year-old has faced scrutiny for corruption in other countries as well. In 2021, he was sanctioned by the United Kingdom for misappropriating public funds, including spending $275,000 on the bejeweled glove that Michael Jackson wore on his 'Bad' tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also opened investigations into his finances. In 2020, the International Court of Justice ruled that the building was a private residence, not a diplomatic outpost, rejecting a claim from Equatorial Guinea that the seizure violated international law. Equatorial Guinea returned to The Hague in 2022, arguing the French government was obliged to return the assets based on a U.N. anti-corruption convention. Despite its oil and gas riches, Equatorial Guinea has a dramatic gap between its privileged ruling class and much of the impoverished population. The former Spanish colony is run by Africa's longest-serving president, Obiang's father Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
