In its latest Amnesty Urgent Action letter, the TRU Students’ Union has written to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, calling for the immediate and unconditional release of human rights defender Joaquín Elo Ayeto. The letter urges authorities to ensure his right to health, legal counsel, and family contact are respected while he remains detained.
“Arbitrary detention and the denial of medical care are clear violations of basic human rights and international law. By writing this letter, we stand in solidarity with Joaquín and all those who face persecution for speaking truth to power,” said Apoorv Ranjan Chowdhury, TRUSU LGBTQ+ Representative.
Joaquín Elo Ayeto, a long-standing human rights defender and member of the opposition party CPDS and civil society platform Somos+, has been arbitrarily detained since August 1, 2024. He is believed to be held in Oveng Azem prison, where he is denied medical treatment for malaria and typhoid fever, access to his lawyer, and communication with his family—amounting to enforced disappearance. His arrest, conducted without due process, violates multiple rights under international law, including liberty, health, and fair trial guarantees.
This case is part of a broader pattern of repression in Equatorial Guinea, where authorities routinely target activists and opposition members. The government continues to suppress freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, silencing anyone critical of its actions. Joaquín’s previous assault in 2016 for his online activism and his renewed imprisonment following contact with a foreign embassy reveal a continued campaign to intimidate and punish peaceful human rights defenders.
“No one should be punished for defending human rights. Joaquín’s case reflects a deep crisis of justice where silence is enforced through fear. It’s essential that his rights are restored and that accountability follows,” added Chowdhury.
The Union calls on President Obiang to take immediate action to ensure Joaquín Elo Ayeto’s release and to end the harassment and arbitrary detention of human rights defenders in Equatorial Guinea.
We await a response from the President of Equatorial Guinea on this urgent matter.
For More Information
The Amnesty Urgent Actions Program allows the Union to consistently take solidarity action regarding international human rights injustices that matter to students. Click here to see the injustices we have addressed previously. For further information about this issue or to view a copy of the letter, contact the Equity Coordinator below.