AGP Executive Report

Independence Day: UAE, Mauritania and Azerbaijan sent congratulations to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for Equatorial Guinea’s October 12 national day. Russian Defence Ministry representatives in the country marked the occasion with a children’s event featuring military equipment. Maritime Affairs: Sweden released the EU-sanctioned tanker Sea Owl 1 after Equatorial Guinea confirmed it was flying the country’s flag; the vessel remains in port. US Visa Restrictions: Equatorial Guinea is among 19 countries whose nationals face a full US visa suspension, with limited exceptions. Deportation Case: A US federal judge ordered officials to facilitate the release and return of Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian man deported to Equatorial Guinea, where he has been detained. Regional Policy: CEMAC’s monetary authorities have ruled that five older coin series will lose legal-tender status on November 1. Detained Spaniards: Families of two Spanish nationals held in Malabo since January 2025 protested in Granada, alleging they face an imminent trial without evidence.

Independence Day Diplomacy: UAE, Azerbaijani and Mauritanian officials sent greetings to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on Equatorial Guinea’s national day. US Visa Restrictions: Washington reiterated that Equatorial Guinean nationals are among those barred from receiving immigrant and non-immigrant visas under its January policy, with limited exceptions. Deportation Case: A US federal judge ordered the government to secure Ahmed Soliman’s release from detention in Malabo and return him to the US. The administration says it has begun arranging his return; the judge cited unrebutted reports that Soliman was threatened and beaten by Equatorial Guinean authorities. Regional Finance: Five older CFA franc coin series will lose legal-tender status across CEMAC on November 1, including in Equatorial Guinea; holders will have a year to exchange them. UN Reform: Equatorial Guinea is among 10 African states meeting in Libya to advance the continent’s call for two permanent Security Council seats with veto powers, plus two non-permanent seats.

UN Reform: Equatorial Guinea is among 10 African countries pressing for stronger representation at the UN Security Council. Their committee met in Tripoli on Sunday, with Libya backing Africa’s call for two permanent seats with veto powers and two additional non-permanent seats. Deportation Case: The Trump administration says it has begun arranging Ahmed Soliman’s return to the U.S. after a judge ruled his deportation to Equatorial Guinea violated due process and ordered his release and return. The judge cited unrebutted reports that Soliman had been threatened and beaten in detention. Regional Diplomacy: Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani congratulated Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on Equatorial Guinea’s National Day and pledged to strengthen bilateral ties. CEMAC Currency: Older CFA franc coins lose legal-tender status across the six-member bloc on November 1; holders will have a year to exchange them. Consular Pressure: Families of two Spaniards detained in Malabo protested in Granada, accusing Spain’s government of abandoning them and warning they face trial without evidence.

Diplomacy: Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani congratulated Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on Equatorial Guinea’s National Day and pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Deportee Case: A U.S. judge ordered the release and return of Ahmed Soliman, an Egyptian man deported to Equatorial Guinea, finding that the U.S. government violated his due-process rights. U.S. officials say they have begun arranging his return; the judge cited unrebutted reports that Equatorial Guinean authorities threatened and beat him. Detentions: Families of two Spanish nationals imprisoned in Malabo plan a protest in Granada, alleging their relatives face an imminent trial without evidence and criticizing Spain’s government for abandoning the case. CEMAC Currency: Five older CFA franc coin series lost legal-tender status across the six-member bloc on November 1. The central bank has announced a one-year exchange period.

Deportation Case: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to secure Ahmed Soliman’s release from detention in Malabo and return him to the US. Soliman, an Egyptian national raised in Arizona, was deported to Equatorial Guinea in April. The judge found his removal violated due process; allegations that Equatoguinean authorities threatened and beat him were not disputed in court. US officials say they have begun arranging his return. Prisoners’ Families: Families of two Spaniards held in Black Beach prison since January 2025 staged a peaceful traffic blockade in Granada, accusing Spain’s government of abandoning them and warning they face a trial without evidence. CEMAC Currency: Five older CFA franc coin series will lose legal-tender status across Equatorial Guinea and five other CEMAC states on November 1. Holders will have a one-year exchange period, though locations and procedures are still to be announced.

Deportation Case: The U.S. says it has begun arranging Ahmed Soliman’s return after a federal judge ordered his release from Equatorial Guinea and return to the U.S. The Egyptian man, who was deported in April, has been detained in Malabo; the judge ruled his removal violated his due-process rights. Prisoners’ Families: Families of two Spaniards held in Malabo since January 2025 plan a peaceful traffic blockade in Granada today, accusing Spain’s government of abandoning them and warning of a trial they say lacks evidence. Deportation Policy: Human Rights Watch says 536 people were sent to African countries including Equatorial Guinea between January 2025 and August 2026, and alleges some faced detention and abuse. CEMAC Currency: Old CFA franc coins issued in five series from 1958 to 1985 lose legal-tender status across the six-member bloc on November 1. Holders will have a year to exchange them, though arrangements are still pending.

Soliman Case: The Trump administration says it has begun arranging Ahmed Soliman’s return to the U.S., after a federal judge ruled his deportation to Equatorial Guinea violated due process and ordered officials to facilitate his release and return. Soliman has been detained in Malabo; the judge cited reports he was threatened and beaten. Deportation Policy: Human Rights Watch says more than 500 migrants have been sent to African countries that are not their own since 2025, including Equatorial Guinea, and alleges the policy exposes people to arbitrary detention and risks of further deportation. CEMAC Currency: Five older CFA franc coin series will lose legal tender status across the six-member bloc, including Equatorial Guinea, on November 1. A one-year exchange period is planned, but the arrangements are not yet specified.

Deportation Case: A US federal judge ordered the Trump administration to take steps to release Ahmed Soliman from custody in Equatorial Guinea and return him to the United States. The Egyptian-born man, raised in the US from age four, was deported to Malabo in April. The judge said his removal violated due-process rights; Soliman has reported threats and abuse by local authorities. Rights Concerns: Human Rights Watch says 536 people were sent from the US to African countries other than their own between January 2025 and August 2026. Equatorial Guinea was among six destinations examined in its report, which alleges some deportees faced arbitrary detention or onward removal despite risks of persecution or torture. The US government defends the policy as a public-safety measure.

Deportation Case: A U.S. federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to take steps to release Ahmed Soliman from custody in Equatorial Guinea and return him to the United States. The Egyptian-born Phoenix resident says he was beaten and held incommunicado after being deported; the judge ruled his removal violated due-process rights. Rights Concerns: Human Rights Watch says 536 people were sent to African countries where they had no citizenship or usual residence between January 2025 and August 2026, including to Equatorial Guinea. The group says the policy violates international law and reports that some deportees faced detention and abuse. Prisoner Dispute: Families of two Spanish men held at Malabo’s Black Beach prison for more than 20 months plan a protest in Granada, alleging the men face an unsupported trial and accusing Spain’s government of abandoning them.

U.S. Deportation Case: A federal judge ordered the Department of Homeland Security to take all reasonable steps to return Ahmed Soliman, ruling his deportation to Equatorial Guinea violated due-process rights. Soliman, who grew up in Phoenix, has been detained in Malabo since April and has reported threats and beatings. Spanish Prisoners: Families of two Spanish nationals held at Malabo’s Black Beach prison since January plan to protest in Granada on October 10. They say the men face an imminent trial without evidence and accuse Spain’s government of abandoning them.

Deportation Ruling: A US judge ordered the government to arrange Ahmed Soliman’s return after his deportation to Equatorial Guinea was ruled unlawful. The judge said his reported detention, beatings and threats pose ongoing, irreparable harm, and rejected officials’ argument that they could not help because he is in Equatoguinean custody. Detained Spaniards: Families of two Spanish men imprisoned in Malabo plan a protest in Granada on Saturday, alleging their relatives have been arbitrarily detained for more than 20 months and face an imminent trial without evidence. Diplomacy: Egypt and Equatorial Guinea agreed to cooperate on agriculture, culture, tourism and aquaculture after holding the first session of their joint committee.

Detention and Deportations: An Arizona-born man deported by the United States to Equatorial Guinea has reportedly faced threats and beatings while held in Malabo, without access to a lawyer. The case has drawn fresh attention to the treatment of migrants sent to countries where they have no ties. Consular Dispute: Families of two Spanish men held at Black Beach prison for more than 20 months plan to protest in Granada on Saturday, accusing Spain’s government of abandoning them. They say the men face an imminent trial without evidence. Regional Ties: Egypt and Equatorial Guinea signed cooperation agreements covering agriculture, culture, tourism and aquaculture at the first session of their joint committee in New Alamein. AFCON Qualifier: Zimbabwe’s next home match against Equatorial Guinea will be played behind closed doors after CAF sanctioned Zimbabwe’s football association over a fan’s death and a pitch invasion.

Third-Country Deportations and Malabo: A U.S. Supreme Court decision keeps Trump-era “third-country” removals running while legal challenges continue, as reporting highlights how deportees sent to Equatorial Guinea can face threats and beatings in detention at a decommissioned hotel near Malabo. Spain–Equatorial Guinea Prison Case: Families of two Andalusians held in Malabo’s Black Beach prison since January 2025 plan a Oct. 10 traffic-blocking protest in Granada, alleging an imminent trial “without evidence” tied to a digital TV contract. JAMB UTME Abroad (Malabo Centre): Nigeria’s JAMB says UTME is held in 10 overseas cities, including Malabo, with a $30 registration fee; only 379 registered for 2026, while debate grows over adding an Ottawa centre for 2027. Regional Diplomacy: Egypt signed cooperation deals with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea at the Alamein Africa Forum, covering trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, aquaculture and pharmaceuticals. Energy Agenda: Africa Energy Week 2026 (Oct. 12–16) in Cape Town is set to draw 10,000+ delegates for investment forums across the energy value chain.

Malabo Detention Under Scrutiny: A decommissioned hotel in Malabo, the Bamy, is reportedly being used as an indefinite detention site for people the U.S. cannot lawfully return home, with claims of no charges, no legal status, and police violence during transfers. US Immigration Policy Fallout: Multiple reports and UN human rights experts say the U.S. is running “systematic” third-country deportations to places including Equatorial Guinea, raising fears of torture and rights violations while Supreme Court rulings allow the policy to continue “for now.” Regional Diplomacy: Egypt signed cooperation agreements with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea during the Alamein Africa Forum, including a high joint committee and deals spanning agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, and pharmaceuticals. Local Governance & Economy: An IMF review of least-developed country graduation highlights mixed growth outcomes, noting Equatorial Guinea’s oil-driven exception. Sports (Malabo-linked): Newcastle United coverage notes Equatorial Guinea’s role in AFCON qualifiers and wider international squad updates involving players tied to the region.

UN Security Council Reform: Africa’s push for permanent seats at the UN Security Council drew near-universal agreement at the General Assembly, but the lack of action shows the real gap is power, not persuasion. US “Third-Country” Deportations: The US Supreme Court cleared the way for deportations to third countries without advance notice, while UN experts and Reuters report risks of torture and persecution—raising fresh concerns for Equatorial Guinea and other African destinations. Equatorial Guinea in the spotlight: US human-rights reporting and investigations point to Equatorial Guinea as one receiving deportees, even as authorities face allegations of torture and abuse. Regional diplomacy & investment: Egypt signed cooperation deals with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea at the Alamein Africa Forum, including a high joint committee and plans spanning agriculture, tourism, aquaculture, and pharmaceuticals. CEMAC banking stability: BEAC reported CEMAC non-performing loan ratios fell to 15.4% by June 2026, signaling improving credit quality across Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, and CAR. China military footprint: China’s overseas base network expanded again, with a newly revealed air base in Laos—another reminder of shifting security dynamics affecting African partners.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: The road to Pamoja 2027 has started, and an early power ranking puts Cameroon and South Africa in the mix while Nigeria and Ghana face pressure to qualify. US Immigration & Courts: The US Supreme Court has allowed Trump’s rapid “third-country” deportations to resume, even as UN experts warn the policy can trigger torture and persecution; Reuters also documents cases involving LGBT migrants sent to African countries. Equatorial Guinea in the spotlight: UN and rights reporting links third-country removals to harm risks in places including Equatorial Guinea, where migrants have reportedly faced abuse. Regional diplomacy: Egypt used the Alamein Africa Forum to expand cooperation with South Africa and Equatorial Guinea across trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, aquaculture and pharmaceuticals. CEMAC banking: BEAC says CEMAC non-performing loan ratios improved to 15.4% by June 2026, easing credit stress across the region. Local governance & society: A Malabo-based account describes indefinite detention conditions tied to forced conscription fears, underscoring human-rights concerns.