LUANDA, Angola (AP) — Pope Leo XIV travels Tuesday to Equatorial Guinea to conclude his four-country tour of Africa, entering what may be the most diplomatically sensitive stop of his entire journey and papacy thus far.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 83, has governed the former Spanish colony on Africa’s western shores since 1979, making him the continent’s longest-ruling leader. His administration faces allegations of extensive corruption and authoritarian control.
When offshore oil reserves were found in the mid-1990s, Equatorial Guinea’s economic landscape changed dramatically almost instantly. Oil revenues now comprise nearly half the nation’s GDP and over 90% of all exports, the African Development Bank reports.
Despite this wealth, more than half the nation’s approximately 2 million citizens remain impoverished. Human Rights Watch and other advocacy organizations, along with legal proceedings in France and Spain, have shown how oil profits have benefited the Obiang family instead of ordinary citizens.
Throughout his first papal visit to Africa, Leo has demonstrated a willingness to speak directly about difficult issues, and Catholic doctrine clearly condemns social inequality and corruption. His recent comments in Cameroon suggest he may deliver similarly pointed remarks in Equatorial Guinea.
During his arrival in Yaounde, Cameroon last week, Leo encountered President Paul Biya, the world’s oldest head of state at 93. Similar to Obiang, Biya has maintained power for decades since 1982 and faces accusations of authoritarian governance.
Standing beside Biya in the presidential palace, Leo delivered uncompromising words during his arrival address.
“In order for peace and justice to prevail, the chains of corruption — which disfigure authority and strip it of its credibility — must be broken,” Leo said. “Hearts must be set free from an idolatrous thirst for profit.”
While Equatorial Guinea maintains official secular status, the Catholic Church holds central importance in its political and social framework.
Religious leaders “are very much interconnected intrinsically with the government,” explained Tutu Alicante, a U.S.-based advocate who leads the EG Justice rights organization. “Part of it is the fear the government has instilled in everyone, including the church, and part of it is the monetary gains that the church derives from this government.”
The Rev. Fortunatus Nwachukwu, second-in-command at the Vatican’s missionary evangelization department, noted that the Catholic Church operates in challenging political environments while continuing its mission.
“Should the church go to war against the government? Surely no,” Nwatchukwu said. “Should the church swallow everything as if it were normal? No. The church has to continue preaching justice, always in defense of life, human dignity and the common good.”
These challenges intensify in Equatorial Guinea, where approximately 75% of residents are Catholic, ranking it among Africa’s most Catholic nations.
However, it also ranks among the most repressive. Beyond official corruption, the administration regularly faces accusations of harassing, detaining and intimidating political opposition members, critics and media professionals.
Transparency International consistently places the country among the bottom 10 nations in its yearly corruption perception rankings, though the government has recently implemented some reform measures, according to Samuel Kaninda, the organization’s regional advisor for Africa.
Officials have enacted anti-corruption legislation and are working to establish an anti-corruption commission. However, these initiatives will only succeed if the commission operates with genuine independence for investigations and the judicial system maintains independence as well, he explained.
Kaninda expressed hope that the papal visit would highlight these deficiencies and provide encouragement to Equatorial Guinea’s people. Even if government officials use the visit to suggest papal approval of their leadership, historical papal visits to authoritarian nations have typically benefited citizens overall, he noted.
“The risk is there, but at the same time, we see more of the opportunity to shed more light on a lot more that is happening there,” he said.
The first papal visit since St. John Paul II arrived in 1982 has at minimum provided substantial business for seamstress Tumi Carine, who creates dresses using fabric featuring Leo’s image.
“The coming of the pope brought us many customers,” Carine said. ” We are really grateful for the coming of the pope, so, we are really happy.”
Leo faces a busy itinerary in Equatorial Guinea. Upon arrival, he will meet with Obiang before delivering two separate addresses: one to government officials and diplomatic representatives, followed by another at the national university.
Beyond celebrating Mass services, his schedule includes visits to a psychiatric facility and correctional institution, plus meetings with youth and their families. Before departing Thursday, he will offer prayers at a memorial honoring victims of a 2021 explosion at military barracks in Bata that claimed over 100 lives. Officials attributed the blasts to careless dynamite storage at barracks near civilian neighborhoods.
