South Africa Intensifies Diplomatic Efforts Regarding Imprisoned Citizens in Equatorial Guinea
The South African government has escalated diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation regarding two South African citizens imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea, Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, who have been incarcerated for over 500 days on charges that many argue are unfounded. In a recent development, South Africa summoned Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to express significant concerns over limited access granted to South African officials and families wishing to visit the detainees.
The urgency of this matter was highlighted during a meeting in Pretoria, where International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola was requested to provide clarity on the steps being taken to secure the release of Potgieter and Huxham. The spokesperson for the Minister, Chrispin Phiri, emphasized South Africa’s profound concern regarding the unjust situation of its citizens. Ambassador Nolufefe Dwabayo engaged with Equatorial Guinea’s foreign minister to discuss these pressing issues directly. Simultaneously, the South African government reiterated its position to the Equatoguinean ambassador in South Africa, who pledged to relay the concerns of Pretoria back to his government.
Potgieter and Huxham, engineers working in the oil industry, were arrested in February 2023 on alleged drug possession charges and subsequently convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison, along with substantial fines. The families of the accused contend that these charges are fabricated and that the detentions were motivated by retaliation against South Africa following the seizure of assets owned by Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President. Following legal actions in South Africa that targeted luxury properties belonging to Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the two South Africans’ arrests are viewed as politically charged rather than legally justified. This sentiment has been echoed by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which recently declared their detentions illegal and called for their immediate release.
In a separate matter, Phiri confirmed that South Africa’s consul-general to Dubai, Andrew Tsepo Lebona, has been recalled in light of serious allegations regarding fraudulent visa issuance. Following reports from whistleblowers on misconduct, Lebona was brought back to Pretoria to account for findings from preliminary investigations. This situation indicative of possible systemic issues within South Africa’s foreign service led to further discussions on the need for reform in visa processing to mitigate human interference.
Phiri addressed inquiries regarding South Africa’s involvement in the peace process regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, affirming the country’s commitment to facilitating dialogue between the involved parties. Notably, Phiri also elaborated on South Africa’s recent trade developments, including the successful completion of agreements aimed at expanding export markets for South African avocados in Japan and the strategic investment by Toyota in the South African automotive sector.
In summary, South African authorities are actively engaged in diplomatic dialogues to advocate for the release of its detained citizens in Equatorial Guinea while also addressing internal challenges within its foreign service, thereby demonstrating a commitment to both international relations and domestic accountability.
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