Equatorial Guinea’s main opposition party Citizens for Innovation (CI) has been banned, the party confirmed.
DW Radio Monday quoted CI leader Nsé Obiang Obono confirming the ban imposed by a court.
“It is President Teodoro Obiang Nguema who opted to outlaw the party,” Mr Obono was quoted saying.
A court last year ordered CI's dissolution and sentenced 30 of its members to jail.
Found guilty
According to the court, the CI members were found guilty of engaging in immorality and each sentenced to 41 years in jail.
CI was also accused of attempting a coup d’état against President Nguema.
The Equatorial Guinea government said in January that it had thwarted a coup d’état in late December, mounted by mercenaries.
In
a statement read on national radio, Security minister Nicolas Obama
Nchama said: “Mercenaries... were recruited by Equatorial Guinean
militants from certain radical opposition parties with the support of
certain powers.”
Mainland territory
President
Nguema is Africa's longest-serving leader, who has ruled the former
Spanish colony for 38 years. He has been repeatedly accused of human
rights abuses.
Equatorial Guinea, though Spanish-speaking, applied to join the Portuguese-speaking lusophone bloc in 2006 and was admitted.
The
country on the west coast of Africa, has a population of 740,000 people
occupying a mainland territory called Rio Muni and five small islands,
including Bioko, where the capital Malabo is located.
In
2015, before the country formalised joining the Portuguese-speaking
bloc, Amnesty International said its authorities had killed nine
opposition members.
Rights violations
In 2016, the Malabo government said it had abolished the death penalty.
In
January, Equatorial Guinea authorities denied human rights violations
and having political prisoners as suggested by the Portuguese
parliament.
The ruling Equatorial Guinea Democratic Party (PDGE) dominates the legislative and municipal assemblies.
PDGE has been in power for 40 years and rules with its allies.
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