In a dramatic escalation of tensions, the government of Equatorial Guinea has severed internet access on Annobón Island, a remote outpost in the Atlantic Ocean, following protests against a Moroccan construction company, Somagec.
The move comes amid allegations of environmental degradation and a deeper scandal involving the disposal of radioactive and toxic waste, plunging the island’s 5,000 residents into further isolation and hardship.
The Spark of Protest
The unrest on Annobón began when local residents raised alarms over Somagec’s use of dynamite in open quarries, a practice tied to the company’s construction projects, including a port and potential mineral extraction. Activists and residents claim that these explosions have polluted farmland and water supplies, threatening the island’s fragile ecosystem. The protests, which intensified in July 2024, were a desperate plea to the central government in Malabo to address the environmental damage and hold the company accountable.
A Darker Underbelly
Beneath the surface of this environmental dispute lies a more sinister issue: Annobón has allegedly become a dumping ground for millions of tons of radioactive and toxic waste, outsourced by the governments of the United Kingdom and the United States for a fee. Local sources suggest that this arrangement has turned the island into a profitable venture for the ruling elite, with President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo reportedly pocketing $200 million annually.
Despite the island’s strategic location and rich natural resources, including oil reserves in the Gulf of Guinea, the majority of Annobón’s population languishes in extreme poverty, with limited access to basic amenities like schools and hospitals.
Government Repression
Rather than addressing the residents’ grievances, the government has responded with a heavy hand. Dozens of individuals who signed a petition against Somagec, along with other local activists, have been imprisoned in a crackdown aimed at silencing dissent.
The internet shutdown, implemented as a repressive tactic, marks a significant escalation, cutting off the island’s ability to communicate with the outside world or document ongoing abuses. This move echoes broader trends across Africa, where governments increasingly use digital blackouts to suppress protests and criticism, as noted in a 2024 Amnesty International report.
A President’s Profiteering
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Africa’s longest-serving president, has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979, maintaining an iron grip on power through his family’s control of the oil-rich nation. His son, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, is also implicated in corruption scandals, including convictions for money laundering in France.
The waste disposal scheme, while lucrative for the regime, has exacerbated the marginalization of Annobón’s residents, who have long sought independence due to perceived neglect by the central government. Activists like Tutu Alicante of EG Justice argue that the internet cutoff is a deliberate attempt to stifle opposition and hide the environmental and human rights violations tied to the waste trade.
Global Silence and Local Suffering
The international community has remained largely silent on Annobón’s plight, with the UK and US facing no significant backlash for their alleged role in the waste disposal. Meanwhile, the lack of internet access has crippled the island’s ability to seek help or raise awareness, leaving residents vulnerable to further exploitation. The combination of environmental pollution, economic disparity, and political repression has turned Annobón into a symbol of the broader challenges facing marginalized communities in resource-rich regions.
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Looking Ahead
As the situation on Annobón deteriorates, calls for international intervention are growing. Human rights organizations are urging the United Nations to investigate the waste disposal claims and the government’s repressive measures. For now, the people of Annobón remain cut off, their voices silenced by a regime profiting from their suffering, while the world watches from afar. And the world doesn't care.
