A yacht and two villas in Cape Town owned by Teodoro Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, were seized following a court ruling. This action is part of a larger situation involving the detention of two South African men, who were working for a Dutch oil and gas company in Equatorial Guinea. They were arrested just before they were set to return home after a five-week assignment.
The families of the detained men expressed their relief and happiness after receiving news of a presidential pardon from Equatorial Guinea. They described the past two years and four months as extremely difficult for everyone involved. The South African government, along with the UK government, had been called upon for assistance since one of the men, Mr. Huxham, holds dual nationality.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola publicly thanked Equatorial Guinea for granting the pardon, which allowed both men to return to their families. This decision came after the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention labeled their imprisonment as unlawful.
The families believe the arrests were a response to the seizure of assets belonging to Equatorial Guinea’s vice-president. Meanwhile, a South African official stated that the fate of the yacht and villas is now in the hands of the courts, and the government cannot interfere in the legal process.
The situation highlights ongoing tensions and complexities in the region, as well as the impact of international relations on individual lives. The families are now hopeful for a brighter future as they welcome their loved ones back home.