Equatorial Guinea Slams France’s “Neo-Colonial” Seizure of Luxury Mansion

Equatorial Guinea has taken France to the UN’s top court in a bid to halt the sale of a lavish Paris mansion seized during a corruption probe into Teodoro Obiang Mangue, son of the country’s long-time president. Labeling France’s actions “neo-colonial,” Equatorial Guinea argues the seizure violates international law and demands the property’s return. The contested Avenue Foch mansion—complete with a cinema, hammam, and nightclub—was confiscated after a French court convicted Obiang of embezzlement in 2017. Despite a 2020 International Court of Justice ruling that the building lacks diplomatic status and, as such, cannot receive protection under international law, Equatorial Guinea insists the UN anti-corruption convention supports its claim. The case highlights stark inequality in the oil-rich nation, where opulence for the elite contrasts sharply with widespread poverty.

AP