Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada

1. Overview

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "witchcraft" is practiced by the Fang people, which is the "dominant" ethnic group on the mainland of Equatorial Guinea (Encyclopedia Britannica 10 Mar. 2021). The same source indicates that "some ancient customs" are practiced by the Bubi people residing on Bioko island (Encyclopedia Britannica 10 Mar. 2021). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a researcher at the Institución Milá i Fontanals de Investigación en Humanidades (IMF) of the Spanish National Research Council (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, CSIC) in Barcelona, who has also authored a paper on the belief in spirits in Equatorial Guinea, stated that "[i]n Equatorial Guinea witchcraft is a very important social phenomenon" and that it "permeates all social life" (Researcher 19 Aug. 2021). According to an opinion article by Juan José Laborda, a Spanish stateman and historian, which was published in El Imparcial, a digital newspaper based in Spain, because of the reaction of ancient beliefs to the modern individual culture, witchcraft is being practiced more in modern times than it was in colonial or ancient times (Laborda 23 Feb. 2017).

2. Prevalence

A 2017 article by the Association for Democratic Solidarity with Equatorial Guinea (Asociación para la Solidaridad Democrática con Guinea Ecuatorial, ASODEGUE), a group based in Madrid who opposes the President of Equatorial Guinea (ilissAfrica n.d.), describes a criminal trial of three men being prosecuted for a [translation] "ritual crime," which is explained as

[translation]

a crime commissioned by a powerful person, usually an untouchable high-ranking authority whose identity is unlikely to be revealed or, if it is, will never be disturbed. The lack of interest of the district authorities in finding the missing person is eloquent. In other words, we find ourselves here in the presence of difficult-to-understand ... practices that intermingle spiritism, witchcraft and anthropophagy, and that would sustain the power of the regime that currently governs Equatorial Guinea. (ASODEGUE 27 Sept. 2017)

Sources indicate that on 16 September 2017, two men on trial for ritual killing were sentenced to death (Amnesty International 22 Feb. 2018; ASODEGUE 27 Sept. 2017).

When asked whether they were aware of incidents of targeted ritual killings and dismemberment of children by state agents or other groups for ritual purposes and/or organ harvesting in an interview with the Research Directorate, a cultural anthropologist at Uppsala Universitet, who has conducted research in Equatorial Guinea since 2014, responded that they were aware that these killings have been committed by the "political elite and anyone who is willing to join the state" (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021). The same source noted that killing a family member or "someone you really love" to demonstrate a commitment to the state is required to access positions of power (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021). The Cultural Anthropologist added that

[t]he ruling elite belong to the Fang ethnic group, first born sons and children are very valuable assets in the proof of loyalty. Everyone knows about this, when you want to join the state and they ask for proof of loyalty, you offer your son or nephew. (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021)

When asked whether it is well known that the practice of ritual killings occurs, the Cultural Anthropologist further stated that "[t]he whole concept of blood offerings and blood killings is always in the background, it has a great impact in the way people live their everyday lives" (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021).

The Researcher stated that he is aware of cases of ritual murders and organ trafficking occurring in Equatorial Guinea but is not aware of cases that "specifically targeted" children (19 Aug. 2021).

3. Demographics

When asked whether there are specific reasons children are targeted, such as their name, region or belonging to a specific group, the Cultural Anthropologist stated that, "[n]owadays, any man from any of the five ethnic groups [1] who might want to access a position of power takes it upon themselves the risk of having to kill a child in their family. No child in any region is safe" (19 Aug. 2021). The same source added that the LGBT community, particularly transgender women, is also vulnerable to ritual killings; in addition, twins and people with albinism are vulnerable since both groups are believed to have "specific magical value" (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021). According to an article from Cuarto Milenio, a content channel run by [the Spain-based audio-visual group (Mediaset España n.d.)] Mediaset España, people with autism are most at risk of mutilations for use in rituals and witchcraft practices (Cuarto Milenio 18 June 2018).

4. Censorship

When asked whether the state represses information on ritual killings, the cultural anthropologist stated that

[i]nformation travels through family channels and since the killings take place within the family, everyone knows this happens, but you are not going to find data in formal channels. … This is something that no one will ever talk about publicly. It's like a mob recruiting system, once you are in you do not go out. Offering the child, you have done something as bad as everyone else, so now you are liable. If you turn against the state, you are going to fall with the state. No one will ever acknowledge these things. (Cultural Anthropologist 19 Aug. 2021)

According to a report from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a non-profit organization that "promotes press freedom" (CPJ n.d.), all broadcast media in Equatorial Guinea is owned by the government (CPJ [2019]). Sources indicate that there is one privately owned network which is run by the son of the president (Freedom House 3 Mar. 2021, Sec. D1; CPJ [2019]). CPJ states that journalists can face "prosecution" for coverage "deemed critical of the president, his family, or the government in general" (CPJ [2019]). The Freedom in the World 2021 report by Freedom House states that NGOs, opposition party members and the press are monitored and "[c]ritics of the government are subject to arbitrary arrest, physical abuse, and trumped-up charges" (Freedom House 3 Mar. 2021, Sec. D4).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Note

[1] According to Encyclopedia Britannica, ethnic groups in Equatorial Guinea include the Bubi, Yoruba, Igbo, Seke, Spaniard and the largest ethnic group is the Bantu peoples which consist of the Fang, Kombe, Mabea, Lengi, and Benga (Encyclopedia Britannica 10 Mar. 2021).

References

Amnesty International. 22 February 2018. "Equatorial Guinea." Amnesty International Report 2017/18: The State of the World’s Human Rights. [Accessed 10 Aug. 2021]

Asociación para la Solidaridad Democrática con Guinea Ecuatorial (ASODEGUE). 27 September 2017. "El juicio de Mikomeseng sobre el crimen de Nkomoyos." [Accessed 10 Aug. 2021]

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). [2019]. "10 Most Censored Countries." [Accessed 26 Aug. 2021].

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). N.d. "What We Do." [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021].

Cuarto Milenio. 18 June 2018. "Los albinos, expuestos a secuestros, homicidios y mutilaciones como prácticas de brujería en Guinea Ecuatorial." [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021]

Cultural Anthropologist, Uppsala Universitet, Sweden. 19 August 2021. Interview with the Research Directorate.

Encyclopedia Britannica. 10 March 2021. René Pélissier and Ronald James Harrison-Church. "Equatorial Guinea." [Accessed 10 Aug. 2021]

Freedom House. 3 March 2021. "Equatorial Guinea." Freedom in the World 2021. [Accessed 11 Aug. 2021]

ilissAfrica. N.d. "Detailed View: Asodegue - Asociación para la Solidaridad Democrática con Guinea Ecuatorial." [Accessed 30 Aug. 2021]

Laborda, Juan José. 23 February 2017. "Guinea Ecuatorial microcosmos de África (V): religión y brujería." El Imparcial. [Accessed 13 Aug. 2021]

Mediaset España. N.d. "¿Quiénes somos?" [Accessed 27 Aug. 2021]

Researcher, Institución Milá i Fontanals de investigación en Humanidades, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). 19 August 2021. Correspondence with the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Center for Economic and Social Rights; investigative journalist focusing on human rights in sub-Saharan Africa; professor in anthropology at a university in Germany who has researched cannibalism in Africa; professor in sociology at a university in Tanzania who has researched witchcraft in Africa.

Internet sites, including: ActionAid; African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights; Al Jazeera; Australia – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; BBC; Belgium – Commissariat général aux réfugiés et aux apatrides; Bertelsmann Stiftung; The Brookings Institution; Center for Strategic and International Studies; Centro Cultural de España en Malabo; Council on Foreign Relations; Denmark – Danish Immigration Service; El diario de Malabo.com; Diaro Rombe; EBSCO Information Services; EG Justice; El Confidencial de Guinea Ecuatorial; EU – European Asylum Support Office; Factiva; Fédération internationale pour les droits humains; France – Office français de protection des réfugiés et apatrides; The Guardian; Guinea Ecuatorial – government homepage; Guinea Infomarket; Human Rights Watch; International Crisis Group; INTERPOL; Jane's – Country Risk Daily Report, Intelligence Review; Journal of Contemporary Religion; Médecins sans frontières; Mondo Times; The Netherlands – Ministry of Foreign Affairs; The New Humanitarian; Norway – Landinfo; Political Handbook of the World; Radio Macuto; Reporters sans frontières; Ritual Killing in Africa; UK – Home Office; UN – Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Refworld, UNDP, UN Women; University of Edinburgh; US – Department of State, Library of Congress; Wilson Center; World Bank.