The prison visit marked the pope's last full day in Africa. Ahead of the visit, he had criticized prisoner conditions. On Wednesday, Pope Leo addressed a Mass in Mongomo that drew about 100,000 people, including President Obiang, who had held a private meeting with the pope on Tuesday. In his speech, the pope urged Equatoguineans to serve the common good, bridge gaps, and use natural resources for all, while calling for greater freedom and safeguarding of human dignity.
Equatorial Guinea's prisons and justice system have been criticized by the UN, human rights groups, and the U.S. State Department for abuses. The U.S. State Department's 2023 report listed abuses including arbitrary killings, torture, and life-threatening prison conditions. Amnesty International has serious concerns about human rights in Equatorial Guinea, citing torture, harassment of defenders, and lack of judicial independence.
Equatorial Guinea is one of several African nations paid by the Trump administration to receive migrants deported from the U.S. who have no ties to the country. At least 29 migrants with no ties to Equatorial Guinea have been deported there under the U.S. deal. Pope Leo has criticized the Trump administration's migration deportation policy as extremely disrespectful.
Equatorial Guinea is led by President Obiang, who has been in power since 1979 and is accused of corruption and authoritarianism. The country is oil-rich with poor human rights, vast income inequalities, and more than half its population living in poverty. Transparency International lists it as one of the world's most corrupt states, and political opposition is barely tolerated, hampered by lack of free press as media is government-controlled. It is unknown what specific actions or reforms Pope Leo discussed during his prison visit or how President Obiang responded directly to the criticisms. The current status and conditions of the at least 29 migrants deported from the U.S. to Equatorial Guinea also remain unclear, as does any immediate impact of the pope's visit on human rights practices.