The economic and social development of the island of Annobón has been a pending matter for the Equatoguinean dictatorship for decades. It was as a result of this that the Annobonese chose to proclaim their independence to be able to act autonomously and decide on their future.
The 5 inhabitants of the Republic of Annobón suffer the continuous violation of their rights and freedoms, while women and girls denounce frequent sexual abuse and assault at the hands of Fang military criminals, natives of Río Muni and stationed there. Despite its independence, its population is in a situation of isolation: there is no electricity or internet connection and there are no passenger planes from its airport: only military ships of the dictatorial regime land and fly over as deterrent measures to frighten the population. .
In this framework, one of the main initiatives of Obiang which aimed to hinder the independence project with promises of a better future fell into the hands of the Spanish company Pesconor, although it has generated more questions than answers; starting from the basis that any foreign interference in Annobón is considered a violation of its sovereignty.
This is clear from a detailed report published by Moncloa.com and Diario Rombe, which reveals how the project to establish the first wild bluefin tuna fattening farm in Atlantic Africa and a fish processing factory in Annobón has stalled in the role and in Ecuadorian Guinean financial corruption. Despite having received millions of euros in public funds, the promised facilities turned out to be a huge sham.
The investigation highlights the lack of transparency and accountability on the part of both the Equatorial Guinea dictatorship - which keeps the island under military control - and the contracted companies, including Pesconor. Although significant transfers of funds have been made, works on the island have barely progressed, contributing to the prevailing poverty among the local population, where there is no employment or economic development.
The project, conceived in 2015 with an initial investment of more than 18,7 million euros, has been largely managed by Spanish businessmen, including Alberto Rey Núñez, sole partner of Pesconor. Despite promises to generate jobs and boost the local economy, the works have not progressed and public funds seem to have disappeared in a labyrinth of financial opacity. The research also reveals the complexity of the bluefin tuna business, highlighting the need for sophisticated logistics and considerable technical expertise to successfully operate a growout farm and processing factory. Industry experts point out that Pesconor and other companies involved lack the capacity and experience necessary to carry out a project of this magnitude. And reality proves them right.
The lack of response from the Guinean authorities and the contracted companies to journalists' questions reflects the culture of secrecy and opacity surrounding the project. Despite promises of transparency and accountability, the facts suggest just the opposite. In conclusion, the Pesconor project in Annobón is an alarming example of how foreign companies can take advantage of corruption and lack of transparency in developing countries to obtain profits at the expense of local poverty.
Meanwhile, the island of Annobón continues to wait for the dictatorship to respect its independence and liberate the island to allow it to escape from misery.
