The small West African island of Annobón has renewed its push for independence, with its self-declared leadership appealing to Argentina for support amid what it calls a worsening humanitarian and political crisis.
Orlando Cartagena Lagar, who identifies as the island’s prime minister, accused Equatorial Guinea’s government under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of committing human rights abuses against Annobón’s people. He described conditions on the island as “unbearable,” citing a lack of clean water, electricity, healthcare, and education, as well as allegations of military violence and child abuse.
Annobón declared independence unilaterally in July 2022, but no state has formally recognized it. In 2024, the island’s political movement gained membership in the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), a step toward international visibility. Cartagena Lagar claims most residents have been displaced, leaving only a fraction of the island’s original population.
In an interview, Lagar explained the unusual appeal to Argentina, pointing to historical ties. During the colonial period, Annobón was administratively linked to the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, which also covered parts of modern-day Argentina. “We are African, but we are Spanish-speaking. We want partners with whom we share history,” he said.
The appeal has already sparked political interest in Spain, where the left-wing party Podemos introduced a proposal to support Annobón’s independence efforts at the United Nations.
Spain once held control of Annobón before ceding it to Equatorial Guinea in 1968. Critics argue the territory has since been neglected. The UN has documented several instances of political repression on the island, including a July 2024 crackdown where Equatorial Guinean forces detained islanders and imposed a month-long communications blackout.
Annobón remains officially part of Equatorial Guinea, Africa’s fourth-largest oil producer. But with escalating tensions, human rights concerns, and appeals abroad, its independence struggle is now drawing greater international attention.