Pope Leo XIV Visits Equatorial Guinea on Final Stop of Africa Tour Amid Human Rights Scrutiny

Pontiff concludes 11-day African journey in oil-rich nation ruled by Africa’s longest-serving president.

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By A1 News Desk | Malabo , Nigeria

Pope Leo XIV has arrived in Equatorial Guinea for the final leg of his African tour, a visit closely watched for its human rights and political undertones. The trip places him in one of the continent’s most tightly controlled states, where he is expected to continue his outspoken calls for justice and reform.

The pontiff arrived Tuesday from Angola as part of an 11-day African tour covering 18,000 kilometres, marking one of the most significant early foreign engagements of his papacy.

He was received in Equatorial Guinea, a Central African oil-producing nation of about two million people, where roughly 80 percent of the population identifies as Catholic.

The country is ruled by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has been in power since 1979 and is currently the world’s longest-serving non-monarchical head of state.

Pope Leo XIV follows in the footsteps of Pope John Paul II, who visited the country four decades ago during its early years of post-independence governance.

Throughout his African tour, the pontiff has adopted a more assertive tone, criticising authoritarian governance, inequality, and resource exploitation.

Observers say his message in Equatorial Guinea will be closely monitored, given longstanding allegations of political repression, corruption, and restrictions on civil liberties in the country.

Most opposition figures and independent media outlets are reported to operate from exile, largely based in Spain.

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State Reception Blends Faith and Politics
In the capital Malabo, streets were decorated with Vatican and national flags, alongside large banners welcoming the Pope. Church choirs are expected to perform a hymn composed in his honour throughout his visit.

Residents expressed hope that the papal visit would inspire unity and renewed religious engagement across the country.

Programme Focuses on Governance, Victims, and Youth
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to address government officials, diplomats, civil society representatives, and cultural leaders.

He will also visit Mongomo, the president’s hometown, where he is expected to celebrate mass and meet students at a technology school.

In Bata, the economic hub, the Pope will pay tribute to victims of a 2021 military explosion that killed over 100 people and visit inmates at the local prison.

The tour will conclude with a large outdoor mass at Malabo stadium before his departure.

The visit places a global spotlight on governance and human rights in Equatorial Guinea, a resource-rich but politically sensitive state. The Pope’s statements and engagements could influence international discourse on accountability, religious influence, and governance in Central Africa.