A top lawyer from Equatorial Guinea, Lucas Olo Fernandes, says President Obiang will not hand over Yahya Jammeh.
The push to put the former Gambian ruler on trial gained speed with an Ecowas-backed tribunal plan. But problems are getting him from his haven in Equatorial Guinea.
Lawyer Fernandes wrote about how his country agreed to shelter Jammeh after he lost power and explained why he hadn't been sent back.
Fernandes noted that Obiang likely refused to give up Jammeh because it might set a bad example where exiled leaders become trading pieces for political gain.
He pointed to former Liberian president Charles Taylor as one rare case. Taylor faced arrest orders from the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone for crimes against humanity.
Nigeria took three years to hand over Taylor. It happened after a suspicious escape attempt, an official request from the new Liberian government under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and pressure from the United States.
Nigerian president Obasanjo used Taylor's surrender as a political stunt, and Liberia sent Taylor straight to the UN court.
Fernandes stressed that The Gambia hasn't formally asked for Jammeh, nor has Ecowas or the UN pressured Equatorial Guinea.
The lawyer explained it's hard to know what Equatorial Guinea officially thinks about Jammeh.
Jammeh stays hidden from public view. Most people there either don't know he lives in the country or don't care. He reportedly lives in luxury in Mongomo, a remote area near the Gabon border. He rarely appears in public, and his activities remain secret. The government hasn't discussed hosting him or returning him through any official channels.
Fernandes added that Equatorial Guinea has no free press. The controlled media outlets never mention Jammeh, probably because the topic is forbidden.
Recent calls for justice in The Gambia face obstacles. From Equatorial Guinea's side, the only option would be creating a special agreement to send Jammeh back since no extradition treaty exists between the countries.
President Obiang alone holds the power to make this decision. Gambian officials have visited Malabo several times but haven't made progress regarding Jammeh, though they've signed trade deals and established diplomatic ties.
The push to put the former Gambian ruler on trial gained speed with an Ecowas-backed tribunal plan. But problems are getting him from his haven in Equatorial Guinea.
Lawyer Fernandes wrote about how his country agreed to shelter Jammeh after he lost power and explained why he hadn't been sent back.
Fernandes noted that Obiang likely refused to give up Jammeh because it might set a bad example where exiled leaders become trading pieces for political gain.
He pointed to former Liberian president Charles Taylor as one rare case. Taylor faced arrest orders from the UN Special Court for Sierra Leone for crimes against humanity.
Nigeria took three years to hand over Taylor. It happened after a suspicious escape attempt, an official request from the new Liberian government under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and pressure from the United States.
Nigerian president Obasanjo used Taylor's surrender as a political stunt, and Liberia sent Taylor straight to the UN court.
Fernandes stressed that The Gambia hasn't formally asked for Jammeh, nor has Ecowas or the UN pressured Equatorial Guinea.
The lawyer explained it's hard to know what Equatorial Guinea officially thinks about Jammeh.
Jammeh stays hidden from public view. Most people there either don't know he lives in the country or don't care. He reportedly lives in luxury in Mongomo, a remote area near the Gabon border. He rarely appears in public, and his activities remain secret. The government hasn't discussed hosting him or returning him through any official channels.
Fernandes added that Equatorial Guinea has no free press. The controlled media outlets never mention Jammeh, probably because the topic is forbidden.
Recent calls for justice in The Gambia face obstacles. From Equatorial Guinea's side, the only option would be creating a special agreement to send Jammeh back since no extradition treaty exists between the countries.
President Obiang alone holds the power to make this decision. Gambian officials have visited Malabo several times but haven't made progress regarding Jammeh, though they've signed trade deals and established diplomatic ties.
