Guinea has detained a former justice minister after he criticised the president, his brother and the opposition said Thursday, adding that they had had no news of him in three weeks.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 80, has ruled Equatorial Guinea with an iron fist for more than 43 years, making him the longest-serving non-monarchic leader in the world.
Former justice minister Ruben Maye Nsue Mangue, 59, was arrested on the night of August 7 in the eastern town of Mongomo, after being summoned there to a meeting with the ruling party, one of his brothers, Ruben Monsuy, told AFP.
After the meeting, “Ruben was arrested and taken to an unknown location after refusing to apologise to the head of state,” he said.
“We have no idea of his whereabouts.”
The ministries of information and justice did not immediately reply to a request for comment from AFP.
Five days after the arrest of the ex-minister, who is also a clergyman, the justice ministry issued an order forbidding him from preaching and accusing him of “provoking public disorder”.