A quick update on Annobón

So, after posting last week’s newsletter about Annobón, the people of Ambô Legadu (the party calling for Annobonese independence) reached out to me. The issue of my newsletter on Annobón is now posted to their site in Spanish.¹

I used the opportunity to ask if The Saga of Lohodann is still recited in Annobon, or if the situation of dire poverty has brought it to an end. Their response was:

We are not very clear, because the last one we saw recite the Lodän had to leave Annobón to go live in Bata, (the continental part of Río Muni).

But, we don't think that Lodän is going to disappear that easily, because the people of Annobonese have it very much in mind

I also received a message from Orlando Cartagena Lagar, representative of the people of Annobón in exile, which gives a clearer picture of the injustice the island is facing:

Subject: Request for support to spread the word about the situation in Annobón

Dear Adam Threeze

I am writing to you with great affection. I am writing to you from a position of humility and ignorance of your specific activity, but in the hope that you can help us raise awareness about the serious situation facing the people of Annobón.

My name is Orlando Cartagena Lagar, Prime Minister of the Republic of Annobón, an island territory located south of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Atlantic Ocean. For centuries, our community has been subjected to forced domination, initially by Spanish colonization and, since 1968, by Equatorial Guinea, following the latter's independence. This annexation has entailed not only a loss of sovereignty, but also systematic oppression that has left Annobón isolated and deprived of basic services such as electricity, drinking water, health care and education.

On July 8, 2022, in the absence of responses after decades of fruitless dialogue, we proclaim our unilateral independence. However, this decision has intensified the retaliation of the Teodoro Obiang regime, which has sent troops to repress our people. These forces have perpetrated serious human rights violations, including systematic sexual abuse of minors, kidnappings and other forms of violence aimed at destroying our cultural, political and social identity. We are facing a true covert genocide.

Our struggle is peaceful and seeks justice, freedom and international recognition. However, lack of resources and media invisibility have greatly hampered our cause. Therefore, I am appealing to you to ask for your support in spreading our story. A simple act of sharing this information could help us reach more ears and add allies in our quest for freedom.

I attach links for more information, as well as my direct contact:

- Official website: [http://republicadeannobon.com](http://republicadeannobon.com)

- Additional information: [http://ambolegadu.com](http://ambolegadu.com)

I deeply appreciate your time and any action you can take in favor of our cause. I remain at your disposal to answer any questions or provide further details.

Sincerely,

Orlando Cartagena Lagar

Representative of the people of Annobón in exile

Date: November 21, 2024

It’s worth scrolling through their social media feeds, to get an insight into the plight the island is suffering.

Instagram | Goodreads | Letterboxd | Bluesky

1. It’s accidentally credited to “Adam Threeze.” I didn’t have the heart to explain that’s just a dumb twitter joke name I’ve been using, a dumb attempt to one-up the economist Adam Tooze, but also it kind of sounds like my surname.