EQUATORIAL Guinea has confirmed it is in discussions with the United States about potentially accepting deported African migrants, though no agreement has been finalised. The announcement came from Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who addressed the issue on Wednesday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
‘I confirm that there was a conversation in which the United States expressed its intentions, but no conclusion was reached,’ Mangue wrote.
As reported by Agence France-Presse (AFP), the talks are part of a broader US push under President Donald Trump to secure third-country agreements that would allow for large-scale deportation of undocumented African migrants.
Malabo demands support for reintegration
Mangue revealed that Equatorial Guinea is open to considering the US request — but only under strict conditions. He stated that he had asked the Trump administration to provide financial support for deportees’ housing and living expenses, as well as investment in local reintegration programmes.
‘In my opinion, there could be an agreement, but we choose the people we can welcome based on their respective profiles,’ he added, stressing that migrants with criminal records would not be accepted.
The proposal has sparked public debate in the capital, Malabo, where some residents voiced fears that deported migrants could pose social and security risks.
Criticism over contradictory migrant policy
Critics have accused the government of double standards. According to Radio Macuto, a Spain-based online publication aligned with Equatorial Guinea’s opposition, the state’s seemingly cooperative stance with the US contrasts sharply with its treatment of migrants already residing in the country.
The outlet reported a wave of recent raids and forced removals targeting long-settled migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. Nigerians, Cameroonians, and Chadians have allegedly been arrested without warrants and deported abruptly, often without legal recourse.
‘How can a regime that expels poor, settled migrants now be willing to take in others deported from the US?’ Radio Macuto asked.
Diplomatic backlash from Cameroon
In one high-profile incident in April, Malabo expelled more than 200 Cameroonians, leading to a diplomatic backlash. The government of Cameroon summoned Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to express ‘outrage and disapproval’. In response, Equatorial Guinea defended its actions, stating that the migrants were undocumented and therefore subject to removal.
These developments have raised concerns about the country’s willingness and capacity to accommodate deportees from abroad, especially amid ongoing domestic expulsions and regional tensions.
As Washington accelerates its drive to implement Trump’s deportation agenda, Equatorial Guinea’s decision could signal how African states will navigate the complex intersection of migration, diplomacy, and domestic stability.
