Equatorial Guinea Pardons Prisoner Simon Mann for Humanitarian Reasons

November 4, 2009

Country committed to strengthening human rights releases British mercenary to receive needed medical treatment

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a decree issued today, the President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo announced that British mercenary Simon Mann was pardoned and released from prison due to health complications requiring ongoing medical treatment. Mann was serving the second year of a 34-year sentence after admitting to his involvement in a 2004 coup attempt. Four of Mr. Mann's co-conspirators were also pardoned. These releases come as the government of Equatorial Guinea is undergoing comprehensive judicial, human rights, military and police reform.

"Our government is committed to continuing to address the protection of human rights and today's release is an important step in this process. While we Simon Mann has admitted to participating in a coup attempt, he has also genuinely repented. We have taken this extraordinary measure to prioritize his health and well being and recognize that Mann's medical care would be best offered in his home country. The Government of Equatorial Guinea is in the midst of an ambitious effort to reform our judicial process and humanitarian conditions. Today's release is just one of the proactive steps that we have been taking as part of this process and demonstrates the sincerity of our efforts."

In undertaking comprehensive reform efforts, the government of Equatorial Guinea has been collaborating with the international community with involvement from the Government of the United States, the European Union, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A United States professional service company, MPRI, has also been engaged in an ongoing effort to train Equatorial Guinea's police forces in appropriate human rights practices. Reforms have included the construction of new prison facilities in compliance with international standards for detention centers; an anti-torture public announcement poster campaign, training of police on best practices by MPRI, and increased access to prisons for ICRC.

Mann was released today into the custody of his brother and sister and has also been reunited with his wife. His family will spend the next hours at a hotel in the capital to rest for the evening and will depart the country tomorrow.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC and Cassidy & Associates on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information is available at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea