Families of Spanish prisoners in Guinea accuse Albares of inaction after 16 months of incommunicado detention
The relatives of Javier Marañón and David Rodríguez, detained in Equatorial Guinea since January 2025, are demanding that Minister Albares take action to guarantee their safe return.
Sixteen months without visits or medical care in an Equatorial Guinea prison
The relatives of Córdoba-born Javier Marañón and Granada-born David Rodríguez, imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea since January 2025, have rounded on Foreign Affairs Minister José Manuel Albares. According to ABC, the families' outrage erupted after Albares publicly criticised the boarding of a humanitarian flotilla headed to Gaza without making any statements about the situation of the two Spanish prisoners.
Through social media, the relatives described the isolation to which both men are subjected as "monstrous, inhumane and unworthy", detained in connection with an alleged corruption case linked to the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) project. "They have been detained for 16 months in an Equatorial Guinea prison. However, no one has shown the public a video reflecting the inhuman conditions in which they find themselves," they stated, in an implicit reference to images released about the members of the flotilla.
No visits, no doctor, no lawyer
The relatives claim to know "nothing about them": the two inmates receive no visits, medical care or legal assistance, and even the Spanish embassy has been unable to access them. Faced with this situation, Marañón's family has approached the Pope's ambassador to request Vatican intervention.
In a statement addressed to the minister, the relatives urged the Government to take action: "The Spanish Government should not allow these two citizens to be treated this way. We beg you, Mr Albares, to act now to protect them and achieve their safe return: Javier and David deserve to be cared for and reunited with us as soon as possible."
Patrimonial claim lodged with Foreign Affairs
Javier's brother Aarón Marañón informed ABC that the family has filed a patrimonial claim with the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The claim covers the physical and psychological harm suffered by both detainees over the 16 months of imprisonment, as well as any potential future consequences stemming from their situation.
The relatives hold the ministry responsible for that harm "due to the lack of effectiveness in its efforts", and criticise the fact that for months it refused to allow intervention at the highest level between Spanish and Equatorial Guinean authorities. "In June 2025, the only channel of communication was the embassy, a channel that already then showed evident ineffectiveness," they stated.
Promises without results following the 6 May meeting
Aarón Marañón told ABC that, following the meeting with Albares on 6 May, in which the minister "promised to take the matter directly in hand", there has been no change in the situation of the detainees. On the Thursday prior to publication of the information, the Spanish ambassador met with the president of Equatorial Guinea and received, once again, the promise that the rights of both prisoners would be respected.
However, according to Aarón, the situation "remains critical": Javier Marañón and David Rodríguez remain in complete incommunicado detention, with the embassy unable to access them. "More than two and a half months have passed since anyone has seen them or been able to communicate with them," he emphasised.
Source: ABC