Campaign for the release of South Africans jailed in Equatorial Guinea

The families of Frik Potgieter and Peter Huxham, two South African engineers imprisoned in Equatorial Guinea, have launched a campaign for their urgent release. The families allege that the charges against the engineers were trumped-up and that they are innocent of any drug-related crimes. The arrest of Potgieter and Huxham came shortly after luxury assets belonging to the Equatorial Guinea’s Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang were seized in South Africa, suggesting a potential diplomatic conflict between the two countries. The families have started a petition on change.org calling for the South African and UK governments to assist in their release. South Africa’s Foreign Minister has already raised concerns with Equatorial Guinea authorities but there has been no significant progress in the case. The families claim that the arrest of the engineers is a tactic to pressure South Africa to release the Vice-President’s seized properties. The engineers were sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined $5 million each, with their families criticizing the sentences as excessive. The families have lodged an appeal against the court decision and continue to seek international support for the release of Potgieter and Huxham. This case highlights the complex diplomatic relationships between countries and the challenges faced by individuals caught in cross-border disputes.