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President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema on Wednesday issued a presidential decree granting amnesty to exiled opposition figures.
The decree pardons certain political figures living outside the African country, who were previously accused of committing political crimes, according to state television.
It also grants amnesty to certain political players currently on trial inside Equatorial Guinea, state television reported.
The decree did not, however, give the number of political opponents expected to benefit from the amnesty.
According to state television, the amnesty is aimed at ensuring the participation of Guinea's opposition in exile in the country's national dialogue, expected to kick off in November.
Nguema, who has ruled Equatorial Guinea for 35 years, launched a national dialogue with the country's opposition on August 29.
The dialogue is meant to pave the way for reconciliation between the country's various political forces.
"We do not want our citizens to spend more time outside their country," Nguema was "ed as stating in Wednesday's decree.
He added that he had issued the amnesty so that political figures in exile might return to their country.
Equatorial Guinea's opposition, which has been active for many years, had long demanded a general pardon so its members could take part in political life.
In past decades, scores of political activists had to leave Equatorial Guinea – settling in countries such as Spain, the U.K., Gabon, Cameroon and Germany – to escape Nguema's autocratic rule.
Several international rights organizations, including Amnesty International, accuse the Nguema regime of imprisoning and torturing opponents – allegations the regime denies.
In 2011, a handful of political parties boycotted invitations by Nguema to discuss a constitutional amendment to protest the president's refusal to issue a pardon for political opponents in prison or exile.
By Samuel Obiang Mbana
englishnews@aa.com.tr
www.aa.com.tr/en - Bioko Norte
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