Relations between France and Equatorial Guinea have entered one of the most delicate periods in their recent history. In an unusually strong official statement, the government of Malabo has forcefully condemned the planned sale by the French authorities of the building located at 42 Avenue Foch in Paris, a property that Equatorial Guinea considers state-owned and the official premises of its diplomatic mission.
For the Equatorial Guinean authorities, the procedure constitutes a blatant violation of international law. Malabo describes the move as a hostile, unilateral act that is incompatible with the principles governing relations between sovereign states.
The dispute stems from the long-running "ill-gotten gains" case, in which French courts ordered the confiscation of the property—valued at more than €100 million—following the conviction of Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue for money laundering and the embezzlement of public funds. Despite successive rulings by French courts and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Equatorial Guinea continues to challenge the legality of the confiscation, arguing that the building enjoys diplomatic protection.
This time, however, the rhetoric has escalated significantly.
In its latest statement, Malabo warned that any attempt to disrupt the functioning of its diplomatic mission would trigger retaliatory measures based on the principle of reciprocity. The government openly raised the possibility of reclaiming the premises currently used by the French diplomatic mission in Malabo and expelling French diplomats from the property.
Furthermore, Equatorial Guinea has not ruled out a comprehensive review of its diplomatic relations with France, including the possibility of severing diplomatic ties should the sale of the Avenue Foch property proceed.
Beyond the legal dispute, the case has now evolved into a major political and diplomatic confrontation. For Malabo, the issue is no longer merely about a prestigious building in one of Paris’ most exclusive districts, but about national sovereignty and the equal treatment of states under international law.
A dispute once confined to courtrooms now risks becoming a full-scale diplomatic crisis between two nations with decades of bilateral cooperation. France now faces a difficult choice between enforcing its judicial decisions and preventing a serious deterioration in its relationship with Equatorial Guinea.
