Alicante: EG government is not known for its transparency
Officially, just over 100 people have died in deadly explosions that devastated large parts of Equatorial Guinea’s largest city, Bata. But human rights activists say the true number is far higher. Deutsche Welle speaks to Tutu Alicante, founder of EG Justice.
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Rights groups have called for a transparent and independent investigation into a series of massive explosions in Equatorial Guinea’s main city of Bata that flattened a military camp and nearby residential areas, killing scores of people and causing widespread destruction.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled the oil-rich country with an iron fist for 42 years, blamed the military for “negligence” in stocking ammunition so close to populated areas.
On Wednesday, state television reported 105 people were killed and 615 were wounded by the conflagration at the camp of Nkoa Ntoma on Sunday.
But Human Rights Watch (HRW), citing Equatorial Guinea-focused human rights group EG Justice, said that “based on the number of bodies pulled from the rubble, the actual number of victims is much higher”.
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A number of countries have arrived on the scene in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, to help the government with rescue services three days after a blast at the barracks in the centre of town killed more than 100 and maimed 615.