Equatorial Guinea has suffered a setback in its protracted legal dispute with France over a Parisian mansion valued at over $100 million. The United Nations’ top judicial body rejected the African nation’s request to compel France to return the property, which was seized during a corruption investigation targeting the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president.
The country had petitioned the court for urgent provisional measures aimed at reclaiming the luxury mansion on Avenue Foch, one of Paris’s most exclusive streets, and halting any potential sale. However, presiding judge Yuji Iwasawa ruled on Friday that Equatorial Guinea “has not demonstrated” a credible legal claim to the property. By a 13-to-2 vote, the court denied the request, stating there was insufficient justification for immediate intervention.
French representatives argued against the necessity of provisional measures, emphasizing that no sale of the property was imminent and advocating for resolution through negotiation. During a July hearing, France’s agent, Diégo Colas, described Equatorial Guinea’s petition as “yet another abusive maneuver.”
The dispute centers on Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who in 2017 was convicted in France of embezzling millions from public funds and received a three-year suspended sentence. French authorities subsequently seized assets including the mansion, luxury vehicles, and bank accounts. A 2020 ruling classified the Paris mansion as a private residence, not a diplomatic property, rejecting Equatorial Guinea’s claims that the seizure violated international law.
Equatorial Guinea revived its case in The Hague in 2022, citing a UN anti-corruption convention to demand the return of the assets. The government of Malabo accused France of adopting a “neo-colonial” and “paternalistic” stance, framing the legal fight as an affront to its sovereignty.
Obiang, 57, has faced international scrutiny for corruption beyond France. In 2021, the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on him, highlighting extravagant expenditures such as $275,000 on the jeweled glove worn by Michael Jackson during his “Bad” tour. Switzerland and Brazil have also launched investigations into his finances.
Despite significant oil and gas wealth, Equatorial Guinea exhibits stark inequality, with a powerful ruling elite contrasted against widespread poverty. The country is governed by Africa’s longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who is also the father of the implicated son.
