Issued on: 23/04/2026 - 09:44Modified: 23/04/2026 - 10:17

François Picard is pleased to welcome Tutu Alicante, an international human rights lawyer and anti-corruption activist. According to Alicante, the pope's visit to Equatorial Guinea presents a paradox: it offers a rare opportunity to spotlight injustice, yet risks being appropriated by the regime for its own validation. Could the "global moral authority" inadvertently lend credence to the authoritarian regime? Equatorial Guinea's resources have failed to lift up society and translate into human dignity. Governance remains defined by exclusion, repression and the erosion of accountability.

For Alicante, the key question is not the symbolism of the pope's visit, but whether it serves as a catalyst for meaningful change; whether it amplifies the call for justice, transparency and human rights, or merely reinforces the status quo. Ultimately, he argues that the responsibility lies not only with global actors like the Vatican, but also with the media, civil society and citizens, to ensure that the message of reform prevails over the spectacle of power.

He highlights that "it's not often that you get a pope that can come to your country and speak in your language" and makes reference to one of Nelson Mandela's famous and beloved quotes: "When someone speaks to you in a foreign language, it speaks to your head. When they speak in your language, it speaks to your heart."

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