Equatorial Guinean cartoonist Nsé Ramón Esono Ebalé freed after forgery case collapses

Nsé Ramón Esono Ebalé, a satirical cartoonist from Equatorial Guinea known by the alias Jamón y Queso, has been freed after his trial fell apart on February 27. He faced arrest in September for allegedly counterfeiting CFC francs worth $1,800, but while held at Malabo's Black Beach prison, authorities questioned him about his artwork. His 2014 graphic novel, 'La pesadilla de Obi' (Obi's Nightmare), created with an anonymous collaborator, portrays President Teodoro Obiang as an unemployed individual in a slum. During the trial, inconsistencies in police testimonies arose, with one officer admitting to fabricating evidence under orders, prompting the prosecution to drop the case. Tutu Alicante, head of EG Justice, highlighted the collective efforts of many organizations and citizens while noting that numerous government dissenters remain incarcerated. Esono Ebalé's art often critiques Obiang's authoritarian regime.