For more information about Annobon, including the recent crackdown by the Equatorial Guinean government, please visit the Ambo Legadu website: ambolegadu.com/en/ The Republic of Annobon government also has its own website: www.republicadeannobon.com/
I agree but maybe not for the same reasons as you. It's a small island but it's in a part of Africa that's densely populated. At the moment it's more isolated than obscure imo, and that has more to do with the Obiang regime than geography. Thank you for watching and commenting! 🙂
I didn’t even know this island existed, but given its remoteness and the fact that São Tomé is also independent makes it clear why they do this! 5k inhabitants is VERY small though…
Actually, Ambo Legadu says it's more like 10k. There hasn't been a census in a very long time. This is still a very small population for a country, but it's a lot of people to be wiped out by a genocide - what the EQ government seems determined to do. Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂
I read about Annobón on a Portuguese book about resistance acts against slavery and learnt that the people of the island were always fiercely independent. From what I read, during a time in the Portuguese administration, there was no administration and the people of Annobón ruled themselves under a uncommonly democratic system. This continued when the Spanish 'took' over. They deserve their independence.
I'm glad you know this story. I hope to cover it in the future! The version I know is slightly different. Portugal traded Annobón to Spain in the 1700s to resolve a border dispute in South America. When the Spanish authorities arrived the Annobonese drove them off the island, and Spain left them to govern themselves for the next hundred years. It's arguable that Annobón was the first colony in Africa to gain independence!
@@FredoRockwell Yes, the treaty of St. Ildefonso was signed in 1778, making public a secret clause from the year before in which Portugal ceded Annobón and Fernando Pó to Spain (this treaty ended a war had started in the last years of the 7 Year War, 14 years before). Thing is, since the begining of the XVIII century, there was no Portuguese official (last one is mentioned in 1698) and the people from Annobón organised themselves, electing a capitão-mor who represented them before ships who wanted to ressuply (actualy the only source of imports into the island). The author where I took this, Arlindo Manuel Caldeira, indicates 1700-1885 as the period in which Annobón was, for all intended purposes, sovereign. He has a chapter on Annobón, "A República Negra de Ano Bom", in his book "O Apelo da Liberdade" (The Call of Freedom). Fascinating read. Cool fact: when the Portuguese first arrived to the island, in 1501, there was a survivor there from the Kongo, one remaining of three fishermen who drifted to the shores there 3 years previously and barely survived.
@@FredoRockwell Arlindo Manuel Caldeira, in his book "O Apelo da Liberdade" (The Call of Freedom), has a chapter dedicated to Annobón ("A República Negra de Ano Bom"). He states that between 1700 and 1885, Annobón was, for all intended purposes, sovereign. The last Portuguese official is mentioned in 1698. There were attempts to send another one, but they failed. The people of Annobón elected a Capitão-Mor to represent them before ships that arrived there; this was the way the residents would obtain certain items. Also, fun fact, when the Portuguese first arrived there, in 1501, they encountered a fisherman from the Kongo who drifted there 3 years before with 2 mates (who died); apparently this fisherman, who barely survived the ordeal, was alive and well in 1506 in the Kongo. Also, Annobón was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778, by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, which concluded a war in south America that lasted from 1763, in the last year of the 7 Years War.
Good on you!!! 30 years ago I hosted Placido Mico of E.G. in my home in NYC when he spoke to the UN. I'm a friend of "Free EG" so I salute your efforts and love your excellent channel Fredo). Free EG and Annobon I say. Get rid of the criminal Nguemas asap. ----- D.A., J.D., NYC
Wow, what a great experience! And yes, the people of Annobón are not the only people in EG suffering under the Obiang regime by any means. Let's hope change comes soon!
In exile from the start I believe, but it's also my understanding that there's been support on Annobón and in the Annobonese community in Malabo since the start as well.
@FredoRockwell and how sure can we be that the majority of the population not abroad but on the island wants independence? I have no doubt that EG has been mistreating them, and the population there is aware of that, but maybe a plurality prefers just greater rights and more investment while staying part of the same country
@@jjj6988 We know that the event I cover in the video was watched on streaming by a huge number of Annobonese people - how many is hard to say, but it was enough to spook the EG government into drastic reprisals. This led to widescale protests on the island and the EG government then cut the internet and phone lines. Ambo Legadu is campaigning for independence, but this is because they think the EG government is gradually exterminating the population on Annobon. There is enough evidence of this to see it as a real possibility. As I say at the end, even if you don't think Annobon should be independent, the people there deserve a better. There is no prospect of the EG government making things better, however, without an exteme amount of international pressure (and I doubt even this would have much impact).
Annobon has sadly had very little coverage lately, and almost all in Spanish speaking media, but I do know of a few journalists that are taking an interest. Let's hope it breaks through soon! Thank you for your comment!🙂
Yes, it's recently come up on our Discord server. I don't know a lot about it but I'm pretty skeptical that Albania would give away sovereignty to an internal territory.
Pronto habrá un reclamo frente a la Embajada de Guinea Ecuatorial y el Congreso de los Diputados. Puedes informarte al respecto desde la web de Ambô Legadu.
I have seen library meetings with more people The equatorial guinean regime needs to change, but independence is fruitless and a non starter You don't solve the problems of your country by balkanising it
It's possible the people of Annobón will be wiped out before long. Annobón is already balkanized, as you put it. Culturally and geographically it should be part of Sao Tome & Principe, but the Obiang regime won't even let the people of Annobón travel or trade with Sao Tome. There are an estimated 10k Annobonese people worldwide, most on Annobón. The fact that a couple hundred of them could gather in Madrid - many traveling great distances - was remarkable to me.
I believe it is, but probably technically representing the Afrikaner people as a whole in this instance. That picture is from a conference of the Unrepresented Nations and People's Organization (UNPO) which Annobón joined this year. There's been an Afrikaner delegation in UNPO for a while I think.
For more information about Annobon, including the recent crackdown by the Equatorial Guinean government, please visit the Ambo Legadu website: ambolegadu.com/en/
The Republic of Annobon government also has its own website: www.republicadeannobon.com/
As a spaniard I had no idea that this movement even existed at all. Congratulations on your honorary citizenship!
Thank you! It was quite the honor!
Please check out the Ambo Legadu website - the Spanish version has even more content and news.🙂
Congrats on becoming an Honorary Citizen!
Thank you! It was a huge honor!
Annobon might be one of the most obscure places on earth
I agree but maybe not for the same reasons as you. It's a small island but it's in a part of Africa that's densely populated. At the moment it's more isolated than obscure imo, and that has more to do with the Obiang regime than geography. Thank you for watching and commenting! 🙂
Dude I saw this in Wikipedia but there’s was like NO information. Thank you for covering this!
I also found out about the Republic of Annobon on Wikipedia and wanted to know more. I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one! Thanks for your comment!
Mr Rockwell I congratulate you and the moment was so powerful so sweet you didn't even know it was going to happen but it is
Thank you! It was a special moment!
I didn’t even know this island existed, but given its remoteness and the fact that São Tomé is also independent makes it clear why they do this! 5k inhabitants is VERY small though…
Actually, Ambo Legadu says it's more like 10k. There hasn't been a census in a very long time. This is still a very small population for a country, but it's a lot of people to be wiped out by a genocide - what the EQ government seems determined to do. Thanks for watching and commenting! 🙂
@@FredoRockwellno, more than 10k would be completely fine - Tuvalu and Nauru have not much more. Thanks for clarifying!
I can't believe I found your channel. You cover practically all the niche geopolitical topics I like in a way I love. Please, keep it up
I'm delighted you found my channel too! Thank you!
I read about Annobón on a Portuguese book about resistance acts against slavery and learnt that the people of the island were always fiercely independent. From what I read, during a time in the Portuguese administration, there was no administration and the people of Annobón ruled themselves under a uncommonly democratic system. This continued when the Spanish 'took' over. They deserve their independence.
I'm glad you know this story. I hope to cover it in the future!
The version I know is slightly different. Portugal traded Annobón to Spain in the 1700s to resolve a border dispute in South America. When the Spanish authorities arrived the Annobonese drove them off the island, and Spain left them to govern themselves for the next hundred years. It's arguable that Annobón was the first colony in Africa to gain independence!
@@FredoRockwell Yes, the treaty of St. Ildefonso was signed in 1778, making public a secret clause from the year before in which Portugal ceded Annobón and Fernando Pó to Spain (this treaty ended a war had started in the last years of the 7 Year War, 14 years before). Thing is, since the begining of the XVIII century, there was no Portuguese official (last one is mentioned in 1698) and the people from Annobón organised themselves, electing a capitão-mor who represented them before ships who wanted to ressuply (actualy the only source of imports into the island). The author where I took this, Arlindo Manuel Caldeira, indicates 1700-1885 as the period in which Annobón was, for all intended purposes, sovereign. He has a chapter on Annobón, "A República Negra de Ano Bom", in his book "O Apelo da Liberdade" (The Call of Freedom). Fascinating read. Cool fact: when the Portuguese first arrived to the island, in 1501, there was a survivor there from the Kongo, one remaining of three fishermen who drifted to the shores there 3 years previously and barely survived.
@@FredoRockwell Arlindo Manuel Caldeira, in his book "O Apelo da Liberdade" (The Call of Freedom), has a chapter dedicated to Annobón ("A República Negra de Ano Bom"). He states that between 1700 and 1885, Annobón was, for all intended purposes, sovereign. The last Portuguese official is mentioned in 1698. There were attempts to send another one, but they failed. The people of Annobón elected a Capitão-Mor to represent them before ships that arrived there; this was the way the residents would obtain certain items. Also, fun fact, when the Portuguese first arrived there, in 1501, they encountered a fisherman from the Kongo who drifted there 3 years before with 2 mates (who died); apparently this fisherman, who barely survived the ordeal, was alive and well in 1506 in the Kongo. Also, Annobón was ceded by Portugal to Spain in 1778, by the treaty of St. Ildefonso, which concluded a war in south America that lasted from 1763, in the last year of the 7 Years War.
Muchas gracias Fredo por ser parte de nuestra voz y llevarla tan lejos donde nosotros no llegamos ❤
Let's hope the voice of Annobón is heard by the entire world soon!
Good on you!!! 30 years ago I hosted Placido Mico of E.G. in my home in NYC when he spoke to the UN. I'm a friend of "Free EG" so I salute your efforts and love your excellent channel Fredo). Free EG and Annobon I say. Get rid of the criminal Nguemas asap. ----- D.A., J.D., NYC
Wow, what a great experience! And yes, the people of Annobón are not the only people in EG suffering under the Obiang regime by any means. Let's hope change comes soon!
quickly rose to the top as the only good youtuber, congrats man
That's kind of you to say - I don't think I'm anywhere near the top though!!
Welcome back Mr Rockwell
Thank you!
Congratulations on your honorary citizenship!
Thank you! It's a moment I'll never forget!
They love you sir
I think we're good friends. :)
I had no idea about this movement but
AMBÔ LEGADU ❤️💚💙
Ambo Legadu!!
If I ever become a billionaire I’ll give annobon some money for a hospital
Gosh - let's hope you become a billionaire!
@@FredoRockwell not very likely but I may as well give it a go
Thank you for the video. Was this government in exile from the start, or was it proclaimed initially on the island?
In exile from the start I believe, but it's also my understanding that there's been support on Annobón and in the Annobonese community in Malabo since the start as well.
@FredoRockwell and how sure can we be that the majority of the population not abroad but on the island wants independence? I have no doubt that EG has been mistreating them, and the population there is aware of that, but maybe a plurality prefers just greater rights and more investment while staying part of the same country
@@jjj6988 We know that the event I cover in the video was watched on streaming by a huge number of Annobonese people - how many is hard to say, but it was enough to spook the EG government into drastic reprisals. This led to widescale protests on the island and the EG government then cut the internet and phone lines.
Ambo Legadu is campaigning for independence, but this is because they think the EG government is gradually exterminating the population on Annobon. There is enough evidence of this to see it as a real possibility. As I say at the end, even if you don't think Annobon should be independent, the people there deserve a better. There is no prospect of the EG government making things better, however, without an exteme amount of international pressure (and I doubt even this would have much impact).
It’s honestly sad I have to rely on TH-camrs like you to talk about injustices in the world instead of my government or media.
Annobon has sadly had very little coverage lately, and almost all in Spanish speaking media, but I do know of a few journalists that are taking an interest. Let's hope it breaks through soon! Thank you for your comment!🙂
@@FredoRockwell hopefully but its still a sad state of affairs not only for Annobon but the rest of the world failing to support her people 😔
Great Video😱😱💝💝
Thank you!
wow very good video, they deserve independence
Thank you! And I'm sure the people of Annobón will appreciate your support!
Great vid
Thank you!
Have you heard of a proposed Muslim Vatican City in Albania, Fredo?
Yes, it's recently come up on our Discord server. I don't know a lot about it but I'm pretty skeptical that Albania would give away sovereignty to an internal territory.
Vivo en Madrid, are they open to visitors?
Pronto habrá un reclamo frente a la Embajada de Guinea Ecuatorial y el Congreso de los Diputados. Puedes informarte al respecto desde la web de Ambô Legadu.
I wish I could be there!
@@SantiagoSautel gracias!
I have seen library meetings with more people
The equatorial guinean regime needs to change, but independence is fruitless and a non starter
You don't solve the problems of your country by balkanising it
It's possible the people of Annobón will be wiped out before long.
Annobón is already balkanized, as you put it. Culturally and geographically it should be part of Sao Tome & Principe, but the Obiang regime won't even let the people of Annobón travel or trade with Sao Tome.
There are an estimated 10k Annobonese people worldwide, most on Annobón. The fact that a couple hundred of them could gather in Madrid - many traveling great distances - was remarkable to me.
Traitor
Who?
17:50 is that the transvaal flag in the backround?
I believe it is, but probably technically representing the Afrikaner people as a whole in this instance. That picture is from a conference of the Unrepresented Nations and People's Organization (UNPO) which Annobón joined this year. There's been an Afrikaner delegation in UNPO for a while I think.
@@FredoRockwell oh