Equatorial Guinea Pardons Prisoner Simon Mann for Humanitarian Reasons

Country committed to strengthening human rights releases British mercenary to
receive needed medical treatment

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a decree issued today, the
President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, His Excellency Teodoro Obiang
Nguema Mbasogo announced that British mercenary Simon Mann was pardoned and
released from prison due to health complications requiring ongoing medical
treatment. Mann was serving the second year of a 34-year sentence after
admitting to his involvement in a 2004 coup attempt. Four of Mr. Mann's
co-conspirators were also pardoned. These releases come as the government of
Equatorial Guinea is undergoing comprehensive judicial, human rights, military
and police reform.

"Our government is committed to continuing to address the protection of human
rights and today's release is an important step in this process. While we
Simon Mann has admitted to participating in a coup attempt, he has also
genuinely repented. We have taken this extraordinary measure to prioritize his
health and well being and recognize that Mann's medical care would be best
offered in his home country. The Government of Equatorial Guinea is in the
midst of an ambitious effort to reform our judicial process and humanitarian
conditions. Today's release is just one of the proactive steps that we have
been taking as part of this process and demonstrates the sincerity of our
efforts."

In undertaking comprehensive reform efforts, the government of Equatorial
Guinea has been collaborating with the international community with
involvement from the Government of the United States, the European Union, and
the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). A United States
professional service company, MPRI, has also been engaged in an ongoing effort
to train Equatorial Guinea's police forces in appropriate human rights
practices. Reforms have included the construction of new prison facilities in
compliance with international standards for detention centers; an anti-torture
public announcement poster campaign, training of police on best practices by
MPRI, and increased access to prisons for ICRC.

Mann was released today into the custody of his brother and sister and has
also been reunited with his wife. His family will spend the next hours at a
hotel in the capital to rest for the evening and will depart the country
tomorrow.

This has been distributed by Qorvis Communications, LLC and Cassidy &
Associates on behalf of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. More information is
available at the United States Department of Justice, Washington, DC.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Nicole Silverman, +1-202-683-3143, nsilverman@qorvis.com, for the Republic of
Equatorial Guinea