The visit forms part of Leo’s final full day on an 11-day, four-nation Africa tour and continues a tradition established by his predecessor, Pope Francis, who prioritized prison outreach to highlight inmate welfare and systemic injustices.

Leo was scheduled to begin the day with a Mass in Mongomo before traveling to Bata, where he was also due to attend a memorial for victims of a 2021 military barracks explosion blamed on negligence.Human rights groups have intensified calls for the pope to address both domestic prison conditions and the implications of US deportation policies.

On the eve of the visit, around 70 organizations issued an open letter urging Leo to speak out against the transfer of migrants to countries where they have no ties and to discourage African governments from participating in such arrangements.

Equatorial Guinea’s justice system has faced sustained criticism from international bodies and advocacy groups. The United Nations welcomed the country’s abolition of the death penalty in 2022, but reports have continued to cite arbitrary arrests, political detentions, torture and poor prison conditions, as well as concerns over judicial independence.

The US State Department’s 2023 human rights report highlighted similar issues, including unlawful killings and life-threatening detention environments.Amnesty International has also raised concerns, stating that torture has been used to extract confessions and punish detainees, while harassment of human rights defenders and deficiencies in due process remain widespread.

The country, led by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo since 1979, has denied allegations of systemic abuses. Authorities have not publicly responded to questions regarding reported violations linked to agreements with the United States to accept deported migrants.

According to reporting by the Associated Press, at least 29 migrants with no ties to Equatorial Guinea have been deported there under such arrangements. While not held in the Bata prison, some remain detained in the capital Malabo with restricted access to legal and medical services, while others have been returned to their countries of origin, where they may face persecution.

Leo, the first US-born pope, has previously criticized US migration deportation policies as “extremely disrespectful.” Advocacy groups have urged him to use the visit to press for reforms, including improved detention conditions, judicial accountability and protections for migrants.

Tutu Alicante, head of the EG Justice organization, said the government had taken limited steps to improve certain facilities but warned that sustained reform would be the true measure of progress.

He called for sentence reviews and broader judicial changes as signals of commitment to justice and reconciliation.

The filings, tied to long-running litigation over migrant child detention standards, detail conditions at the Dilley detention facility, where children and families faced virus outbreaks and extended lockdowns in December and January.

Lawyers and monitors said conditions remained concerning even as the number of detained children declined in recent weeks.Under standards stemming from the Flores settlement, children are generally not to be held in custody for more than 20 days.

However, government data cited in the filings showed that about 595 children were detained beyond that limit during December and January.Of those, approximately 265 were held for more than 50 days and 55 for over 100 days, according to the documents.

This marked an increase from a prior disclosure indicating around 400 children exceeded the limit between August and September.Lawyers argued that prolonged detention, combined with reported deficiencies in care, risked worsening physical and psychological harm among minors.

Attorneys and advocacy groups cited cases of inadequate medical treatment, poor food quality and limited access to legal counsel. One filing described a 13-year-old girl who attempted self-harm after being denied prescribed antidepressants and access to her mother.

Government records referenced in the filings stated there had been no placements on suicide watch.Advocates who visited the facility in March said that while the number of detained children had dropped to about 85, systemic issues persisted. Reports also cited the presence of worms in food and insufficient healthcare access.

The case of a young child detained earlier this year drew protests, including demonstrations by detainees within the facility.

The Department of Homeland Security said in a statement that detention standards provide for basic necessities, including adequate food and water, and described detention as a consequence of migration choices.

It added that authorities were working to expedite deportations.The administration of Donald Trump is seeking to end the Flores settlement, arguing it constrains enforcement and imposes costs.

The case is being overseen by Dolly Gee of the Central District of California, with a hearing scheduled later this month to review compliance and conditions.