Purificación Angue Ondo Avomo (born April 30, 1945) is a diplomat and former Minister of Women’s and Children’s Affairs from Equatorial Guinea. She has served as an ambassador to several countries, including Cameroon, Chad, the United States, and Spain. Dedicating her life to defending the rights of women and children, she has made a significant impact in policymaking and gender equality advocacy. She has had a "pivotal role in promoting the status of women within and beyond the frontiers of her country".[1]
Early Life and Education
editPurificación Angue Ondo was born on April 30, 1945, in Mongomo. She graduated as a State Certified Teacher from the Spanish Government in 1964, when Equatorial Guinea during the colonial period. On October 15, 1968, she was appointed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[2]
Political Persecution and Exile
editFollowing Equatorial Guinea’s independence in 1968, Angue Ondo experienced intense political persecution under President Francisco Macías Nguema’s regime. Because of her education in prestigious institutions, her advocacy for women’s emancipation, and her relationships with people of European descent, she became a target of systemic discrimination. She faced multiple arrests, beginning on December 5, 1968, for her status as an educated, independent woman, rather than for any criminal act. She eventually fled to Gabon on December 30, 1973, with her six children to escape further persecution and lived in exile until 1980. During her time in Gabon, she taught Spanish at Collège Notre-Dame de Quaben in Libreville and Collège d'Enseignement Secondaire Sainte Thérèse in Angone-Oyem. With the regime change on August 3, 1979, she returned to Equatorial Guinea in 1980 and began working at the Ministry of Education before entering the political arena.[2][3][4]
Political career
editFrom 1981 to 1992, Angue Ondo held significant roles in the government, including Vice Minister and later Minister for Women’s and Children’s Affairs. She focused on promoting labor rights and gender equality, helping to establish policies that improved the welfare of women and children.[1][3]
In 1990, she founded ABIFAGE, the Asociación de Bienestar Familiar de Guinea Ecuatorial, a non-governmental organization that supports family welfare. She collaborated with a Japanese NGO to establish schools in underserved areas, emphasizing education and community development.[2][5] [7]
Diplomatic career
editCameroon and Chad (2000–2005)
editAngue Ondo served as the Ambassador to Cameroon and Chad, where she built strong diplomatic and cultural relationships. At the end of her mission in Cameroon, she was decorated as a Knight of the Order of Valour by the Cameroonian government.[2][6]
United States, Mexico, and Panama (2006–2012)
editFrom 2006 to 2012, she served as Ambassador to the United States, with additional accreditation to Mexico and Panama. In Washington DC, she collaborated with Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, promoting the interests of Equatorial Guinea.[7][8]
Spain (2012–2021)
editIn 2012, she became the first woman to be appointed as Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Spain. She presented her credentials to King Juan Carlos I on September 24, 2013, and later worked with King Felipe VI to strengthen bilateral relations.[5][9][10]
Battle with Breast Cancer
editWhile serving as Ambassador to Cameroon and Chad, Angue Ondo was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She underwent surgery and received extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments in Madrid. Her strength and resilience during this difficult period are a testament to her commitment to her health and her ongoing advocacy for cancer awareness. She remains in contact with her medical team, Dr. José Luis Letamendia and Dr. Isabel de la Gándara, and follows their recommendations to maintain her health.[11][12]
Awards and Recognitions
edit• United Nations Population Award (1984)
editAwarded by the United Nations Population Award (UNPFA) for her contributions to women’s rights and family welfare.[13]
•Knight of the Order of Valor (2005)
editConferred by the Cameroonian government for her contributions to diplomacy.[11]
• Recognition from the Don Quixote Knights Brotherhood (2014)
editHonored as “Dame of the Honorable International Brotherhood of the Knights of Don Quixote” by the César Egido Serrano Foundation.[8]
• Feature in Diplomacia Siglo XXI (2014)
editHer diplomatic accomplishments were featured on the cover of Diplomacia Siglo XX I, a publication by the Spanish School of Diplomacy.[4]
• Asturias Mundial Recognition
editAsturias Mundial highlighted her career as the first woman to be appointed as Ambassador to Spain, recognizing her role in promoting gender equality and diplomatic excellence.[14]
Legacy and Influence
editPurificación Angue Ondo’s dedication to women’s rights, education, and diplomacy has left an enduring legacy. Her work in establishing ABIFAGE and advocating for gender equality has inspired many, and her resilience in overcoming political and personal challenges continues to motivate future generations. She is regarded as a symbol of perseverance and leadership in Equatorial Guinea and beyond. She remains a symbol of resilience and dedication, inspiring future generations to continue the work she began and is still recognized and honored by various communities and organizations for her contributions to social and diplomatic progress. Her influence remains significant, serving as a testament to her lifelong commitment to service and empowerment.[15][7][8]
Personal life
editAngue Ondo is a mother of six and has an extensive family, including dozens of grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren spread across Chile, the United States, France, Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine, Australia, United Kingdom and Equatorial Guinea. She currently resides in Madrid, where she stays connected with her medical team and continues to inspire her family and community.[1][2]
References
edit1.“The role of women.”
editThe Worldfolio, September 19, 2012. Available at: www.The Worldfolio.com/USnews/purificacion/angue
2. “Purificación Angue Ondo.”
editEl País, May 28, 1985. Available at: www. El Pais.com/diario/1985/05/28/
3. “Purificación Angue Ondo, New Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in Spain.”
editAsturias Mundial, August 5, 2013. Available at: www.Asturias Mundial.com
4. “Presentation of Credentials to King Juan Carlos I at La Zarzuela Palace, Madrid”
editCasa Real, September 24, 2013. Available at: www.Casa Real.es
5. “Honoring Purificación Angue Ondo, Named Dame of the Brotherhood of Knights of Don Quijote”
editCofradía de Don Quijote, June 2014. Available at: https://www.cofradiadedonquijote.com
6. “The Ambassador Purificación Angue Ondo at the Premiere of Los últimos de Filipinas”
editPDGE Guinea Ecuatorial, November 30, 2016. Available at: www.pdge-guineaecuatorial.com
7. DIPLOMACIA SIGLO XXI, Cover Feature, 2014.
editAvailable at: ISSU Host Diplomacia Siglo XXI
8. "Equatorial Guinea to Host Welcome Reception for New U.S. Ambassador"
editPR Newswire, August 3, 2012. Available at: www.PR Newswire.com/news-
9. "Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Washington"
editEmbassies Worldwide. Available at: www.123embassy.com/Embassy/17743/Equatorial-Guinea-in-Washington
10. "Equatorial Guinea"
editU.S. Department of State, January 1, 2012. Available at: 2009-2017.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/equatorialguinea/
11. "Women in the 22nd Century Conference"
editLa Razón, April 6, 2020, Available at: www.La Razon.es/lifestyle/20200406/
12. "Majadahona signs a socio-sanitary collaboration agreement with the city of Bata"
editCapital Noreste. Available at: www.Capital Noroeste.es/portaditas/bata-acuerdo-majadahonda/
13. "Guinea and Cameroon, interested in the management of Aguas de Valencia"
editLa Razón, July 8, 2013. Available at: www.Lar Rzon.es/local/
14. "The future of Africa has a woman's name"
editEl Mundo, August 15, 2014. Available at: www.El Mundo.es/2014/08/15/
15. "Ambassadors with a lot of tact"
editEl Mundo, January 2, 2016. Available at: www.El Mundo.es/2016/01/02/
Ambassades et Consulats à travers le monde. Available at:/www.Ambassade/18624/Guinee-Equatoriale-a-Yaounde
- ^ a b c "The role of women". The WorldFolio. September 19, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Fernández Pallares, Pilar (May 28, 1985). "Purificación Angue Ondo" [Purificación Angue Ondo, Head of the Women's Promotion Agency of Equatorial Guinea invites Spanish women to get to know Equatoguinean women]. EL PAíS (in Spanish).
- ^ a b "Equatorial Guinea to Host Welcome Reception for New U.S. Ambassador". PR Newswire. August 3, 2012.
- ^ a b Velo de Antelo, Director Santiago (May 2018). "Purificación Angue Ondo, Embajadora de Guinea Ecuatorial, país clave para entender el concepto universal de la Hispanidad" [Purificación Angue Ondo, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea, a key country for understanding the universal concept of the Hispanic Heritage]. Diplomacia Siglo XXI (in Spanish). No. 110. ISSUU (published June 6, 2018). pp. 10–22.
- ^ a b González Manso, Teresa (January 2, 2016). "Embajadoras con mucha mano izquierda" [Ambassadors with a lot of tact]. El Mundo (in Spanish).
- ^ Angue Ondo, Purificacion. "Ambassade de Guinee Equatoriale a Yaoundé". Ambassades et Consulats du Monde (in French).
- ^ a b Palacio La Zarzuela Madrid, © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos (September 24, 2013). "Presentation of Credentials". www.Casa Real.es.
- ^ a b c Javier, Hernandez (June 19, 2014). "Reconocimiento a Purificación Ondo Angue, Embajadora de Guinea Ecuatorial en España, nombrada Dama de la Cofradia" [Honoring Purificación Angue Ondo, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to Spain, named Dame of the Brotherhood]. Oficina de Información y Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial. Muy Honorable Cofradia Internacional de Caballeros de Don Quijote - Very Honorable International Brotherhood of the Knights of Don Quijote.
- ^ "Majadahonda firma un acuerdo de colaboración socio-sanitario con la ciudad de Bata" [Majadahona signs a socio-sanitary collaboration agreement with the city of Bata]. Capital Noreste (in Spanish). May 23, 2019.
- ^ "Guinea y Camerún, interesadas en la gestión de Aguas de Valencia" [Guinea and Cameroon, interested in the management of Aguas de Valencia]. La Razón (in Spanish). July 8, 2013.
- ^ a b "Equatorial Guinea". U.S. Department of State. January 1, 2012.
- ^ "El futuro de África tiene nombre de mujer" [The future of Africa has a woman's name]. El Mundo (in Spanish and English). August 15, 2014.
- ^ "Embajadoras con mucha mano izquierda" [Ambassadors with a lot of tact]. El Mundo (in Spanish/ English). January 2, 2016.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ "Purificación Angue Ondo, New Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in Spain". www.Asturias Mundial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-11.
- ^ "l'Ambassade du Guinee Equatoriale à Yaounde" [Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Yaounde]. Ambassades à travers le monde (in French). 2000.