On 3rd February at the People's Palace in Malabo, the Head of State, H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo received the adventurer who rowed solo across the Atlantic ocean, in the Spirit of Malabo. The sailor was decorated as a Knight of the Order of Independence for denouncing through this achievement to deportation of African slaves, together with the need to promote the fight against AIDS.

In the presence of Anatolio Ndong Mba, Permanent Representative of Equatorial Guinea Missions to the United Nations, the American sportsman was interviewed by the President of the Republic, who commended his bravery for having crossed the Atlantic solo in a small boat, in order to remember and denounce the regime of slavery that affected so many Africans. Mooney also wanted to underline through this feat the need to continue to promote the fight against HIV/AIDS, an illness that one of his brothers was a victim of.

H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo did not hesitate in granting him Equatoguinean nationality, and decorated him as a Knight of the Order of Independence, for having rowed from Las Palmas (Canary Isles, Spain) to the Brooklyn Bridge, in New York.

The President received him as a son of our country as, in the words of the navigator himself, he crossed the ocean an Equatoguinean citizen. Furthermore, the Head of State described Mooney's actions as "historic", reminding us that through his feat he retraced the steps of our enslaved African ancestors.

Mooney, in an interview with the press, declared: “For me it is a historic day, for my family and for my ancestors who died crossing the Atlantic ocean".