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| President of Equatorial Guinea: His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |
| His Excellency Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo was born in Akoakam-Esangui,
in the Mongomo district in northeast Equatorial Guinea on June 5, 1942, as the third child
in a family of ten brothers. He was educated in the official school of Mongomo and later by Catholic missionaries. In 1963, he was accepted as a Cadet of the Territorial Guard and later that year into the General Military Academy "Francisco Franco" of Saragosse in Spain. In August of 1965, he was commissioned as a sub-Lieutenant of the Territorial General of Equatorial Guinea in Miko Messing. Two years later he was transferred to a company in Bata, and a year after that to Malabo. For the next ten years, President Obiang continued to assume positions of increasing leadership in the Armed Forces. In 1979, after the devastation of a decade under the tyrannical President Macias, then-Lieutenant Colonel Obiang took control of the government and was named President of the Supreme Military Council, which would lead the nation’s transition. Equato-Guineans voted overwhelmingly for a new constitution on August 15, 1982. The Supreme Military Council was abolished and President Obiang became President of the Republic for an initial seven-year term. He was reelected to additional terms in 1989, 1996 and 2003. Under President Obiang's Administration, Equatorial Guinea undertook the long, difficult process of recovering from the devastation of the Macias regime. President Obiang, reopened schools, expanded primary education, restored public utilities and roads and put the nation on the path of participatory democracy. With the discovery of substantial oil and natural gas reserves in the mid- to late-nineties, President Obiang’s government has made significant investments in increasing transparency in its financial practices and diversifying its economy, modernizing its infrastructure, strengthening its public health system, and promoting education to build a strong foundation for the future of the country. The President also made a strategic decision to focus on diversifying the national economy to ensure the successful long-term stabilization of economic opportunity. These efforts are on-going. |
| Country Profile: Republic of Equatorial Guinea |
| Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial former: Spanish Guinea Data code: EK Government type: republic Capital: Malabo Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain) National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968) Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995 Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult Executive branch: Legislative branch: unicameral House of
People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members
directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal Political parties and leaders: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido Miko ABOGO]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Augustin Nse NFUMU]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Fabian MUSA, general secretary]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of Malabo] International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant) Diplomatic representation in the US: Diplomatic representation from the US: Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars (representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice) Geography The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is located in west central Africa. Bioko Island lies about 40 kilometers (25 mi) from Cameroon. Annobón Island lies about 595 kilometers (370 mi) southwest of Bioko Island. The larger continental region of Rio Muni lies between Cameroon and Gabon on the mainland; it includes the islands of Corisco, Elobey Grande, Elobey Chico, and adjacent islets. Contrary to its name, no part of the country lies on the equator. Demographics The majority of the people of Equatorial Guinea are of Bantu origin. The largest tribe, the Fang, is indigenous to the mainland, but substantial migration to Bioko Island has resulted in Fang dominance over the earlier Bantu inhabitants. The Fang constitute eighty percent of the population and are themselves divided into sixty seven clans. Those in the northern part of Rio Muni speak Fang-Ntumu, while those in the south speak Fang-Okah; the two dialects are mutually unintelligible. The Bubi, who constitute fifteen percent of the population, are indigenous to Bioko Island. In addition, there are coastal tribes, sometimes referred to as "Playeros" (Beach People in Spanish): Ndowes, Bujebas, Balengues, and Bengas on the mainland and small islands, and "Fernandinos", a Creole community, on Bioko. Together, these groups compose five percent of the population. Some Europeans (largely of Spanish or Portuguese descent) – most of them mixed with African ethnicity – also live in the nation. There is a growing number of foreigners from neighboring Cameroon, Nigeria, and Gabon. Equatorial Guinea received Asians and black Africans from other countries as workers on cocoa and coffee plantations. Other black Africans came from Liberia, Angola, and Mozambique, and Asians are mostly Chinese and Japanese. Equatorial Guinea also allowed many fortune-seeking European settlers of other nationalities, including British, French and Germans. After independence, thousands of Equatorial Guineans went to Spain. Another 100,000 Equatorial Guineans went to Cameroon, Gabon, and Nigeria because of dictatorship of Francisco Macías Nguema. Some of its communities also live in Brazil, some Spanish-speaking Latin American nations, United States, Portugal, and France. |
| Overview on the Republic Equatorial Guinea |
| About Equatorial Guinea With a long history of intertwining African and European influences, Equatorial Guinea has a rich culture that reflects the many varied contributions of the indigenous people, various colonial powers and religious institutions. History Portuguese explorer Fernando Poo was the first European to discover the island of Bioko (now home to the nation’s capital, Malabo) in 1471. Twenty years later, Christopher Columbus discovered America. This discovery had a tremendous historical impact on Africa because it led to the development of the slave trade in order to provide labor for the plantations in the West Indies. African tribal chiefs acted as middlemen in this slave trade by assembling slaves in African warehouses at Goree (Senegal) and Luanda (Angola). In Equatorial Guinea, the present day islands of Bioko and Corisco served as warehouses for the "ebony wood" being exported to the New World. Portugal controlled Bioko and a portion of the mainland for more than 300 years until it traded the territory to Spain in exchange for rights in South America. Three weeks after the signing of the treaty, the Spanish Count Argzliegos led a small squadron from Montevideo in Uruguay to occupy the islands of Annobon and Bioko. His main objective was to set up slave trade centers in the Gulf of Guinea which were to supply the Spanish and American plantations. His expedition failed because the Annobonians threw back the Spanish into the sea. However the slave trade continued undiminished. By the end of the 18th century, Europe at the age of Enlightenment began to feel the plight of Africans. The Congress of Vienna, which brought together all European countries, called for the abolition of the slave trade. In Africa, and central Africa in particular, the British marines, carried out the fight against slave dealers from bases on Bioko, where they had settled as early as 1827. Moreover, the British equally strived to stop trafficking in "ebony wood" from its source by signing treaties imposing its suppression with African kings and chiefs throughout the Gulf of Guinea. The first priest and religious officials arrived on Bioko in the early 19th century, followed in 1858 by the Jesuits. This date marked a turning point for these territories that would become Equatorial Guinea. Spain actually made its presence felt by replacing the British Governors of Bioko with commander Carlos Chacon. One of the first ambitions of the new governor was to impose Catholicism as the official religion which forced the departure of protestant missionaries. The economy of Bioko was transformed in the second half of the 19th century with the introduction of cocoa and coffee plants imported from the Island of Sao Tomé. In 1937, the Spanish government put in the necessary funds required to develop Bioko by creating administrative units and by importing labor from West Africa to work in the cocoa and coffee plantations. The mainland territory of Rio Muni however did not fall prey to colonization. The Fang people -- armed with weapons procured through trade -- put up a relentless resistance against any European attempt to enter the mainland until 1926. Bioko also saw local challenges to Spanish colonialism, with two uprisings in 1898 and 1910. This latter revolt, in the town of Luba, was brought about by the stipulation that every Bubi aged15 – 50 was to do forced labor three times a year in European-owned plantations. The result was a series of treaties between Spain and countries in the Gulf of Guinea to find alternatives to solve the problem of shortage in manpower. Following World Way II, Equatorial Guinea, like most colonies, began to experience a drive for independence. In 1956, Acacio Mane, a black farmer, headed a clandestine opposition movement known as "la Cruzade Nacionale de Liberacion". When Spain joined the United Nations, he had the courage to sign a memorandum addressed to the U.N. accusing Spain of mistreatment of Equatorial Guinea. He refused to go into exile, was arrested by the Spanish civil guards and assassinated in 1958, in the barracks of Bata. Under international pressure, Spain was later forced to undertake a process that would gradually bring Equatorial Guinea to independence. The region’s status began to change in 1959, when it was given the status similar to a province of Spain, including elections for seats in the Spanish parliament, and a governor general. In 1968, following an intense campaign by the U.N. and leading Equato-Guineans, Spain announced that it would grant Equatorial Guinea independence. In August of that same year, 68% of Equato-Guineans voted for a draft constitution, which provided a basic government structure, including a president, General Assembly and Supreme Court. Unfortunately, Francisco Macias Nguema was elected the country’s first president in September of 1968 and independence was granted a month later. Less than two years later, President Macias had begun to undermine the constitution and create a one-party state. Within 4 years, he had assumed the title of President-for-Life. Referred to as the "Dachau of Africa," Equatorial Guinea under Macias saw a civilian population terrorized by the government to the point that as much as a third of the nation was executed, exiled or emigrated. The country’s basic infrastructure was devastated by neglect or state-sponsored thievery. With the nation on the path to destruction, leading Equato-Guineans took action. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasago successfully took control of the government. President Macias was arrested and tried for his horrendous crimes against the country and its people. Found guilty, he was executed. A Supreme Military Council governed Equatorial Guinea initially and began the long, slow process of building a nation that had been nearly torn down to its foundations. With the help of the U.N. Commission on Human Rights, Equatorial Guinea drafted a new constitution in 1982, which was adopted by popular vote that same year. President Obiang served as president, and was re-elected for seven-year terms in 1989, 1996 and 2003. In 1995, Equatorial Guinea was found to have massive reserves of petroleum. Shortly thereafter, significant reserves of natural gas were also discovered. These findings have generated substantial revenue for Equatorial Guinea, which is being invested in increasing transparency in its financial practices and diversifying its economy, modernizing its infrastructure, strengthening its public health system, and promoting education to build a strong foundation for the future of the country. People of Equatorial Guinea With a long history of intertwining African and
European influences, Equatorial Guinea has a rich culture that reflects the many varied
contributions of the indigenous people, various colonial powers and religious
institutions. Religious Institutions With a long history of intertwining African and European influences, Equatorial Guinea has a rich culture that reflects the many varied contributions of the indigenous people, various colonial powers and religious institutions. Religion The people of Equatorial Guinea are predominantly Roman Catholic, with 90% of them worshipping in one of the country’s 31 parish churches or the cathedrals built in Malabo and Bata. Catholicism settled in Equatorial Guinea when the Spanish took over their former African territories conceded by the Portuguese at the end of the 18th Century. The first Apostolic Vicariate was established in 1855 for the islands of Annobon, Corisco and Fernando Poo (Bioko). Catholicism began to become the dominant religion of the country in 1858, when commander Carlos Chacon became governor of Bioko. With the arrival of Jesuit missionaries that same year, protestant missionaries were forced to leave and settled elsewhere in the continent, particularly in Cameroon. In 1966, the Vicariate was elevated to the Diocese of Santa Isabela, which became the Diocese of Malabo less than ten years later. In 1982, the same year he visited Equatorial Guinea, Pope John Paul II elevated the Diocese to the Archdiocese of Malabo. In 1991, Ildefonso Omaba Obono was named the Archdiocese’s second Archbishop. He continues to serve in that post. Government of The Republic of Equatorial Guinea Structure
Specifically, the Ministerial Council is responsible
for proposing socio-economic development plans of the state and implementing those
approved by the President and the National Assembly, drafting a budget and executing it
upon approval by the President and National Assembly, defining monetary policy, and
generally directing the administration of the state, coordinating and controlling the
activities of the different ministries.
The current President of the House of
Representatives is His Excellency Mr. Salomón Nguema Owono, the First Vice President is
His Excellency Mr. Ángel Serafín Seriche Dougan and the Second Vice President is His
Excellency Mr. Ángel Alogo Nchama. Developing Infastructure Following the indifference of the Spanish colonial
authority, and the destruction of the Macias regime, Equatorial Guinea’s physical
infrastructure required massive investments to be capable of supporting effective
communication, open commerce and economic opportunity. With the growth of revenue from the
responsible development of the nation’s natural resources, the government of
President Obiang has begun to make those investments and significant improvements can be
seen across all major sectors on national infrastructure. Promoting Education The government of Equatorial Guinea’s
commitment of key resources to improving education is having a profound impact on nation.
Since the dark days of the Macias regime, when schools were closed for almost a decade,
the level of education among the people has improved remarkably. This can be seen at every
level from primary through tertiary education. As the IMF noted in a 2003 staff report,
"Equatorial Guinea’s indicators of basic educational achievement are better than
those of other sub-Saharan countries."
Equatorial Guinea’s commitment to education
spans the length of the nation’s education needs as it modernizes. In addition to
major advances in the quality and availability of primary school education, the result of
which can be seen in some of the highest literacy rates on the continent, the government
is investing resources in advanced education to give older students the knowledge and
skills to build a competitive work force. In 1995, the government opened the National
University of Equatorial Guinea to provide engineering, medical and business classes. Strengthening the Economy With the responsible development of the
country’s natural resources, Equatorial Guinea’s economy has grown dramatically
over the last decade. The Obiang Administration has committed to use the revenue that
comes with that economic growth to build a strong infrastructure to diversify the economy. Economic statistics GDP:official exchange rate - $7.644 billion (2005 est.) GDP - real growth rate 18.6% (2005 est.) GDP - per capita Purchasing power parity - $50,200 (2005 est.) GDP - composition by sector Population below poverty line: NA% Household income or consumption by percentage
share Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5% (2005
est.) Budget Industries Debt - external: $248 million (2000 est.) Economic aid - recipient: $33.8 million (1995) Currency: 1 Communauté financière africaine franc (CFAF) = 100 centimes Exchange rates: Communauté financière africaine francs (CFAF) per US$1 - 480.56 (2005), 528.29 (2004), 581.2 (2003), 696.99 (2002), 733.04 (2001) Fiscal year: 1 January-31 December Contributing to International Security Because of the massive international investment in the development of natural resources in Equatorial Guinea and throughout West Africa, the region is at risk for being targeted by terrorists looking to disrupt international economic development. Equatorial Guinea has pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States and other countries fighting the Global War on Terror to ensure that the people of West Africa and friendly nations around the globe don’t fall victim to these extremists. US Ambassador to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea (R. Niels Marquardt), Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea (Pastor Miche Ondo Bile) and Commander of the USCG Cutter Bear (CMDR Robert Wagner) at a port call by the Bear in Malabo in July 2005. The relationship between the U.S. and Equatorial Guinea is growing stronger and that can be seen in the increasing cooperation in this fight. Jut recently, the U.S. celebrated the re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Malabo with Fourth of July celebrations. This was a powerful signal of the increasing trust and friendship developing between the two nations. That trust and friendship was also evident in the visit this spring by Deputy Commander of the U.S. European Command (EUCOM), Gen. Charles F. Wald. EUCOM is responsible for U.S. military operations in Africa. Gen. Wald’s visit to discuss increasing cooperation on international security issues was productive and opened the door to additional bilateral collaboration. That collaboration was most visible in July, when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear made a port call on Malabo to further develop relationships among security officials in both countries and provide a training opportunity. As the Foreign Minister of Equatorial Guinea said at the time of the Bear visit, "The substantial investments we are making to increase transparency in our financial practices, modernize our infrastructure, strengthen our public health system and promote education to build a strong foundation for future development will be most successful in a stable regional environment. The visit of the Bear underscores the commitment of both Equatorial-Guinea and the U.S. to make that environment a reality." |
| Foreign relations of Equatorial Guinea |
| A transitional agreement, signed in
October 1968, implemented a Spanish preindependence decision to assist Equatorial Guinea
and provided for the temporary maintenance of Spanish forces there. A dispute with
President Macias in 1969 led to a request that all Spanish troops immediately depart, and
a large number of civilians left at the same time. Diplomatic relations between the two
countries were never broken but were suspended by Spain in March 1977 in the wake of
renewed disputes. After Macias' fall in 1979, President Obiang asked for Spanish
assistance, and since then, Spain has regained influence in Equatorial Guinea's diplomatic
relations. The two countries signed permanent agreements for economic and technical
cooperation, private concessions, and trade relations. President Obiang made an official
visit to Madrid in March 2001, and senior Spanish Foreign Ministry officials visited
Malabo during 2001 as well. Spain maintained a bilateral assistance program in Equatorial
Guinea. Some Equato-Guinean opposition elements are based in Spain to the annoyance of the
government of Malabo. Equatorial Guinea has cordial relations with neighboring Cameroon, although there was criticism in Cameroon in 2000 about perceived mistreatment of Cameroonians working in Equatorial Guinea. The majority Fang ethnic group of mainland Equatorial Guinea extends both north and south into the forests of Cameroon and Gabon. Cameroon exports some food products to Equatorial Guinea and imports oil from Equatorial Guinea for its refinery at nearby Limbe. Equatorial Guinea has warmer relations with Nigeria, and the Nigerian President made an official visit to Malabo in 2001. The two countries have delineated their offshore borders, which will facilitate development of nearby gas fields. In addition, many Nigerians work in Equatorial Guinea, as do immigrants from Cameroon and some West African states. Equatorial Guinea is member of the Central African Economic and Monetary Union (CEMAC), which includes Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), and Gabon. It also is a member of the Franc zone. Parallel to the Equatoguinean rapprochement with its francophone neighbors, France's role has significantly increased following Equatorial Guinea's entry into the CFA Franc Zone and the BEAC. French technical advisers work in the finance and planning ministries, and agreements have been signed for infrastructure development projects. In 1995, the USA closed its embassy, ostensibly for budget reasons, though the ambassador of the time had been accused of witchcraft, and had criticised the human rights situation. In 1996, offshore oil began flowing, and, with several US oil companies present in the country, the US reopened the embassy in October 2003. The government's official policy is one of nonalignment. In its search for assistance to meet the goal of national reconstruction, the Government of Equatorial Guinea has established diplomatic relations with numerous European and Third World Countries. Having achieved independence under UN sponsorship, Equatorial Guinea feels a special kinship with that organization. It became the 126th UN member on November 12, 1968. Disputes - international: exclusive maritime economic zone boundary dispute with Cameroon is presently before the ICJ; maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay; maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria and Cameroon because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea |
