Equatorial Guinea
Republic of Equatorial GuineaRepublica de Guinea Ecuatorial
republic in transition to multiparty democracyIndependence 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
Equatorial Guinea as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 94 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra, between | Cameroon and Gabon
18 fieldsLand use
- arable land:
- 5%
- permanent crops:
- 4%
- permanent pastures:
- 4%
- forests and woodland:
- 46%
- other:
- 41% (1993 est.)
Environment-international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ship Pollution
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 43% (male 97,993; female 97,470)
- 15-64 years:
- 53% (male 114,960; female 126,453)
- 65 years and over:
- 4% (male 7,597; female 9,528) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.9 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.79 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Nationality
- noun:
- Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
- adjective:
- Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean
Ethnic groups
Bioko (primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni (primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly Spanish
Government
Republic in transition to multiparty democracy; President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April 1996)
19 fieldsLegislature, 80 seats, elected 21 November 1993one dot, one seat
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
Administrative divisions
7 provinces (provincias, singular-provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since April 1996);
- First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO (since January 1998);
- Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since January 1998)
- cabinet:
- Council of Ministers appointed by the president
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003)
- election results:
- President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected without opposition; percent of popular vote-98%
Legislative branch
unicameral House of Peoples Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (80 seats; members are directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1998)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-PDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Political parties and leaders
- ruling party:
- Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]
- opposition parties:
- Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Santiago OBAMA, president; Placido Miko ABOGO, secretary-general];
- Democratic Social Union or UDS [Camelo MODU, general secretary];
- Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MIFUMU, president];
- Liberal Party or PL [Santos PASCUAL];
- National Democratic Union or UDENA [Jose MECHEBA Ikaka, president];
- National Movement of the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea or MONALIGE [Dr. Aldolfo Obrang BIKO, president];
- Party of the Social Democratic Coalition or PCSD [Buenaventura Moswi M'Asumu, general coordinator];
- Party of Progress or PP [Mocache MEINGA, interim chairman];
- Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Casiano Masi Edu];
- Popular Union or UP [Juan BITUI, president];
- Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Basilio Ava Eworo and Domingo ABUY];
- Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Antonio-Ebang Mbele Abang, president];
- Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP [Secundino Oyono Agueng Ada, general secretary];
- Social Democratic Party or PSD [Benjamin-Gabriel Balingha Balinga Alene, general secretary];
- Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSGE [Tomas MICHEBE Fernandez, general secretary]
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, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
- chancery:
- Suite 405, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 393-0525
Diplomatic representation from the US
- the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995);
- US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon
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)
Economy
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves | have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years.
28 fieldsGDP-composition by sector(1995 est.)
Economy-overview
The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years. Farming, forestry, and fishing are also major components of GDP. Subsistence farming predominates. Although pre-independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings, the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture-led growth.
A number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993 because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement. Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members. Undeveloped natural resources include titanium, iron ore, manganese, uranium, and alluvial gold. The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.
Agriculture-products
- coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts, manioc;
- livestock;
- timber
Exports
- total value:
- $197 million (f.o.b., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum, timber, cocoa
- partners:
- US 34%, Japan 17%, Spain 13%, China 13%, Nigeria
Imports
- total value:
- $248 million (c.i.f., 1996 est.)
- commodities:
- petroleum, food, beverages, clothing, machinery
- partners:
- Cameroon 40%, Spain 18%, France 14%, US 8%
Exchange rates
CFA francs (CFAF) per US$1-608.36 (January 1998), 583.67 (1997), 511.55 (1996), 499.15 (1995), 555.20 (1994), 283.16 (1993) note: beginning 12 January 1994, the CFA franc was devalued to CFAF 100 per French franc from CFAF 50 at which it had been fixed since 1948
Telephone system
poor system with adequate government services
- domestic:
- NA
- international:
- international communications from Bata and Malabo to African and European countries; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Indian Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsMerchant marine, 19 ships by typeone square, one ship · (1997 est.)
Airports by runway lengthunpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army, Navy, Air Force, Rapid Intervention Force, | National Police
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes-international
- maritime boundary dispute with Gabon because of disputed sovereignty over islands in Corisco Bay;
- maritime boundary dispute with Nigeria because of disputed jurisdiction over oil-rich areas in the Gulf of Guinea ERITREA
Introduction
1 fieldHistorical perspective
- On 29 May 1991, ISAIAS Afworki, secretary general of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), which then served as the country's legislative body, announced the formation of the Provisional Government in Eritrea (PGE) in preparation for the 23-25 April 1993 referendum on independence for the Autonomous Region of Eritrea;
- the referendum resulted in a landslide vote for independence, which was proclaimed on 27 April 1993.
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Equatorial Guinea.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/equatorial-guinea/1998.