Equatorial Guinea

Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited islands, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by ruthless leaders who have badly mismanaged the economy since independence from 190 years of Spanish rule in 1968. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 presidential and 1999 legislative elections were widely seen as being flawed.

arable land:

5%

permanent crops:

4%

permanent pastures:

4%

forests and woodland:

46%

other:

41% (1993 est.)

party to:

Biodiversity, Desertification, Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ship Pollution

signed, but not ratified:

none of the selected agreements

0-14 years:

43% (male 101,724; female 100,787)

15-64 years:

54% (male 121,290; female 132,581)

65 years and over:

3% (male 7,960; female 9,872) (2000 est.)

at birth:

1.03 male(s)/female

under 15 years:

1.01 male(s)/female

15-64 years:

0.91 male(s)/female

65 years and over:

0.81 male(s)/female

total population:

0.95 male(s)/female (2000 est.)

noun:

Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)

adjective:

Equatorial Guinean or Equatoguinean

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

chief of state:

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup)

head of government:

• Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996);
• First Vice Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998);
• Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NZE FUMU (since NA 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);
• prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president

election results:

President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud

• 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]

chief of mission:

Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE

chancery:

1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20006

telephone:

[1] (202) 296-4174

FAX:

[1] (202) 296-4195

• 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)

lowest 10%:

NA%

highest 10%:

NA%

• coffee, cocoa, rice, yams, cassava (tapioca), bananas, palm oil nuts;
• livestock;
• timber

total:

2,880 km

paved:

0 km

unpaved:

2,880 km (1996 est.)

• 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 [Country Listing] [ The World Factbook Home]