Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a sovereign state located in West Africa between Cameroon and Gabon. It was granted independence by the Falangist regime in Spain on October 12, 1968. Since then it has been ruled by a presidential dictatorship based on an ethnic oligarchy. President Francisco Macías Nguema was deposed in a coup in August 1979 and was later executed. He was succeeded by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, his nephew, who rules to this day. Its official languages are Spanish and French. The freedoms of speech, press, assembly, association, and religion are not allowed by the government, which uses disappearances and torture to silence its critics. Nominally a multiparty system, only one genuine opposition party has been permitted to operate legally.

• Population: 540,000
• Capital: Malabo
• Independence: October 12, 1968
• Economic activities: agriculture (cocoa, cassava, potatoes, bananas), petroleum, fishing, logging
• President: Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
• Prime Minister: Miguel Abia Biteo Boricó
• Official languages: French, Spanish
• Ethnic groups: Bubi, Fang
• Religions: Roman Catholicism and pre-Christian indigenous religions
• Last elections: December 2002 presidential election: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, 97.1%
• Political parties: Convergence for Social Democracy; Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (ruling)
• Currency: CFA franc
• GDP per capita: $50,200
• Life expectancy: 49.5 years

Major settlements

• Bata
• Ebebiyín
• Evinayong
• Luba
• Malabo
• Mongomo
• San Antonio de Palé

Famous Equatoguineans

• Celestino Bonifacio Bacalé Obiang
• Francisco Macías Nguema
• Acacio Mañé Ela
• Plácido Micó Abogo
• Atanasio Ndongo Miyone
• Enrique Nvó
• Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
• Bonifacio Ondó Edu