EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Equatorial Guinea is a young republic in the Central Africa. Equatorial Guinea is bordered by Cameroon on the north, Gabon on the south and east, and the Gulf of Guinea on the west, with the islands of São Tomé
and Principe located on the southwest.

Formerly known as the Spanish Guinea, it gained its independence on October 12th, 1968 within the frame of the decolonization processes promoted by the United Nations.

Equatorial Guinea territory comprises the continental region (called "Rio Muni" or "Mbini") and a large number of islands, among which we can find Bioko, where the capital city, Malabo (called Santa Isabel during the Spanish colony), is located.

Its post-independence name is suggestive of its location near both the equator and the Gulf of Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea is currently the only independent territory in the Spanish Africa.

» History
The Portuguese explorer, Fernando Pó (Fernão do Pó), seeking a path to India, is credited with having discovered the island of Bioko in 1471.

He called it Formosa ("Beautiful"), but it quickly took on the name of its European discoverer. The islands of Fernando Pó and Annobón were colonized by Portugal in 1474.

The Portuguese retained control until 1778, when the island, were assigned to Spain in exchange for territory in the American continent.

Between 1926 and 1959 they were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea, being dependant from the Viceroyalty of the River Plate for administrative purposes. In 1968, it achieved its independence from Spain.

» Government
Equatorial Guinea is a constitutional democracy since 1991. Its leader and president is Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

Presidential elections take place every 7 years. The next election will take place on December 2009. Every person above 18 years old must vote. The president, in turn, designates the Prime Minister (currently, Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfubea). There is a single legislative chamber: the Chamber of the People Representatives, composed of 100 representatives, elected by direct popular vote, for a 5-year
legislative period.

» Administration
Equatorial Guinea is administratively divided into seven provinces, each province having its own capital city: Equatorial Guinea Annobón (San Antonio de Palé); Bioko Norte (Malabo); Bioko Sur (Luba); Centro Sur (Evinayong); Kié-Ntem (Ebebiyín); Litoral (Bata); Wele-Nzas (Mongomo)

» Economy
Equatorial Guinea is a State member of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (or CEMAC from its name in French, Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale). Its legal
currency is the Franco CFA.

Equatorial Guinea’s main wealth comes from oil and its derivatives, with an extraction estimated in 300 thousand oil barrels/day.

Other relevant areas are forestry, and agriculture, with products such as cotton, coffee, sugar cane, tropical fruits, etcetera.

Also, it is worth to point out livestock on high lands, and minerals, specially, precious metals

» Demography
Equatorial Guinea has a young population (45% de of the population does not exceed 15 years of age) a birth rate around 42 per thousand, and a mortality rate of 16 per thousand. Life expectancy is 49 years old for men and 53 years old for women. Only 4% of the population is over 65 years old. The literacy rate in adults was 52% by 1992, but it reached 80% by 1999, as a result of a continuous governmental action. Most inhabitants live in rural areas.

» Ethnography

The national population, which represents 99% of the population, is essentially Bantu (Fang), in Mbini, and Bubi in Bioko.

The main ethnical groups are distributed in the following way: Fang (72% of the population, in Mbini), Bubi (15%, in Bioko), Fernandinos (in Bioko), Combes in the Continental Region or Río Muni and Annoboneses
at the Annobon island, the only territory in the country located at the Southern Hemisphere.

There is also a minority of European whites of Spanish descendant, and people of mixed races.

» Languages
The official language is Spanish, as reflected in the country's Constitution. In theory, since it has integrated to the Economic and Monetary Community in Central Africa (in order to have Franco CFA as currency), the
official language should be French. The Constitutional Law which amends article 4 of the Fundamental Law of the State establishes that "the official languages of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea are Spanish and French. The aboriginal languages (ethnical languages would be more correct) are recognized as integral parts of the national culture" constitutional Law No. 1/1998 of 21 January): Fang also spoken in the areas of Cameroon, Gabon and Congo Democratic Republic; Bubi (Bioko), Annobon in the Annobon island, Combe in the Continental Region, Ibo and Pidgin English, also in Bioko.

» Religion
The great majority of the population is formally Catholic (80,1%), though other Christian religions (6,8%) and cults from the original inhabitants are also professed to a different extent by most of the population, and there is an Islamic minority (4%).

» Cities
The main cities are Malabo, State capital with 90 thousand inhabitants, located at Bioko; and Bata, a city in the continental region with 70 thousand inhabitants

» Names
The Equatoguineans usually have an Spanish name and an African name. In writing, the Spanish name is followed by the African one, and by the father’s last name and mother’s last name.

The country has several active organizations which main objective is to contribute to population literacy. Most of the economic support, in this sense, comes from the Spanish government.

» National Holidays

• January 01 New Year
• August 15 Constitution Day
• October 12 Independence Day
• December 10 Human Rights Day
• December 25 Christmas