Equatorial Guinea
As late as the early 1990s, Equatorial Guinea was often presented as a backward and unappealing country. The country was not only bankrupt but also suffering from moral decay. By the early 2000s, stories on Equatorial Guinea made international headlines and Malabo (its capital) had become more appealing, awash with cash from major oil companies. Although these developments offered some promise for the future of this country, there has been little change in the bleak living conditions of most of the population.
Equatorial Guinea is located on the western coast of Africa, between Cameroon and Gabon. The total land area is about 28,051 square kilometers (10,828 square miles), and its total population is about 510,000. The country consists of a mainland area (Rio Muni Province) and five islands, the largest of which is Bioko. Several languages are spoken, including Fang, but Spanish is the official language. Equatorial Guinea is surrounded mostly by French-speaking countries, however; consequently, it belongs to the International Organization of Francophonie (French-speaking countries).
In 1778 Spain claimed Equatorial Guinea as its only colony in Africa. The country gained local autonomy in 1963 and independence in 1968. Since then it has been governed by two leaders, Francisco Macias Nguema (1924–1979) and his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (b. 1942), who seized power in a 1979 palace coup. Spain has had troubled relations with Equatorial Guinea because of corruption and misrule. Most of the democratic opposition leaders live in exile in Spain. Under Macias Nguema, about one-third of the population was killed or fled into exile.
Despite the democratic wave of the 1990s, Equatorial Guinea is far from being democratic. A multiparty system is in place, but there is constant military intimidation of the political opposition, including arrest and torture. The presidential elections of 2002 led to the victory of President Obiang for another seven-year term. Most foreign observers described the election as neither free nor fair.
The political system is strictly presidential. In his last cabinet reshuffle, President Obiang described the team as a "transitional government," but not much transition has taken place. Instead, the president lives under tight security and constantly confronts rumors and threats of a coup. A plot in March 2004 had a peculiar international flavor; Zimbabwe arrested scores of foreigners, including Europeans and Africans, who were planning to fly to Malabo to overthrow the government. Arrests were also made within the country itself, and hundreds of foreigners were expelled.
(MAP BY MARYLAND CARTOGRAPHICS/THE GALE GROUP)The legislative branch of government is the unicameral House of People's Representatives. In 2004 membership was increased from eighty to one hundred lawmakers. The president's party, the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, held a near monopoly.
The president appoints the prime minister and other government officials, and he can also dismiss them at will. The judiciary is partly based on Spanish civil law and is also influenced by tribal customs. There is a Supreme Tribunal, where the wishes of the president prevail, especially regarding summary executions.
Increasingly, President Obiang's son, who spends most of his time living abroad, has made key decisions. He also manages the family's huge assets deposited in foreign banks. Corruption is widespread in the country, and the oil wealth has only made things worse. The heavy reliance on oil means that the country still has to import food from neighboring countries to deal with rising malnutrition.
This country has great economic prospects. However, the political climate will ultimately determine just how much Equatorial Guinea's people benefit from its oil wealth.
Presidential Systems.
Bibliography
"Equatorial Guinea." In CIA World Factbook. Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency, 2005. <http://www.cia.gov/cia/publicat ions/factbook/geos/ek.html>.
Klitgaard, Robert. Tropical Gangsters. New York: Basic Books, 1990.
Mars, Laura, director. Nations of the World: A Political, Economic and Business Handbook. Millerton, NY: Grey House Publishing, 2003.
Ramsay, F. Jeffress, ed. Global Studies: Africa. 10th ed. Guilford, CT: McGraw Hill/Dushkin, 2004.
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