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Equatorial Guinea
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The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a nation in west
central Africa, and one of the smallest countries in
continental Africa. It borders Cameroon on the north, Gabon
on the south and east, and the Gulf of Guinea on the west,
where the islands of São Tomé and Príncipe lie to its
southwest. Formerly the Spanish colony of Spanish Guinea,
the country's territory (continentally known as Río Muni)
includes a number of islands, including the sizable island
of Bioko where the capital, Malabo (formerly Santa Isabel),
is located. Its post-independence name is suggestive of its
being situated near both the equator and the Gulf of Guinea.
It is the only country in Africa where Spanish is an
official language, excluding the Spanish exclaves of Ceuta
and Melilla and the non-recognized Sahrawi Arab Democratic
Republic.
History
Main article: History of Equatorial Guinea
The first inhabitants of the region that is now Equatorial
Guinea are believed to have been Pygmies, of whom only
isolated pockets remain in northern Rio Muni. Bantu
migrations between the 17th and 19th centuries brought the
coastal tribes and later the Fang. Elements of the latter
may have generated the Bubi, who emigrated to Bioko from
Cameroon and Rio Muni in several waves and succeeded former
neolithic populations. The Igbo people of Nigeria arrived in
the 18th century. The Annobon population, native to Angola,
was introduced by the Portuguese via São Tomé Island (São
Tomé and Príncipe).
The Portuguese explorer, Fernão do Pó, seeking a route to
India, is credited with having discovered the island of
Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa ("Beautiful"), but it
quickly took on the name of its European discoverer. The
islands of Fernando Póo and Annobón were colonized by
Portugal in 1474. The Portuguese retained control until
1778, when the island, adjacent islets, and commercial
rights to the mainland between the Niger and Ogoue Rivers
were ceded to Spain in exchange for territory in the
American continent (Treaty of El Pardo, between Queen Maria
II of Portugal and King Charles III of Spain). From 1827 to
1843, Britain established a base on the island to combat the
slave trade. The mainland portion, Rio Muni, became a
protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1900. Conflicting
claims to the mainland were settled in 1900 by the Treaty of
Paris, and periodically, the mainland territories were
united administratively under Spanish rule. Between 1926 and
1959 they were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea.
Geography
Bioko (Equatorial Guinea) visible in the distance from
CameroonMain article: Geography of Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is located in west central
Africa. Bioko Island lies about 40 kilometers (25 mi) from
Cameroon. Annobón Island lies about 595 kilometers (370 mi)
southwest of Bioko Island. The larger continental region of
Rio Muni lies between Cameroon and Gabon on the mainland; it
includes the islands of Corisco, Elobey Grande, Elobey
Chico, and adjacent islets. Contrary to its name, no part of
the country lies on the equator.
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Background:
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Composed of a mainland portion and five inhabited
islands, Equatorial Guinea gained independence in
1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. The tiny
country, one of the smallest on the African
continent, has been ruled by President OBIANG NGUEM
MBASOGO since he seized power in a coup in 1979.
Although nominally a constitutional democracy since
1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections - as
well as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely
seen as being flawed. |
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Location:
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Western Africa, bordering the Bight of Biafra,
between Cameroon and Gabon |
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Geographic coordinates:
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2 00
N, 10 00 E
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Map references:
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Africa |
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Area:
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total: 28,051 sq km
water: 0 sq km
land: 28,051 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly smaller than Maryland |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 539 km
border countries: Cameroon 189 km, Gabon 350
km |
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Coastline:
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296
km |
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Maritime claims:
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exclusive economic zone: 200 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM |
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Climate:
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tropical; always hot, humid |
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Terrain:
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coastal plains rise to interior hills; islands are
volcanic |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Pico Basile 3,008 m |
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Nationality:
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noun: Equatorial Guinean(s) or Equatoguinean(s)
adjective: Equatorial Guinean or
Equatoguinean |
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Ethnic groups:
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Bioko
(primarily Bubi, some Fernandinos), Rio Muni
(primarily Fang), Europeans less than 1,000, mostly
Spanish |
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Religions:
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nominally Christian and predominantly Roman
Catholic, pagan practices |
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Languages:
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Spanish (official), French (official), pidgin
English, Fang, Bubi, Ibo |
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Currency:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine franc (XAF); note -
responsible authority is the Bank of the Central
African States |
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Currency code:
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XAF
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Exchange rates:
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Communaute Financiere Africaine francs (XAF) per US
dollar - 742.79 (January 2002), 733.04 (2001),
711.98 (2000), 615.70 (1999), 589.95 (1998), 583.67
(1997); note - from 1 January 1999, the XAF is
pegged to the euro at a rate of 655.957 XAF per euro
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Internet country code:
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.gq
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