According to a 2015 population census, the population is 1. As a result, equatorial guineans became one africas most educated population. A large island off the guinea coast the site today of malabo, capital of equatorial guinea becomes known in history as fernando po. Equatorial guinea consists of two parts, an insular and a mainland region. Equatorial guinea including military health in fight against covid19.
The legislature consists of the unicameral house of peoples representatives, a body of eighty elected officials. Past weather in malabo, equatorial guinea yesterday and last 2 weeks. Although first settled by pygmies and later by migrations of various bantu speaking tribes, the islands and territory now known as equatorial guinea were first discovered by european explorers in 1471 during the great age of discovery that eventually led to christopher columbus discovery of the new world. Media in category history of equatorial guinea the following 19 files are in this category, out of 19 total.
The island was named after him and, together with annobon, was colonized three years later. Equatorial guinea gdp 19622019 data 20202022 forecast. A large island off the guinea coast the site today of malabo, capital of equatorial guinea becomes known in history as fernando po because it is first reached, in. In the elections held months earlier in the colony, the only ones. Equatorial guinea is the only sovereign african state in which spanish is an official language. Sherer, ambassador to togo, to also act as ambassador to equatorial guinea on october 28, 1968. Important events, famous birthdays and historical deaths from our searchable today in history archives. The fang people, who fought their way to the sea in the 19th and early 20th centuries by subjugating other groups in their path, constitute well over half of the population. It borders cameroon on the north, gabon on the south and east, and the gulf of guinea on the west. The shape of the flag of equatorial guinea rectangular sides correspond with each other in a ratio of 2. The spanish also helped equatorial guinea achieve one of the continents highest literacy rates and developed a good network of health care facilities.
Save equatorial guinea has a long history as a portuguese colony. Culture of equatorial guinea history, people, traditions. Past weather in aconibe, equatorial guinea yesterday or. The struggle for sovereignty has begun in the end of xix century and lasted for about seventy years. For one thing, the equatorial climate remains much the same yearround. Equatorial guinea has a long history as a portuguese colony. In the past, it was the spanish colony of spanish guinea. Infoplease has everything you need to know about equatorial guinea.
With a 2005 estimated population of 173,046, it is the largest city in equatorial guinea. Bioko was apparently uninhabited when the bubi came by sea from the mainland in the. The gross domestic product gdp in equatorial guinea was worth. Equatorial guinea african economic outlook 2015 several of equatorial guineas gas and oil fields matured in 20, and the subsequent decline in production, on which the country was highly dependent, pushed the economy into recession. The united states established diplomatic relations with equatorial guinea in 1968, following the countrys independence from spain. Equatorial guinea gains independence from spain south. In 1968, the patriots have made the countrys independence and the flag of equatorial. Sherer, ambassador to togo, also to serve as ambassador to. At independence in 1968, largely as a result of this system, equatorial guinea had one of the highest per capita incomes in africa.
Equatorial guinea united states department of state. The dominant patterns are warm and wet or warm and dry. Much of the equatorial region is also characterized as being humid. On their way to india, portuguese explorers discovered the island of bioko, and later colonized the islands of fernando poo and annobon. United states recognition of equatorial guinea, 1968. Calling himself the unique miracle, nguema is considered one of the worst despots in african history.
Professional journalism equatorial guinea objective score. May 08, 2018 equatorial guinea is a small country on the west coast of africa which struck oil in 1995 and which is now being cited as a textbook case of the resource curse or the paradox of plenty. Pdf dynastic rule in equatorial guinea researchgate. The spanish colonial regime in equatorial guinea and the post colonial. History of equatorial guinea including colonial rule, independence. It is composed of a mainland, rio muni, and small islands including bioko where the capital malabo is located, annobon, corisco, elobey, and others. Jan 30, 2020 the equator is distinct from the rest of the globe in its physical environment as well as its geographic characteristics. As of 2015, the country had an estimated population of 1,222,245. Has no trees, natural water sources, natural reserves or historical monuments of any kind. Pdf the political economy of oil in equatorial guinea. Bioko formerly fernando po, corisco, great elobey elobey grande, little elobey elobey chico, and annobon pagalu. The pygmies, or small people, were the first known inhabitants of equatorial guinea before bioko island was discovered by portuguese explorer fernando po in 1671.
Equatorial guinea is one of the african continents least visited countries. Minerals exploration history republic of equatorial. Equatorial guinea simple english wikipedia, the free. Equatorial guinea lund university publications lunds universitet.
It begins with a brief history of the country and its recent. Minerals exploration history republic of equatorial guinea. Equatorial guinea is a small country on the west coast of africa which struck oil in 1995 and which is now being cited as a textbook case of the resource curse or the paradox of plenty. The history of equatorial guinea is marked by centuries of colonial domination by the portuguese, british and spanish empires, and by the local kingdoms. Equatorial guinea is composed of five inhabited islands plus a portion on the african mainland, known as rio muni. Mar 16, 2011 the mainland of equatorial guinea became a spanish colony in 1900.
The countrys territory is both on the continent and on islands. Equatorial guinea is a member of the organization for the harmonization of business law in africa. It has a reputation for political instability with a history full of coups and corruption. But government corruption has kept most of this wealth from the people, who still live as they did hundreds of years ago, more often than not on. On 12 october 1968, equatorial guinea became an independent state with francisco macias nguema as the first president. This study of washingtons dealings with equatorial guinea under the rule of one of modern africas most brutal dictators, francisco macias nguema, analyzes us perceptions and policies relating to communist intervention, human rights, and related geopolitical issues during the nixon, ford, and carter presidencies. It consists of rio muni also known as continental equatorial guinea, on the continent, and five islands known collectively as insular equatorial guinea. Equatorial guinea history, language and culture history of equatorial guinea. On friday 24th april, at the peoples palace in malabo, the vicepresident of the republic, charged with defence and state security, met the coronavirus response, vigilance and fight technical committee. Equatorial guinea countries office of the historian. Archived from the original pdf on 21 february 2014. The republic of equatorial guinea is a nation in west central africa, and one of the smallest countries in africa. This diversity of language ability is largely due to the historical facts of colonization, for although. From the 1778 until 1959, equatorial guinea remained an underdeveloped african colony.
In accepting the methodological framework proposed by some historians for studying the collapse of european domination in the continent, we can explain the independence of equatorial guinea, in 1968, as a result of the interaction between three different factors. History the discovery of large oil reserves in the mid1990s has brought about dramatic change to equatorial guinea. Equatorial guinea, country located on the west coast of africa. The history of equatorial guinea is marked by centuries of colonial domination by the portuguese, british and spanish empires, and by the local kingdoms precolonial history. Fernando poo, annobon and rio muni were ceded to spain in. Flag of equatorial guinea may be raised, according to the law of the country, for all purposes on land and at sea. In precolonial times equatorial guinea was known for gold and iron production however there are no records of any commercial production. It can be used and the citizens of the state, and officials. A large island off the guinea coast the site today of malabo, capital of equatorial guinea becomes known in history as fernando po because it is first reached, in about 1472, by the portuguese navigator fernao do po. Past weather in malabo, equatorial guinea yesterday or.
The history of equatorial guinea, both colonial and postcolonial, has not propitiated. Equatorial guinea, also referred to as eqg, is the only former spanish colony in subsaharan africa. It is notable for the bantu tribes, the fang, and the pygmies, and is now one of the worlds oil sources. The united states recognized the independence of equatorial guinea when u. It also divides the earth into the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere and is an important line of latitude for navigational purposes. The history of equatorial guinea is marked by centuries of colonial domination by the. One of the worlds poorest countries quickly became one of the richest. The longisolated population developed the conservative affect of most such nations.
Equatorial guinea declares itself a multiparty democracy, although in practice it is a dictatorship under the leadership of the democratic party of equatorial guinea pdge. Prior to 1968 the country was in the colonialdepending on spain and its symbol served as a banner of the spanish flag. The ethnic composition of the population is complex for a political unit so small in size. His goal was to replace european names with authentic african ones. The only spanish speaking country in the african continent, equatorial guinea has registered the highest growth path in africa in the last five years. As a result, government oil revenues increased from % to 20% of total oil export.
The paradox of plenty equatorial guinea is africas wealthiest nation on account of its huge revenues from oil, yet most of its population live in poverty. Equatorial guineas constitution of 1991 with amendments. The equator is an imaginary line that runs from east to west on earths surface and is exactly halfway between the north and south poles the northernmost and southernmost points on the earth. Equatorial guinea officially the republic of equatorial guinea is a country located on the west. Weather reports from the last weeks in malabo with highs and lows. On october 12, 1968, equatorial guinea gained independence from spain. The majority of the people of equatorial guinea are of bantu origin. The historic difficulties of the sociopolitical construction of equatorial guinea yolanda aixela imfcsic 1, spain abstract the history of equatorial guinea, both colonial and postcolonial, has not propitiated equality in citizenship. Economic indicators for equatorial guinea including actual values, historical data charts, an economic calendar, timeseries statistics, business news, long term forecasts and shortterm predictions for equatorial guinea economy. The cold war comes to africa, as guinea gains its independence the former french colony of guinea declares its independence on october 2, 1958, with sekou toure as the new nations first leader.
This paper analyzes the political economy of oil in equatorial guinea, one of africas newest and most important oil producers. Equatoguineans are, by nature and of experience, suspicious people. Recent large oil discoveries are structurally changing the economy making equatorial guinea one of the most oildependent countries in the world. If thats not enough, click over to our collection of world maps and flags. The spanish colonial regime in equatorial guinea and the postcolonial. In 1959, it became a spanish province and this change of status led to the growth of spanish investment. However, for those in search of a totally different vacation experience, equatorial guinea offers. It begins with a brief history of the country and its recent experience with oilled development. Equatorial guineas hydrocarbon riches dwarf all other economic activity. They remained under portuguese control until they were ceded to spain in 1778. The demise of spanish colonialism in central africa has to be understood as part of the general process of african decolonization. Bantu peoples began to arrive in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, beginning an. History and ethnic relations emergence of the nation.
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. Rankings on doing business topics equatorial guinea. The country has had its share of political strife and although the past was turbulent, its culture and heritage is well preserved. The united states has been engaged in equatorial guinea as the country transformed from africas poorest nation to its richest. The colonial history of equatorial guinea dates back to 1471 when portuguese explorers descended on the country. People of the pygmy and the ndowe tribes were the first inhabitants of the area that is today the mainland of equatorial guinea. Equatorial guinea gained independence in 1968 and the current name of malabo was established in 1973 by francisco macias nguema, who served as the first president.