Country name:
conventional long form:
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form:
Equatorial Guinea
local long form:
Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form:
Guinea Ecuatorial
former:
Spanish Guinea
Data code:
EK
Government type:
republic in transition to multiparty democracy (the transition appears to
have halted)
Capital:
Malabo
Administrative divisions:
7 provinces (provincias, singularprovincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko
Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence:
12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday:
Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution:
approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system:
partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August
1979)
head of government:
Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since NA April 1996); First Vice
Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January
1998); Second Vice Prime Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG
NGEFUMU (since NA January 1998)
cabinet:
Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections:
president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held
25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003); prime minister and
vice prime ministers appointed by the president
election results:
President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in
elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch:
unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes
del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve
five-year terms)
elections:
last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results:
percent of vote by partyNA; seats by partyPDGE 68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD
1
Judicial branch:
Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party:
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Augustin Nse NFUMU]
opposition parties:
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido Miko ABOGO];
Democratic Social Union or UDS [Carmelo MODU, general secretary]; Liberal
Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president]; Liberal Party
or PL [Antonio Nkulu Asumu ANGUE]; National Democratic Union or UDENA
[Pedro-Cristino Bueriberi BOKESA, president]; Party of the Social
Democratic Coalition or PCSD [Buenaventura Monswi M'asumu NSEGUE, general
coordinator]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono
EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises MBA, president]; Party for
Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Basilio Ava Eworo and Domingo ABUY];
Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY, mayor of
Malabo]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence or CSDP [Secundino Oyono
Awong ADA]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Francisco Mabale NSENG];
Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSGE [Tomas MECHEBA Fernandez,
general secretary]
International organization participation:
ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS
(observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO,
WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery:
1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 393-0525
FAX:
[1] (202) 393-0348
Diplomatic representation from the US:
the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed
September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through
the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering
opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red with a blue
isosceles triangle based on the hoist side and the coat of arms centered in
the white band; the coat of arms has six yellow six-pointed stars
(representing the mainland and five offshore islands) above a gray shield
bearing a silk-cotton tree and below which is a scroll with the motto
UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)