Exploring Central Africa: Facts About Equatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in West Africa bordered by Gabon and Cameroon. The country was ruled by Spain until 1968. After gaining independence, the country has suffered years and years of rule by harsh and corrupt leaders. Many people have fled the country in search of safety for their families.

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Why you may still want to visit
Have you even heard about Equatorial Guinea? It is the only Spanish speaking country in Africa and having been there gives you bragging rights.

1. Equatorial Guinea is the only independent country in Africa with Spanish as an official language.
2. Since independence from Spain in 1968, Equatorial Guinea has only ever been ruled by two men, the first President Francisco Macias Nguema, who was overthrown by his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 1979. The second Nguema and has ruled till date.
3. Equatorial Guinea during the turn of the 21st century promoted itself as the third largest oil-exporter in Sub-Saharan Africa.
4. The discovery of oil in Equatorial Guinea has substantially boosted the income per capita from $590 in 1998 to $50200 today and Equatorial Guinea has risen to the 3rd largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa after Nigeria and Angola. However poverty remains widespread.
5. Equatorial Guinea is made up of the mainland known as “Rio Muni” and the islands of Bioko and Annobon. The island of Bioko was formerly known as Fernando Po.
6. The capital of Equatorial Guinea is Malabo and is on Bioko Island making it the only country in Africa with mainland on the continent but its capital on an island.
7. The second largest city in Equatorial Guinea is Bata, which lies on the Atlantic coast of Rio Muni.
8. Equatorial Guinea attained somewhat unwanted fame at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 from the antics of the Eric Moussambani, cruelly dubbed ‘Eric the Eel’ by the Western press on account of his extremely poor performance in the 100m freestyle event.
9. The total size of Equatorial Guinea’s mainland and islands is 28,000 square km approximately the size of Wales in the United Kingdom.
10. Equatorial Guinea has historically made very little impact on African football, but recently Renacimiento FC of Malabo, the league winner in the last 2 years has shown that there is some untapped potential for football from Equatorial Guinea through its exploits in the African Champions league.
11. Equatorial Guinea has a single University, Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, the main campus is 5 miles from Malabo, with a Medical School at Bata on the mainland.

Faux Pas of Equatorial Guinea
Do not openly take photographs of anything official looking unless you fancy a serious discussion with police or people pretending to be police. This especially applies to the presidential palace.