Long-form name: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Type: republic

Capital: Malabo

Administrative divisions: 2 provinces (provincias, singular--provincia); Bioko, Rio Muni; there may now be 7 provinces named Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kien-Ntem, Litoral, Wele Nzas

Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain; formerly Spanish Guinea)

Constitution: 15 August 1982

Legal system: in transition; partly based on Spanish civil law and custom

National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Branches: Constitution provides for president with broad powers, prime minister, unicameral legislature (House of Representatives of the People), and free judiciary

Leader: @m5Chief of State--President (Teodoro) OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979); @m5Head of Government--Prime Minister Cristino SERICHE Bioko Malabo (since 15 August 1982); Vice Prime Minister Alejandro ENVORO Ovono (since 22 January 1986)

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: parliamentary elections held May 1988

Political party and leader: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDEG), formed 30 July 1987, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, party leader

Communists: no significant number of Communists but some sympathizers

Member of: AfDB, Conference of East and Central African States, ECA, FAO, G-77, GATT (de facto), IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, ITU, NAM, OAU, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WHO

Diplomatic representation: Ambassador Damaso OBIANG NDONG; Chancery at 801 Second Avenue, Suite 1403, New York, NY 10017; telephone (212) 599-1523; US--Ambassador Chester E. NORRIS, Jr.; Embassy at Calle de Los Ministros, Malabo (mailing address is P. O. Box 597, Malabo); telephone 2406 or 2507

Flag: 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 @m5UNIDAD, PAZ, JUSTICIA (Unity, Peace, Justice)

NOTE: The information regarding Equatorial Guinea on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Equatorial Guinea Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Equatorial Guinea Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.