Equatorial Guinea Government - 2024

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea

local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Republique de Guinee Equatoriale (French)

local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial (Spanish)/ Guinee Equatoriale (French)

former: Spanish Guinea

etymology: the country is named for the Guinea region of West Africa that lies along the Gulf of Guinea and stretches north to the Sahel; the "equatorial" refers to the fact that the country lies just north of the Equator

Government type

presidential republic

Capital

name: Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.

geographic coordinates: 3 45 N, 8 47 E

time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

etymology: named after King MALABO (Malabo Lopelo Melaka) (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi, the ethnic group indigenous to the island of Bioko

Administrative divisions

8 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Djibloho, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Independence

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

National holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

Constitution

history: previous 1968, 1973, 1982; approved by referendum 17 November 1991

amendments: proposed by the president of the republic or supported by three fourths of the membership in either house of the National Assembly; passage requires three-fourths majority vote by both houses of the Assembly and approval in a referendum if requested by the president; amended several times, last in 2012

Legal system

mixed system of civil and customary law

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup); First Vice President Teodoro Nguema OBIANG Mangue (since 20 November 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister Manuela ROKA Botey (since 1 February 2023); First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga NGUEMA Onguene (since 23 June 2016); Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel MESIE Mibuy (since 5 February 2018); Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue MOKUY (since 23 June 2016)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and overseen by the prime minister

elections/appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 7-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 November 2022 (next to be held in 2029); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

election results:2022: OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo reelected president; percent of vote - OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (PDGE) 95%, other 6.1%

Legislative branch

description: bicameral National Assembly or Asemblea Nacional consists of:
Senate or Senado (70 seats statutory, 74 seats for current term; 55 members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote, 15 appointed by the president, and 4 ex-officio)

Chamber of Deputies or Camara de los Diputados (100 seats; members directly elected in multi-seat constituencies by closed party-list proportional representation vote to serve 5-year terms)

elections: Senate - last held on 19 January 2023 (next to be held in 2028)
Chamber of Deputies - last held on 19 January 2023 (next to be held in 2028)

election results:
Senate - percent of vote by party - NA; elected seats by party - PDGE 55; composition (including 15 appointed and 2 ex-officio) - men 58, women 16, percent of women 21.6%
Chamber of Deputies - percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 100; composition - men 69, women 31, percent of women 31%; note - total National Assembly percent of women 27%

Judicial branch

highest court(s): Supreme Court of Justice (consists of the President of the Supreme Court and nine judges organized into civil, criminal, commercial, labor, administrative, and customary sections); Constitutional Court (consists of the court president and 4 members)

judge selection and term of office: Supreme Court judges appointed by the president for five-year terms; Constitutional Court members appointed by the president, 2 of whom are nominated by the Chamber of Deputies; note - judges subject to dismissal by the president at any time

subordinate courts: Court of Guarantees; military courts; Courts of Appeal; first instance tribunals; district and county tribunals

Political parties and leaders

Center Right Union or UCD [Avelino MOCACHE Mehenga]
Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Andres ESONO ONDO]
Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO and Jeronimo OSA OSA Ecoro ]
Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD [Alfonso Nsue MOKUY]
Liberal Party or PL [Salvador NGUEMA MANGUE]
National Congress of Equatorial Guinea (CNGE) [Agustin MASOKO Abegue]
National Democratic Party (PNDGE) [Celestino MBOMIO AKIEME]
National Democratic Union or UDENA [Deogracias Dueberibe EDU]
National Union for Democracy PUNDGE [vacant]
Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Edouardo MBA BACALE]
Popular Union or UP [Alfredo Mitogo MITOGO ADE]
Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Francisco Mba OLO BAHAMONDE]
Social and Popular Convergence Party or CSDP [Deogracias KUNG NSUE]
Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) [Buenaventura MONSUY ASUMU]
Social Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea or PSDGE [Marcos NZE MABALE]
Social Democratic Union or UDS [Miguel MBA NZANG]
Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea [Jusus Pablo OYONO]

International organization participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, CPLP, FAO, Francophonie, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IPU, ITSO, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS (observer), OIF, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WTO (observer)

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Crisantos Obama ONDO (since 27 February 2024)

chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009

telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700

FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

email address and website:
info@egembassydc.com

https://www.egembassydc.com/

consulate(s) general: Houston, New York

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador David R. GILMOUR (since 24 May 2022)

embassy: Malabo II Highway (between the Headquarters of Sonagas and the offices of the United Nations), Malabo

mailing address: 2320 Malabo Place, Washington, DC 20521-2520

telephone: [240] 333 09-57-41

email address and website:
Malaboconsular@state.gov

https://gq.usembassy.gov/

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); green symbolizes the jungle and natural resources, blue represents the sea that connects the mainland to the islands, white stands for peace, and red recalls the fight for independence

National symbol(s)

silk cotton tree; national colors: green, white, red, blue

National anthem

name: "Caminemos pisando la senda" (Let Us Tread the Path)

lyrics/music: Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO/Atanasio Ndongo MIYONO or Ramiro Sanchez LOPEZ (disputed)

note: adopted 1968