Equatorial Guinea Overview Country Overview Equatorial Guinea in West Africa is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon and the Gulf of Guinea. The country also comprises the island of Bioko, formerly Fernando Poo, 34km (21 miles) off the coast of Cameroon, and the small offshore islands of Corisco, Great Elobey, Small Elobey and Annobón (formerly Pagalu). The mainland province, Rió Muni, is mainly forest, with plantations on the coastal plain and some mountains. Bioko rises steeply to two main peaks in the north and south. The southern area is rugged and inaccessible. The beaches around the islands are extremely beautiful. Equatorial Guinea is a country of luscious vegetation and much beautiful scenery, including tropical forests and volcanoes. The capital, Malabo, is a rather rundown but attractive town, with pleasant Spanish colonial architecture, a striking volcanic setting and a lively market. Most restaurants serve Spanish or continental cuisine. Beer is usually expensive, though a local sugar cane brew, malamba, can be sampled very cheaply. General Information Area: 28,051 sq km (10,831 sq miles). Population: 442,000 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 15.8 per sq km. Capital: Malabo. Population: 40,000 (1994). GEOGRAPHY: Equatorial Guinea is bordered to the south and east by Gabon, to the north by Cameroon and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea. The country also comprises the island of Bioko, formerly Fernando Poo, 34km (21 miles) off the coast of Cameroon, and the small offshore islands of Corisco, Great Elobey, Small Elobey and Annobón (formerly Pagalu). The mainland province, Rió Muni, is mainly forest, with plantations on the coastal plain and some mountains. Bioko rises steeply to two main peaks in the north and south. The southern area is rugged and inaccessible. Cultivation and settlements exist on the other slopes; above the farming land, the forest is thick. The beaches around the islands are extremely beautiful. Government: Republic. Declared independence from Spain in 1968. Head of State: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasugo since 1979. Head of Government: Prime Minister Cándido Muatema Rivas since 1996. Language: Spanish and French are the official languages. The main African dialects spoken are Fang and Bubi (which is common on Bioko). Religion: No official religion, but the vast majority are Roman Catholic, with an Animist minority. Time: GMT + 1. Electricity: 220/240 volts AC. Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 240. Operator assistance may be required when making international calls from the country. Mobile telephone GSM 1800 network, operated by GETESA. Coverage limited to Malabo and a few other inhabited areas. Internet Main ISP is run by GETESA (website: www.intnet.gq). Post Service to Western Europe takes up to two weeks. Press Spanish language weekly publications include El Sol and Hoja Parroquial, produced in Equatorial Guinea. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 17.83 15.40 11.77 7.160 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 15.58 11.98 6.035 0.909 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes Yes Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes Yes Yes USA Yes 1 Yes OtherEU Yes Yes Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for a minimum of six months required by all. VISAS: Required by all except those in transit, travelling on within 24 hours and already in possession of an onward ticket. 1. Nationals of the USA travelling to Equatorial Guinea do not need to pay for a visa to enter the country. However, they must submit the documents mentioned in Application requirements (see below) as well as proof of yellow fever and cholera immunisation. Types of visas and cost: Tourist and Business: €75. Transit: €50. Validity: Enquire at Embassy (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Passport valid for at least six months after return date. (b) One completed application form (must be original, photocopies will not be accepted). (c) Three passport-size colour photos. (d) Original copy of return ticket or proof of confirmed airline reservation. (e) Self-addressed, stamped envelope for postal applications. (f) For tourist visas, proof of sufficient funds to cover stay eg bank statement. (g) For business visas, a letter of invitation from the company in Equatorial Guinea declaring responsibility for applicant’s expenses. (h) For visits to relatives, a stamped letter of invitation is required from the Director General of Security in Marabo. Working days required: 15 days. Exit permit: Required by all except transit passengers and may be obtained on departure at the airport. Exit and re-entry permits are valid for two months for single entry/exit or one year for multiple entry/exits. Money Currency: CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc (CFAfr) = 100 centimes. Notes are in denominations of CFAfr10,000, 5000, 2000, 1000 and 500. Coins are in denominations of CFAfr500, 100, 50, 25, 10 and 5. Currency exchange: Equatorial Guinea is part of the French Monetary Area. Only currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (Bank of Central African States) is valid; currency issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Bank of West African States) is not. The CFA Franc is tied to the Euro. Foreign currencies are best exchanged at banks, of which, however, there are few. Receipts for currency exchange should be retained. Credit & debit cards: Diners Club is accepted on a limited basis. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are generally not recommended. Currency restrictions: The import of local and foreign currency is unrestricted provided declared on arrival. The export of local currency is limited to CFAfr50,000. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival. It is worth remembering that CFA Franc notes cannot easily be exchanged outside the CFA Franc area. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the CFA Franc against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 1035.90 1025.70 1038.27 966.15 $1.00= 710.84 674.41 656.55 606.78 Banking hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1200. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Equatorial Guinea without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of wine; 1l of alcoholic beverages. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Mar 8 Woman’s Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. May 1 Labour Day. May 25 OAU Day. Jun 5 President’s Day. Jun 19 Corpus Christi. Aug 3 Coup of Liberty Day. Aug 15 Constitution Day. Oct 12 Independence Day. Dec 10 Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Mar 8 Woman’s Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. May 1 Labour Day. May 25 OAU Day. Jun 5 President’s Day. Jun 10 Corpus Christi. Aug 3 Coup of Liberty Day. Aug 15 Constitution Day. Oct 12 Independence Day. Dec 10 Human Rights Day. Dec 25 Christmas. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever Yes 1 Cholera 2 No Typhoid and Polio 3 N/A Malaria 4 N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas. 2: Following WHO guidelines issued in 1973, a cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry to Equatorial Guinea. However, cholera is a serious risk in this country and precautions are essential. Up-to-date advice should be sought before deciding whether these precautions should include vaccination as medical opinion is divided over its effectiveness. See the Health appendix for further information. 3: Immunisation against typhoid and poliomyelitis is often advised. 4: Malaria risk, predominantly in the malignant falciparum form, exists all year throughout the country. Resistance to chloroquine has been reported. Food & drink: All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth or making ice should have first been boiled or otherwise sterilised. Milk is unpasteurised and should be boiled. Powdered or tinned milk is available and is advised, but make sure that it is reconstituted with pure water. Avoid dairy products which are likely to have been made from unboiled milk. Only eat well cooked meat and fish, preferably served hot. Pork, salad and mayonnaise may carry increased risk. Vegetables should be cooked and fruit peeled. Other risks: Diarrhoeal diseases including giardiasis as well as typhoid fevers are common. Hepatitis A, B and E occur. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well-chlorinated and maintained are safe. Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is present. Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) has recently been reported. Meningococcal meningitis may occur, especially during the dry season. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Medical insurance including emergency repatriation is strongly advised. Travel - International AIR: Iberia (IB) operates direct flights from Madrid to Malabo twice a week. Cameroon Airlines (UY) operates regular flights to Malabo from Paris. Other airlines serving Equatorial Guinea include Air Afrique, Air Gabon, Nigeria Airways and Spanair. Approximate flight times: From Malabo to Madrid is 8 hours 40 minutes. International airports: There are international airports at Malabo (SSG) (Santa Isabel) 7km (4 miles) from the city centre, and Bata (BSG), 6km (3.7 miles) from the city centre. Departure tax: None. SEA: The main ports are Malabo and Bata. Passenger services operate to Douala (Cameroon). ROAD: Roads link Equatorial Guinea with Cameroon and Gabon (bush taxis are available), although road surfaces are not always good. Most travellers enter from Douala in Cameroon. Travel - Internal AIR: The country’s national airline operates flights between Malabo and Bata every day except Monday, and it is advisable to book in advance. Light aircraft can be chartered in Malabo with international pilot’s qualifications. Note: It is reported that maintenance procedures used on internal flights are not always properly observed. SEA: There is a ferry between Malabo, Bata and Douala. The trip takes about 12 hours. There are four classes of fare. ROAD: Not all roads are paved. On Bioko, the north is generally better served with tarred roads. Bush taxis connect Malabo with the island’s two other main towns, Luba and Riaba, and can be hired hourly or daily. There are no car hire facilities. A minibus service (normally three a day) is available from Bato to Mbini (1 hour), to Acalayong (6 hours) and to Ebebiyin (8-10 hours during the dry season). Accommodation Malabo, Bata, Luba and Ebebiyan each offer several hotels of variable standards. In Malabo, there are also a few hostels offering basic but cheap accommodation with shared bathroom facilities (two of which are located in Avenida de las Naciónes). For more information, contact the Embassy in Paris (see Contact Addresses section). Introduction In spite of its troubled political past, Equatorial Guinea is a country of luscious vegetation and much beautiful scenery, including tropical forests and snow-capped volcanoes. The capital, Malabo, located on Bioko Island and overlooked by the striking Pico Malabo volcano, is a small but attractive town, with pleasant Spanish colonial architecture, open plazas and a lively market. Frederick Forsyth wrote his novel ‘The Dogs of War’ in Malabo. The Spanish Cultural Centre is worth a visit. The smaller town of Luba (an hour’s drive from Malabo) has some lovely deserted beaches (white sand) and breathtaking vistas. Bata is the principal town in the mainland and, though not particularly interesting in itself, it is close to some beautiful deserted beaches, notably those at Mbini, 50km (32 miles) south of Bata. Sport & Activities Swimming: Equatorial Guinea has several beautiful beaches with excellent conditions for swimming. Some of the best beaches can be found near Bata, the principal town on the mainland; and at Mbini, where beaches are usually deserted. Hiking: The island of Bioko has a number of secluded hiking trails, particularly in the southern half. Mountain climbing is possible at the spectacular Pico Malabo volcano on Bioko. As this is a military area, a government permit is required and travellers should always check with the authorities before undertaking an expedition to the volcano. Social Profile Food & Drink: There are few restaurants in Equatorial Guinea and those that exist are mainly restricted to Malabo and Bata and do not necessarily open every day. Most restaurants serve Spanish or continental cuisine. Beer is usually expensive, though a local sugar cane brew, malamba, can be sampled very cheaply. Shopping: Shopping hours: Mon-Sat 0800-1300, 1600-1900. Social Conventions: Foreign visitors (especially Europeans) are a comparative rarity in Equatorial Guinea and are liable to be met with much curiosity and, possibly, suspicion. Foreign cigarettes are appreciated as gifts. A knowledge of Spanish is useful. Photography: A permit is required. Care should be taken when choosing subjects. Photographing the presidential palace, airports, harbours and other sensitive areas should be avoided. Tipping: Unless service charges are added to bills, ten to 15 per cent. Business Profile Economy: Equatorial Guinea produces timber, cocoa, coffee, bananas and spices for export, and is self-sufficient in other basic food products. The manufacturing industry is confined to timber processing. However, it was the long overdue development of the country’s oil reserves that accounted for the economy’s spectacular growth (up to 20 per cent annually) during the 1990s. Oil and gas now account for over one quarter of GDP. These are not Equatorial Guinea’s only reserves, for there are confirmed deposits of gold, uranium, iron ore, tantalum and manganese. Intervention by the IMF in the mid 1990s has led to restructuring of the public and financial sectors. However, a long legacy of maladministration, corruption (the country’s largest companies are still largely owned by members of the ruling family) and the lack of even the most basic services have made progress difficult. Nonetheless, Equatorial Guinea is making economic headway. The USA, Cameroon, Liberia and Spain are the country’s main trading partners. Equatorial Guinea is a member of the Central African Customs and Economic Union (CEEAC) and the CFA Franc Zone, and receives large injections of foreign aid from a variety of sources. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Cámara de Comercio, Agrícola y Forestal de Malabo, Apartado Postal 51, Malabo (tel: (9) 2343). Climate Tropical climate all year round. Rainfall is heavy for most of the year, decreasing slightly in most areas between December and February. Required clothing: Lightweight cottons and linens. Waterproofing is necessary. History and Government History: The area now occupied by Equatorial Guinea and the island of Bioko was first colonised by the Portuguese in the late 15th century and developed as a major slave market. In 1788, the territory was handed over to the Spanish, who ran it as a protectorate of Spanish Guinea until 1959, when the colony was granted internal self-government. Full independence followed in 1968. The first decade was blighted by the brutal and incompetent rule of President Macias Nguema. He was overthrown in a military coup led by his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Teodoro Obiang, in 1979. Initially, conditions improved somewhat, as Equatorial Guinea gained international recognition and aid; it also joined the CFA Franc Zone. Relations with Spain, the former colonial power, remained touchy, as its bilateral aid was made dependent on progress in democratising the political system. Throughout the 1980s, Obiang maintained his opposition to the establishment of a multi-party system while shoring up his position at home through systematic repression. A democratic constitution was conceded in 1991 and legislative elections held in November 1993. Amid a partial boycott led by the anti-government Combined Opposition Platform, the Obiang-controlled Partido Democratico Guinea Ecuatorial (PDGE) won more than three quarters of the seats. A similar situation prevailed for the presidential elections that followed more than two years later, in February 1996. The three main opposition candidates withdrew and Obiang was elected unopposed. The most recent legislative elections, in March 1999, were yet again boycotted by the bulk of the opposition. The PDGE inevitably won a massive majority. There has been a steady turnover of governments under the capricious Obiang. The latest was formed by Candido Muatemama Rivas, in February 2001. Exasperated by Obiang’s behaviour, the EU – Equatorial Guinea’s principal source of aid in recent years – has all but given up on the country, which, despite some economic progress during the 1990s, remains desperately poor. This progress was largely the result of the discovery of oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Guinea. This has had two other important consequences. Firstly, the resolution of a long-standing territorial dispute with Nigeria in September 2000, since when the two countries have begun joint explorations. Secondly, the revival of independence aspirations on the island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Po), which is part of Equatorial Guinean territory and hosts most of the new facilities. The Government’s human rights record remains appalling, as does the extent of its corruption and mismanagement. Government: The new constitution, approved in a 1991 referendum, allows for the introduction of multi-party politics and an elected presidency and legislature. The President is elected for a seven-year term, while the 80-seat Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (House of People’s Representatives) is elected in multi-member constituencies for a five-year term. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.