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 |
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| Official
Name : |
REPUBLICA
DE GUINEA ECUATORIAL (Republic
of Equatorial Guinea) |
| Land
Area: |
26,016
square kilometres / 10,042 square miles. |
| Population: |
535,900
(est 2005). Density 20.6 persons per square kilometre. |
| Languages: |
Spanish
and French (both official), Fang, Bubi, Kombe, Bujeba, others. |
| Religions: |
Christian 85%, Traditional 15%. |
| Capital: |
Malabo.
Population 31,000 |
| Currency: |
CFA
franc, divided into 100 centimes. |
| Political: |
Equatorial
Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule with Macias
the first president, he was overthrown in a coup led by his nephew Obiang Nguem
Mbasogo in 1979. Mbasogo has ruled the tiny country ever since. Although nominally
a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996 and 2002 presidential elections
- as well as the 1999 legislative elections - were widely seen as being flawed.
2004 saw another coup attemp in this oil rich country, involving the bumbling
ex-UK Prime Minister Thatcher's son was foiled at the 11th hour. |
| Geography: |
Equatorial
Guinea is composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands and is one
of the smallest countries on the African continent. The five Islands are Bioko,
Annobon, Corislo, Elobey Granoe and Elobey Chico (the last two collectively called
Islas de Elobey) in the Gulf of Guinea. Mangrove swamps bordering the coastal
strip are backed by the dense forest of the African plateau rising eastwards towards
the Gabonese border. Rugged terrain and cataracts typify the southern half of
the island of Bioko. |
