Government
Country name:
conventional long form: Republic of Equatorial Guinea
conventional short form: Equatorial Guinea
local long form: Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial
local short form: Guinea Ecuatorial
former: Spanish Guinea
Data code: EK
Government type: republic in transition to multiparty democracy (the transition appears to have halted)
Capital: Malabo
Administrative divisions: 7 provinces (provincias, singularprovincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas
Independence: 12 October 1968 (from Spain)
National holiday: Independence Day, 12 October (1968)
Constitution: approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995
Legal system: partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal adult
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA
MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979)
head of government: Prime Minister Serafin Seriche DOUGAN (since
NA April 1996); First Vice Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs
Miguel OYONO NDONG (since NA January 1998); Second Vice Prime
Minister for Internal Affairs Demetrio Elo NDONG NGEFUMU (since
NA January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term;
election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February
2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the
president
election results: President OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with
98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Legislative branch: unicameral
House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes
del Pueblo (80 seats; members directly elected by popular vote
to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 21 November 1993 (next to be held NA 1999)
election results: percent of vote by partyNA; seats by partyPDGE
68, CSDP 6, UDS 5, CLD 1
Judicial branch: Supreme Tribunal
Political parties and leaders:
ruling party: Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE [Augustin
Nse NFUMU]
opposition parties: Convergence Party for Social Democracy or
CPDS [Placido Miko ABOGO]; Democratic Social Union or UDS [Carmelo
MODU, general secretary]; Liberal Democratic Convention or CLD
[Alfonso Nsue MOKUY, president]; Liberal Party or PL [Antonio
Nkulu Asumu ANGUE]; National Democratic Union or UDENA [Pedro-Cristino
Bueriberi BOKESA, president]; Party of the Social Democratic Coalition
or PCSD [Buenaventura Monswi M'asumu NSEGUE, general coordinator];
Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN];
Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises MBA, president]; Party for
Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Basilio Ava Eworo and Domingo
ABUY]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia
BONAY, mayor of Malabo]; Social Democratic and Popular Convergence
or CSDP [Secundino Oyono Awong ADA]; Social Democratic Party or
PSD [Francisco Mabale NSENG]; Socialist Party of Equatorial Guinea
or PSGE [Tomas MECHEBA Fernandez, general secretary]
International organization participation: ACCT, ACP, AfDB, BDEAC, CEEAC, ECA, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OAU, OPCW, UDEAC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in
the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Pastor Micha ONDO BILE
chancery: 1712 I Street NW, Suite 410, Washington, DC 20005
telephone: [1] (202) 393-0525
FAX: [1] (202) 393-0348
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy in Equatorial Guinea (embassy closed September 1995); US relations with Equatorial Guinea are handled through the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon; the US State Department is considering opening a Consulate Agency in Malabo
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)