Equatorial Guinea Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Coast of Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea.

Area
28,051 sq km (10,831 sq miles).

Population
616,459 (2008 estimate).



Population Density
22 per sq km.



Capital
Malabo. Population: 95,000 (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Republic. Declared independence from Spain in 1968.

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 around 90% are Roman Catholic, with an animist minority.

Time
GMT + 1.

Electricity
220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube since 2007.

Head of State
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo since 1979.

Recent History
In 1996, Equatorial Guinea's first multi-party presidential election was held amid reports of fraud, returning President Obiang Nguema with 99% of the vote. Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube became the new prime minister in April 2007.

In July 2008, former British army officer Simon Mann was found guilty of involvement in the failed coup attempt of 2004 and sentenced to 34 years in prison.

Telephone
Country code: 240. Operator assistance may be required when making international calls from the country.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with a few international mobile phone companies. Coverage is limited to Malabo and a few other inhabited areas.

Internet
Internet is available in limited areas; coverage is variable.

Media
The main broadcasters are state controlled. There are a few private newspapers and underground pamphlets that publish irregularly. Mild criticism of public institutions is allowed but criticism of the leadership is not tolerated and self-censorship is widespread.


Post
Service to Western Europe takes up to two weeks.

Press
• Spanish language weekly publications include Hoja Parroquial and El Sol.
• There is also the state-owned Ebano and the privately-owned La Nación and La Opinión.

Radio
• Radio France Internationale is available on FM in Malabo.
• Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial is a state-run station and Radio Asonga is privately owned by the son of the country's president.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
1 Jan New Year's Day.
8 Mar Women's Day. 
10 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Africa Day.
5 Jun President's Day. 
11 Jun Corpus Christi.
3 Aug Armed Forces Day.
15 Aug Constitution Day.
12 Oct Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
8 Mar Women's Day. 
2 Apr Good Friday.
1 May Labor Day.
25 May Africa Day.
3 Jun Corpus Christi.
5 Jun President's Day. 
3 Aug Armed Forces Day.
15 Aug Constitution Day.
12 Oct Independence Day.
25 Dec Christmas.

Contact Information:

Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in the UK
13 Park Place, St James’s, London SW1A 1LP, UK
Tel: (020) 7499 6867.
Website: www.embarege-londres.org

Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in the USA
2020 16th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
Tel: (202) 518 5700.


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