Equatorial Guinea Travel Guide

Equatorial Guinea — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: West Coast of Central Africa, Gulf of Guinea.
Language: Spanish and French are the official languages. The main African dialects spoken are Fang and Bubi (which is common on Bioko).
Area: 28,051 sq km (10,831 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 1.
Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 616,459 (2008 estimate).
Population Density: 22 per sq km.
Capital City: Malabo. Population: 95,000 (UN estimate 2003).
Government: Republic. Declared independence from Spain in 1968.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama Nfube since 2007.
Head of State: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo since 1979.
Religion: No official religion, but around 90% are Roman Catholic, with an animist minority.

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.

Communications

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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
8 Mar Women’s Day
22 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
25 May Africa Day
5 Jun President’s Day
23 Jun Corpus Christi
3 Aug Armed Forces Day
15 Aug Constitution Day
12 Oct Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
8 Mar Women’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
1 May Labor Day
25 May Africa Day
5 Jun President’s Day
7 Jun Corpus Christi
3 Aug Armed Forces Day
15 Aug Constitution Day
12 Oct Independence Day
25 Dec Christmas Day