Country profile: Equatorial Guinea

Since independence in 1968, Equatorial Guinea has been ruled by two men - from the same family - who have been described by a variety of human rights organisations as among the worst abusers of human rights in Africa.

In recent years the former Spanish colony has become one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers.

Overview

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Large oil and gas deposits were discovered off Bioko in the mid-1990s and their exploitation has driven spectacular growth. In 2004 Equatorial Guinea had the world's fastest-growing economy.

AT-A-GLANCE Politics: President Obiang seized power in 1979; rights groups have condemned his rule as one Africa's most brutal; he faces a "government in exile" and a separatist movement Economy: Equatorial Guinea is sub-Saharan Africa's third biggest oil producer International: Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are in dispute over islands in potentially oil-rich off-shore waters Timeline

But few people have benefited from the oil riches and the country ranks near the bottom of a UN human development index. The government has started a scheme to divert a share of oil revenues into social projects.

The corruption watchdog Transparency International has put Equatorial Guinea in the top 10 of its list of corrupt states. Despite calls for more transparency in the sector, President Obiang has said oil revenues are a state secret.

In 1996 Equatorial Guinea's first multi-party presidential election was held amid reports of widespread fraud and irregularities, returning President Obiang Nguema with 99% of the vote.

His government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and of suppressing political opposition. A government-in-exile has been formed by opposition leaders living in exile in Spain; President Obiang accused its leader of sponsoring a failed coup in 2004.

Equatorial Guinea's territory includes the island of Bioko, off the Cameroonian coast, which hosts the capital, Malabo.

In the 1970s it became notorious when the widespread human rights abuses of President Francisco Nguema caused a third of the population to flee.

Facts

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• Full name: The Republic of Equatorial Guinea
• Population: 507,000 (UN, 2007)
• Capital: Malabo
• Area: 28,051 sq km (10,830 sq miles)
• Major languages: Spanish, French
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 50 years (men), 53 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
• Main exports: Petroleum, timber, cocoa
• GNI per capita: US $930 (World Bank, 2001)
• Internet domain: .gq
• International dialling code: +240

Leaders

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President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

President Obiang Nguema overthrew and executed his uncle

Mr Obiang Nguema overthrew his uncle, President Francisco Nguema, in 1979. The former leader was tried and executed.

The new president proclaimed an amnesty for refugees and released some 5,000 political prisoners, but kept the absolute control he had inherited.

Officials said President Obiang Nguema won more than 97% of the vote in the country's most-recent presidential elections, in December 2002. Opposition candidates had withdrawn from the poll, citing fraud and irregularities.

An ethnic Fang, Teodoro Obiang Nguema was born in 1942 in mainland Equatorial Guinea. He received military training in Spain and, after independence, served under his uncle-president, first as military governor of Bioko and then as presidential aide-de-camp.

• Prime minister: Ignacio Milam Tang

Media

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The US-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) included Equatorial Guinea in its 2006 ranking of the world's top five "most-censored countries".

Reporters Without Borders notes that: "It is not done to criticise the president, his family or his clan and the state media takes good care not to."

The main broadcasters are state-controlled. There are few private publications.

Radio France Internationale is available on FM in Malabo.

The press

• Ebano - state-owned
• La Opinion - private, weekly
• La Nacion - private
• La Gaceta - monthly

Television

• Television Nacional - state-run

Radio

• Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial - state-run
• Radio Asonga - private, owned by president's son