EQUATORIAL GUINEA: Oil Producing Country,Majority Are Very Poor, Officials Always Ask For Bribes

Equatorial Guinea is a small country in West Africa, divided into two parts, the mainland and the islands. A former Spanish colony, it borders Cameroon and Gabon. This country is one of the largest oil producing countries in Sub-Sahara, behind Angola and Nigeria.

Since the discovery, the country has flown into economic stardom, but this country remains one of the most corrupt countries in the world, and it is very common to see officials asking for bribes around the corners of the country.

In the Rio Muni region there is believed to have been a widespread pygmy population, of whom only isolated pockets remain in the north. Bantu migrations between the 17th and 19th centuries brought the coastal tribes and later the Fang.

The Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó, seeking a path to India, is credited as being the first European to discover the island of Bioko in 1472. He called it Formosa "Beautiful", but it quickly took on the name of its European discoverer. The islands of Fernando Pó and Annobón were colonized by Portugal in 1474.

In 1778, the island, adjacent islets, and commercial rights to the mainland between the Niger River and Ogoue Rivers were ceded to the Spanish Empire in exchange for territory in the American continent. From 1827 to 1843, the United Kingdom established a base on the island to combat the slave trade which was then moved to Sierra Leone upon agreement with Spain in 1843.

In 1844, on restoration of Spanish sovereignty, it became known as the Territorios Españoles del Golfo de Guinea Ecuatorial. The mainland portion, Rio Muni, became a protectorate in 1885 and a colony in 1900. Between 1926 and 1959 all three regions were united as the colony of Spanish Guinea.

Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Franco's Spain in October 1968. Since then, it has been ruled by two men. Francisco Macías Nguema, the first president, was a brutal dictator who despised intellectuals, killed a large number of the ethnic Bubi minority, banned fishing, and awarded himself a huge number of grandiose titles,including President for Life. He was overthrown by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo in 1979 and later captured and executed by shooting.

Obiang's rule has seen less violence, but his regime is still brutally repressive. Political power is centralized in his small mainland clan, and most senior members of the government are related. The discovery of oil reserves offshore in 1996 has brought considerable wealth to the country, giving it one of the highest GDP per capita in Africa, yet much of the money goes into the hands of a thuggish and corrupt government, with majority of the people remaining very poor.

Equatorial Guinea has two distinctive and very pronounced seasons: rainy and dry seasons. April to October are the wettest months of the year, and December to March are the driest.

The major ethnic groups are the Fang of the mainland and the Bubi of Bioko Island.

Equatorial Guinea recognizes the major Christian holidays. October 12 is Independence Day.

Regions

Río Muni (Bata) - all of the mainland

Bioko (Malabo) - island in the Gulf of Guinea, includes the capital city

Annobon small island in the south of Sao Tome Island out in the Atlantic

Towns And Cities

Malabo - the capital, on Bioko

Acalayong

Bata - the major city on the mainland

Ebebiyin - a major access point in the far northeast corner

Evinayong

Luba - another town on Bioko

Mbini

Mongomo

Visa

US/American Samoan citizens are unique as they are the only exempted country where its citizens do not require a visa for entry, this was done in a sucessful attempt to promote U.S. business intrest in Equatorial Guinea. However U.S./American Samoan citizens do need the following to present when entering EG: 2 visa applications, 2 passport photos, bank statement noting a minimum of $2,000 in your account, & proof of smallpox, yellow fever, & cholera vaccinations.

In practice, if not by law, all you will need to present on arrival at the airport in Malabo is a yellow fever card and your passport. Processing occurs quickly, and without much fuss or even interest.

All other nationalities need to submit to an EG embassy all of the above plus passport and letter of invitation which is only granted from a Equatorial Guinea resident and almost impossible to get in order to receive a visa. In Washington, the fee for the visa is USD100.

There are two paved airports, one a few miles from Malabo (SSG), and one in Bata (BSG). The country's main airline is Ecuato Guineana de Aviación, which operates national and international flights out of Malabo International Airport. Other airlines flying to Malabo airport include Iberia from Madrid, JetAir from Gatwick airport in London, Air France from Paris, and beginning April 1st, Lufthansa flies direct from Frankfurt to Malabo. Delta Air Lines planned to begin service to Malabo from Atlanta in June 2009, but has now postponed the start of this route due to the financial crisis, but it may start in September 2009.

The capital is on an island. However, the mainland may be accessed from Gabon via paved tarmac roads and from Cameroon via dirt tracks,inaccessible in rainy season. Roads in EG, however, are in a very dilapidated state even for W. Africa and 4x4 is necessary many months of the year.

Note that the entry from Campo can be often closed. Also, the entry from Kye-Ossi and Ebebiyin may deny entry for visa-free Americans if sufficient reason for entry is not presented or if one is not ethnically Caucasian.

The official languages are Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Spanish is the language of education and administration, and is spoken fluently by roughly 68% of of the population.

On the island of Annobón, Fa d’Ambo,a Portuguese creole, replaces Spanish as the main language. The language is widely spoken in Malabo and among some people on Equatorial Guinea's mainland. Many residents of Bioko can also speak the local trade language Pichinglis, an English-based creole.

Despite the fact that French and standard Portuguese are official languages, they are not widely used. If you can only afford one phrasebook, bring a Spanish one.

The country also has a large number of indigenous languages, including Fang, Bube, Benga, Ndowe, Balengue, Bujeba, Bissio, Gumu and the nearly extinct Baseke. Most African ethnic groups speak Bantu languages.

Although there is an Anglophone ethnic group in Bioko, standard English is spoken by few people, even in the capital city.

There are lots of beaches so that would be a good thing to take in mind when considering sight-seeing. It would be advised to take precautions listed in the 'Stay Safe' category.

Everything is extremely expensive in Equatorial Guinea. A decent room with very limited amenities,bring all the necessary stuff like towel, soap, shampoo, etc as the hotel may not have any will be at the range of USD75 to USD300. A simple lunch will cost at least USD20,without drinks like wine, beer or soft drinks in a clean and air-conditioned restaurant.

There are several good places to go to eat particularly in Malabo. The coffee shop at Hotel Sofitel located just across the Cathedral along the north coast offers French cuisine. Hotel Bahia's main restaurant is also a favourite destination for both local and expats.

If you like pizza and pasta, the Pizza Place is the best place in town. For Asian cuisine, Restaurante Bantu offers authentic Chinese cuisine. For Morrocan and other European food, try La Luna. Try An Equatorial Guinean cuisine such smoked beef with a black pepper. There is also a roast duck with cheese and onion leaf.

Ebebiyin is known for its large number of bars. They drink a lot of wine.

Due to the influx of foreign workers and foreign investment in Malabo as well as in the continent, there is an ample choice of hotels.

Taking photos of any government properties is strictly prohibited without permission. Don't photograph airports, government buildings, or anything of military or strategic value. Local folks including children are generally averse to foreigners taking their picture. As a general rule, it is not advisable to bring a camera while walking around town as this can cause real trouble with the police.

As a general rule, avoid any and all conversation related to politics. Criticizing the ruling clique, and especially the president, will lead you to trouble really quickly. Your local contacts will suffer a worse fate. If you feel that you are being dragged into a political conversation, or if you are asked for your opinion regarding local politics, find a way to politely avoid the situation. In the worst case, say you know nothing about the local politics.

Equatorial Guinea has tropical weather and is normally very hot. It is best to wear lightweight clothing. Avoid wearing dark colours due to mosquito concerns.

Equatorial Guinea despite being a country with enough resources and is the country with the highest economic growth in Africa, does not provide any legal certainty for European, American or Asian working within the country.

Local people are very hospitable and have a certain affection for everything related to Spain. You should not forget that until 1968 was a Spanish province,the short lived democracy in the country was installed by the Spaniards, taking the last century as the beginning of the presence of settlers in the inland areas of the country where had a large number of farms in particular. In addition, half of the country's population immigrated to Spain between 1966 and the 1990s.

You must visit with a guide and need special permits in some locations. Consult to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where information using extended over the areas of risks.

An organized tour is recommended to avoid unpleasant situations with military checkpoints on the roads especially in the island of Bioko, where the presence of Westerners is obvious and therefore the risk is particularly evident.

Equatorial Guinea is, overall, a safe place to visit, especially in Malabo and Bata.

There are no drinkable or clean water sources in Equatorial Guinea. Travellers should drink only bottled water. Take care when consuming any fruits or vegetables that may have been washed or drinks that may contain ice cubes or 'water' additives such as coffee, tea, lemonade, etc.

Wear Shoes: Beaches in Malabo and Bata are beautiful however, due to discarded trash and unsafe sand bugs it is a good idea to always wear shoes. This applies to walking on carpeted areas as well.

Malaria Medicine: Malaria is a leading cause of death in this country. It is advised that visitors consult their doctor for malaria tablets.



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