Government and Politics of Equatorial Guinea

Government Type

republic

Administrative Divisions

7 provinces (provincias, singular - provincia); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas

Legal System

partly based on Spanish civil law and tribal custom

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal adult

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: At least one parent must be a citizen of Equatorial Guinea Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized power in a military coup) head of government: Prime Minister Miguel Abia BITEO Borico (since 14 June 2004); First Deputy Prime Minister Mercelino Oyono NTUTUMU (since 15 June 2004); Deputy Prime Minister Ricardo Mangue Obama NFUBEA (since 15 June 2004) cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be held December 2009); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud

Legislative Branch

unicameral House of People's Representatives or Camara de Representantes del Pueblo (100 seats; members directly elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms) elections: last held 25 April 2004 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDGE 98, CPDS 2 note: Parliament has little power since the constitution vests all executive authority in the president

Judicial Branch

Supreme Tribunal

Political Parties

Convergence Party for Social Democracy or CPDS [Placido MIKO Abogo]; Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea or PDGE (ruling party) [Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO]; Party for Progress of Equatorial Guinea or PPGE [Severo MOTO]; Popular Action of Equatorial Guinea or APGE [Miguel Esono EMAN]; Popular Union or UP [Andres Moises Bda ADA]; Progressive Democratic Alliance or ADP [Victorino Bolekia BONAY]; Union of Independent Democrats of UDI [Daniel OYONO]

Head of State

President Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (military coup)

Head of Government

Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG

Cabinet

Council of Ministers appointed by the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (no term limits); election last held on 29 November 2009 (next to be held in 2016); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president

Election Results

Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president; percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 95.8%, Placido Mico ABOGO 3.6%; elections marred by widespread fraud

Constitution

approved by national referendum 17 November 1991; amended January 1995

Independence

12 October 1968 (from Spain)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 12 October (1968)

International Organization Participation

ACCT, ACP, AfDB, AU, BDEAC, CEMAC, FAO, FZ, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Purificacion ANGUE ONDO chancery: 2020 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 518-5700 FAX: [1] (202) 518-5252

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: the US ambassador to Cameroon is accredited to Equatorial Guinea embassy: adjacent to the golf course at the base of Mont Febe; note - relocated embassy is opened for limited functions; inquiries should continue to be directed to the US Embassy in Yaounde, Cameroon mailing address: B.P. 817, Yaounde, Cameroon; US Embassy Yaounde, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-2520 telephone: [237] 220 15 00 FAX: [237] 220 16 20

Capital City

Malabo; note - Malabo is on the island of Bioko; some months of the year, the government operates out of Bata on the mainland region.

Location

3 45 N, 8 47 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Named after King MALABO (Malabo Lopelo Melaka) (1837–1937), the last king of the Bubi, the ethnic group indigenous to the island of Bioko

U.S. Embassy Malabo Carretera de Aeropuerto KM-3 (El Paraiso) Apartado 95 Malabo Telephone: 240-333-098-895 Immigrant visa services are provided through the U.S. Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Avenue Rosa Parks in the Mbankolo Quartier, adjacent to the Mount Febe Golf Club. Mailing Address: P.O. Box 817, Yaounde, Cameroon Telephone: 237-2220-1500 Emergency after-hours telephone: 237-2220-1500 Facsimile: 237-2220-1572

Military Branches

Equatorial Guinea Armed Forces (FAGE): Equatorial Guinea National Guard (Guardia Nacional de Guinea Ecuatoria, GNGE (Army), with Navy and Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for selective compulsory military service, although conscription is rare in practice; 2-year service obligation; women hold only administrative positions in the Navy