Timeline of Equatorial Guinea

Chronology

7 events spanning the history of Equatorial Guinea. BCE/CE dating.

1. 1471

   Portuguese navigator Fernao do Po sights the island of Fernando Poo.

   Portuguese navigator Fernao do Po sights the island of Fernando Poo, which is now called Bioko.

2. 1777

   Portuguese cedes islands of Annobon and Fernando Poo to Spain.

   Portuguese cedes islands of Annobon and Fernando Poo as well as rights on the mainland coast to Spain, giving it access to a source of slaves.

3. 1844

   Spanish settle in what became the province of Rio Muni - mainland Equatorial Guinea.

   Spanish settle in what became the province of Rio Muni - mainland Equatorial Guinea.

4. 1904

   Fernando Poo and Rio Muni become the Western African Territories.

   Fernando Poo and Rio Muni become the Western African Territories, later renamed Spanish Guinea.

5. 1968

   Spanish Guinea granted independence.

   Spanish Guinea granted independence and becomes the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with Francisco Macias Nguema as president.

6. 1996

   Mobil oil corporation announces it has discovered sizeable new oil and gas reserves.

   Mobil oil corporation announces it has discovered sizeable new oil and gas reserves.

7. 2001

   Economy emerges as one of world’s fastest-growing because of oil exploitation.

   Economy emerges as one of world’s fastest-growing because of oil exploitation. Opposition says trickle-down effect of growth is too slow, too small.