Equatorial Guinea is one of the smallest countries in Africa, with what could euphemistically be described as one of its more colourful pasts. Its current leader, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, took power in 1979 after deposing his uncle, president-for-life Francisco Macias Nguema. He subsequently executed his luckless relative.
Mbasogo fought elections in 1993, 1996 and 2002, although ”fought” might be an ill-advised verb, given the dubious nature of the contests.
In the last poll Obiang claimed to have won more than 97% of the votes. His ruling Democratic Party for Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) also won legislative elections in 1999 that did no credit to the country’s claim to be a constitutional democracy.
In an extremely oppressive society, Mbasogo has clung to power by claiming to ward off successive coup attempts. Unchallenged by the media, he has virtual carte blanche. It is highly doubtful that any of the alleged plotters he is currently holding in the capital Malobo could have a fair trial.
Sandwiched between Cameroon and Gabon on the Western hump of Africa, with five volcanic islands adding to its total 28 000km2 surface area, this country was heading to be overlooked as an oddity.
In the early Nineties Equitorial Guinea’s 510 000 people were reliant on hard currency from cocoa sales. Virtually all business was in the hands of government officials and their families.
By 1993 the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank had cut off aid to the country because of corruption and mismanagement.
The discovery of oil in 1996 by the Mobil Company cast the country into the world spotlight. Pumping 185 000 barrels of the stuff daily has driven Equatorial Guinea’s economic growth rate over 20% a year. This has added spectacularly both to the riches of the ruling elite and the stature to its exiled opposition.
The United States takes 28% of the country’s exports — mostly petroleum products. Spain, which ruled Equitorial Guinea for 190 years until 1968, runs a close second, buying 25% of its exports. Spain is also home to the bulk of Equatorial Guinea’s political exiles. In March 2001 the leaders of eight exiled parties formed a coalition to overhaul politics at home and declared democracy there to be a sham.
Observers of this country are not surprised by the latest alleged coup attempt involving the South Africans, Angolans, Namibians, Congolese and Zimbabweans now being held in Harare. In 1998 Obiang sentenced 15 people to death for separatist attacks on Bioko Island. In June 2002 68 people were jailed for up to 20 years for an alleged coup plot. They included main opposition leader Placido Mico Abogo. The European Union expressed its concern that confessions were obtained under duress and Amnesty International said many defendants showed signs of torture.
Last August Equatorial Guinea refugees formed a government in exile in Madrid under Severo Moto Nga. By December Obiang had declared a coup watch in his country.