Talk:Equatorial Guinea

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[edit] How come?

I read that the GDP per capita is 30,000 US Dollar. Ok, there must be a big difference betwenn high and low income people in the country. But can it be that big of a difference? How come that the infrastructure is supposedly still not well, and how come the population is still so poor? I mean the money must go somewhere. Do the oil companies pay taxes? How is the government dealing with this situation? That's an interesting case, since most of Africa has a much lower per capita income than Equatorial Guinea. Would be interesting to hear people who know more about the situation there. Regards, Mandy


It seems very unlikely that the CIA was involved in any coup attempt on Obiang. State Department documents show a friendly and cordial relationship with Equatorial Guinea's dictator. Obiang made visits to the US, despite laws banning corrupt foreign leaders from setting foot on American soil. Since 1996, Equatorial Guinea's discovery of untapped energy resources (oil), American companies have sought the opportunity to work alongside Obiang, despite his dismal record. Theodoro poses no threat to interests in Equatorial Guinea, in fact, the ambassador for this Western African counrty has repeatedly called for closer ties.===Location map=== The map image:LocationEquatorialGuinea.png can be added to the new Equatorial Guinea page when it is created in the format set out by WikiProject Countries. It is mentioned here so that whoever eventually makes the new page knows that the map already exists. - Vardion 09:45, 26 Oct 2003 (UTC)

I will add now. -- User:Docu

[edit] Treaty of Paris

I cannot find this (1900). Wikipedia has become an authority, so everyone quotes it .. Is there a new treaty to be added ? Wizzy 20:42, 26 Aug 2004 (UTC)

bom chicka wem wem —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.30.6.221 (talk) 20:16, 28 January 2008 (UTC)

"Article VII of the Franco - Spanish convention of June 27, 1900 (Treaty of Paris) afforded France the right of pre-emption over Spanish Guinea in the event Spain abandoned their possession." [1] Gzornenplatz 20:49, Aug 26, 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Section Order

In view of the change in order of sections and the infobox implemented by 66.167.252.194, I wonder if they are about to go through the other 200+ articles on countries and perform the same change. I am strongly of the opinion that the basic generic structure and order be maintained throughout each of the articles. --JohnArmagh 21:19, 3 Dec 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Moved from article

El_C 01:06, 4 January 2006 (UTC) [W]hat are the climates and geoghraphical features? 68.227.127.68

[edit] Official language

According to Equatorial Guinea's constitution, the only official language is Spanish. Just because the country joined the CFA Franc zone, it does not mean irench as an official language. This used to be a conditio sine qua non, but certainly not anymore! --Asterion 13:00, 20 April 2006 (UTC)

My understanding is that at some point in the 1990s (after that constitution was written), Equatorial Guinea added French as an official language. The U.S. Department of State recognizes this on its website [2], as does this site [3]. Funnyhat 00:55, 23 April 2006 (UTC)
This is incorrect. Equatorial Guinea adopted the CFA in 1984. The current constitution was draft in 1982 and amended in 1995[4]. There has been no amendments to the text since then. Even the Constutional Draft by the so-called Government in Exile does negate the official language status to French[5]. The country entered the so-called Francophonie area in 1983 by applying to join the CFA Franc Zone, but there has never ever been a recognition of French as official language indeed! The CIA factbook is incorrect and the other reference you quoted was based on it too. As for Wikipedia policy on Official language, this is the language described as such in a national constitution. Therefore, I will remove the incorrect addition of French as official language. Regards, --

Asterion 15:33, 23 April 2006 (UTC)

Everywhere on the web you can read that since 1998 French is the "second official language of the country": not adding this information in the article is a lack of transparency. Easyboy82

It is NOT an official language. It is considered an administrative language only but hardly used at all. E Asterion u talking to me? 21:51, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Official language

1. according to the WIKI(French), The Official language of E.Guinea is Spanish and French. I know that E.Guinean Government in 1998 adopt French as the second official language.

2. according to the Book Of The Year 1998(Encyclopaedia Britannica), E.Guinean Government adopt French as the second official language.

3. art. 4 de la Loi constitutionnelle no 1 du 21 janvier 1998: "Les langues officielles de la République de Guinée équatoriale sont l'espagnol et le français." http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/guinee_equatoriale.htm.

4. see UNITED NATIONS source: http://www.unhchr.ch/huridocda/huridoca.nsf ESPANOL-POR PAIS-GUINEA ECUATORIAL <Ley constitucional que modifica el artículo 4 de la Ley Fundamental del Estado, estableciendo que "las lenguas oficiales de la República de Guinea Ecuatorial son el español y el francés. Se reconocen las lenguas aborígenes como integrantes de la cultura nacional" (Ley constitucional Nº 1/1998 del 21 de enero)>; in English:Constitutional Law which amends article 4 of the Fundamental Law of the State, establishing that "the official languages of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea are Spanish and French. The aboriginal languages are recognized as integral parts of the national culture" (Constitutional Law No. 1/1998 of 21 January

What's the FACT? It's Spanish and French!!!—Preceding unsigned comment added by 218.237.193.4 (talk • contribs)

It seems that I have made a mistake. I apologise profusely for the inconvenience. On my "defence" I must quote the same report you listed above (my own translation): Due to the huge difficulty created by the lack of publicity (transparency) and the absence of cooperation by the authorities in this respect (i.e. regarding publication of their own laws, which is also noticeable on all Equatorial Guinea official websites). On top of this, it needs to be said that wikipedia article on French Language does not list French as official language either, but an "administrative language". De facto, the language is hardly used by the local administration. Regards, E Asterion u talking to me? 16:13, 18 August 2006 (UTC)

Good Lord ....does it matter? The majority in the cities speak at least some french. All governemt publications, propaganda and dissemination, however, is in Spanish and corruption occurs in all languages here.

It should be added here that the official website of the government is very contradictory. See:

  • English language version
  • Spanish language version
    • Section "Cultura": Spanish is official language, English are French are "official working languages".
    • Section "País y Clima": Spanish is official, English and French are "official working languages".
    • Section "Constitution": the version of the Constitution which appears here states that only Spanish is official.

No reference to Portuguese in the official web site. If this should be decided by de facto usage, then only Spanish would be the official language. For example, the monthly "Gaceta de Guinea Ecuatorial" used to publish one or two articles in French in the past, but this practice was abandoned some time ago. Ponape (talk) 22:25, 25 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Island Capital

In the article it says that Equatorial Guinea and Denmark are the only country with mainland and capitals on islands. This is not true, for example Banjul is on an island. Jamie|C 12:39, 5 November 2006 (UTC)


[edit] GDP

i think the value for the GDP is incorrect, also in all the other wikipedias it says something about 2,700 $ per capita... please check --80.109.208.67 15:19, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Thanks to oil it is higher than that, but Wikipedia manages to give several different figures. CIA had $2,700 for 2002[6], but $50,200 for 2005[7]. UNDP has $6,572 for 2004[8]. UN had $19,305 for 2001[9]. World Bank had $9,790 for 2005[10]. IMF give $1,888 (GNP per capita) in 2005[11]. So it is hardly a surprise Wikipedia has problems. --Henrygb 18:00, 28 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed WikiProject

In my ongoing efforts to try to include every country on the planet included in the scope of a WikiProject, I have proposed a new project on Middle Africa at Wikipedia:WikiProject Council/Proposals#Middle Africa whose scope would include Equatorial Guinea. Any interested parties are more than welcome to add their names there, so we can see if there is enough interest to start such a project. Thank you for your attention. Badbilltucker 16:36, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] many improvements have been made to the living conditions... (Economy section)

this sentence: "While EG is currently one of the largest producers of oil in Africa, many improvements have been made to the living conditions of the people; however, most people live in poverty." sounds weird. it contradicts itself and the main article. what 'improvements' are we talking about here? any sources? or EG government propaganda?Jullag 18:49, 1 February 2007 (UTC)

After being in and out of EG for the last 13yrs, there has been very little done to improve the living conditons of most people. Corruption and nepotism ensure that only the well connected benefit from the current oil boom. HIV has become rampant and malaria still kills more children per capita than anywhere else. The city has sporadic power supply and there is no potable water for 90% of the population. Is continues to be one of worst managed economies in Sub-Saharan Africa. Oh yes...did you know that Obiang now has in excess of 120 million dollars in personal jets in his fleet? He continues to be a caricature of an archtype african dictator...replete with phoney military credentials. Ḷ

[edit] First inhabitants of Bioko island?

The article says that the Bubi succeeded former population in Bioko: "Elements of the latter may have generated the Bubi, who emigrated to Bioko from Cameroon and Rio Muni in several waves and succeeded former Neolithic populations." But immediatly after, says they were the first humans there: "The Bubi were the very first human inhabitants of Bioko Island".

? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 80.178.128.196 (talk) 14:03, 23 March 2007 (UTC).

[edit] "Smallest Spanish-speaking country in the world."

Maybe math works different in Wikipedia, or perhaps countries south of the equator are given extra credit. But how is Equatorial Guinea "the smallest Spanish-speaking country in the world" at 10,828 square miles when El Salvador is 8,124 square miles?

Rob5691 03:06, 5 April 2007 (UTC)

Population maybe? --71.192.116.13 04:24, 18 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Name

Added a passage about Name from the "Equator" article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 79.176.106.122 (talk) 20:09, 21 March 2008 (UTC)