GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Equatorial Guinea.
Capital
Malabo.
Geography
As a country starting with E defined by Countryaah, Equatorial Guinea borders Gabon to the south and east, Cameroon to the north and the Gulf of Guinea to the west. The island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Pó) with the capital Malabo is 34 km off the coast. The islands of Corisco, Grande and Elobey as well as Annobón (formerly Pagalu) are close to the coast and offer beautiful beaches. Mbini, the province on the mainland, consists mainly of forests, some mountains and plantations in the coastal areas. The land rises steeply in the north and south of the island. The southern region is rugged and inaccessible, the other mountain slopes are used for agriculture or are populated. Dense forests lie above the arable land.
Government
Presidential republic since 1982. Constitution from 1991, last amended in 1995. Parliament (Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo) with 80 members. Independent since 1968 (former Spanish colony).
Head of state
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, re-elected since 1979, 1996.
Head of government
Francisco Pascual Obama Asue, since June 2016.
Electricity
220/240 V, 50 Hz; not uniform, adapter required.
Time zone
West Africa Time: CET +2
TRAVEL WARNING
Country-specific safety information
The crime rate has risen sharply recently, both in terms of frequency and extent of the use of violence. Particular care should be taken in the cities of Malabo and Bata. Unaccompanied walks or spontaneous use of taxis are strongly discouraged. There have been repeated violent robberies here. Foreign visitors should therefore only use a taxi if they are familiar with the area and insist that the taxi driver does not take any other passengers. Business people should insist that their Equatorial Guinean interlocutors provide them with a car and chauffeur for the duration of their stay.
Burglaries in apartments and houses have also increased. Since burglars are usually armed (e.g. with machetes), resistance is urgently advised in an emergency.
It is strongly advised to keep copies of your passport, visa and flight ticket safe with you or to have them available electronically in Germany. This makes consular assistance easier and faster in the event of loss. Serious traffic accidents mostly occur as a result of intoxicated driving. The perpetrators are often taxis that are quite unfit for traffic. Driving on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon and evening is not recommended. Anyone with a (rented) vehicle – although experience has shown that cars can only be rented with a driver – is involved in an accident with serious personal injury or death, must expect lengthy pre-trial detention and criminal proceedings. In such a case, you should immediately contact the German embassy in Malabo: + 240 333 093117.
The authorities check foreigners very carefully for proper papers (visa, valid passport, etc.) and take strict action against actual and suspected irregularities. Random checks and attempts to demand money must be expected at the frequent checkpoints.
MONEY
Currency
1 CFA (Communauté Financiaire Africaine) Franc * = 100 Centimes. Currency abbreviation: CFA Fr, XAF (ISO code). Banknotes are in circulation to the value of 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 CFA Fr. Coins are available in denominations of 500, 100, 50, 25, 10, 5. 2 and 1 CFA Fr.
Note: [*] Issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale (BEAC, State Bank of the Central African States) and used by Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Cameroon, Congo, Chad and the Central African Republic. The CFA Franc (XOF) issued by the Banque des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (BCEAO, State Bank of West African States) is not legal tender in Equatorial Guinea. The CFA Franc is pegged to the Euro.
Credit cards
Will not be accepted.
ATMs
ec / Maestro card / Sparcard
Attention: Travelers who pay abroad with their bank customer card and want to withdraw money should find out about the possibilities of using their card from their bank before starting their journey.
Bank opening times
Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Foreign exchange regulations
Import of local currency in a reasonable amount, the export of which is limited to 50,000 CFA Fr.
Unrestricted import and export of foreign currencies.
Currency Exchange
Money can be changed in banks (for foreign currencies, however, there is only one bank each in Malabo and Bata.). The easiest way to exchange euros and US dollars. These two foreign currencies are also widely accepted in hotels and restaurants.
LANGUAGE
Overview
The official languages are Spanish and French. The Bantu languages Fang and Bubi are also spoken. Creole Portuguese, Pidgin English, and Ibo are common.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
DUTY-FREE SHOPPING
Overview
The following articles can be imported into Equatorial Guinea duty-free:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 g tobacco;
1 l of wine;
1 liter of alcoholic beverages.
Prohibited imports
Pornographic works, books and films about war and terror, uniform-like clothing, binoculars and high-tech cameras.
ECONOMY
Business etiquette
Jacket and tie or costume are only required for appointments with government officials. December and January are the best times for business travel. Knowledge of Spanish is essential; English or French are very rarely spoken.
Business hours: Mon-Fri 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
Economy
Cámara de Comercio, Agrícola y Forestal de Malabo (Chamber of Commerce)
Apartado 51, Malabo
Tel: (09) 23 43.
Business contacts
Cámara de Comercio, Agrícola y Forestal de Malabo (Chamber of Commerce)
Apartado 51, Malabo
Tel: (09) 23 43.
COMMUNICATION
Phone
International direct dialing.
Cellphone
GSM 900. Network operator is GETESA (Internet: www.getesa.com). The cellular network is limited to Malabo and some more densely populated areas.
Post Office
Shipments to Europe take around two weeks.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Shop opening times: i. A. Mon-Sat 8 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
In Malabo, Bata, Luba and Ebebiyin you will find several hotels of different standards. In Malabo there are also simpler accommodations available (two are in the Avenida de las Naciónes), bathrooms / washing facilities are shared with other guests. Further information is available from the Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in Paris, Boulevard de Courcelles, F-75003 Paris. Tel: (+33) (01) 56 88 54 54.
CULTURE
Religion
99% Catholics; animist and protestant minorities.
Social rules of conduct
Foreign visitors, especially Europeans, are a rarity in Equatorial Guinea and can count on curiosity, hospitality, and sometimes mistrust. Foreign cigarettes are gladly accepted as gifts. Knowledge of Spanish is advantageous. Photography: A permit is required, be careful when choosing a subject. Tip: 10-15% if not already included in the bill.
CLIMATE
Best travel time
Year-round tropical climate and heavy rainfall, which subsides between December and February.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +240 Area (square km) 28051 Population 740753 Population density (per square km) 26 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No
