Politics

Equatorial Guinea is a presidential republic, whereby the President is both the head of state and head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Chamber of People's Representatives. The power of President Obiang is essentially ethnic and family-based. The desire marked by the head of state for several years to improve his country's civil liberties, governance and human rights (first measures against corruption, open government to called opposition parties, opening a political dialogue with the EU, improve detention conditions ...) have not removed the autocratic character of the regime. Decisions are made largely by the presidency, the opposition is almost non-existent or in exile, the ruling party has control over the whole of society, the press is in the hands of the state, the judicial system is defective.

Administrative divisions

Equatorial Guinea is divided in seven provinces (provincias); Annobon, Bioko Norte, Bioko Sur, Centro Sur, Kie-Ntem, Litoral, Wele-Nzas. The President appoints the governors of the seven provinces. Each province is divided administratively into districts and municipalities. The internal administrative system falls under the Ministry of Territorial Administration; several other ministries are represented at the provincial and district levels.

Electoral Process

President Obiang, Africa’s longest serving head of state and the leader of Equatorial Guinea since 1979, maintains an absolute grip on the country’s political and economic levers of power.

Under constitutional reforms approved in a 2011 referendum, Equatorial Guinea replaced its unicameral system with a bicameral parliament consisting of a 70-seat Senate alongside a 100-seat Chamber of Deputies. Voting was held amid widespread reports of irregularities and intimidation of opposition members, and independent monitoring was very limited. Equatorial Guinea does not have an independent electoral body; the National Election Commission is led by the country’s interior minister, a prominent PDGE figure.

Political Pluralism and Participation

Political opposition is limited and the regime keeps it under strict control. The CPDS, the primary opposition party, is routinely denied access to the media. The regime’s control of the media, judiciary, police, and military make it difficult for new opposition groups to take hold within the country. Opposition figures are often detained for indefinite periods without arrest warrants.

Functioning of Government

The government is marked by nepotism. Obiang’s son Gabriel Mbega Obiang Lima is the country’s oil minister. Obiang’s eldest son, Teodoro “Teodorín” Nguema Obiang Mangue, was appointed second vice president in 2012 and is second in line for the presidency. The budget process is opaque, and even the most basic information is difficult to find.

Rule of Law

The judiciary is not independent, and judges in sensitive cases often consult with the office of the president before issuing a ruling. Under Article 85 of the constitution, the president is the nation’s first magistrate. He also is in charge of the body that appoints judges.

Freedom of Expression and Belief

Press freedom is severely limited, despite constitutional protections. Journalists consistently exercise self-censorship, and those who do criticize the president, his family, or the security forces face reprisals. Opposition party and exile group websites, along with Facebook, were blocked, presumably by the government, in the lead up to the 2013 elections. Libel remains a criminal offense. The handful of private newspapers and magazines face intense financial and political pressure and are unable to publish regularly. Less than a fifth of the population has access to the internet.

The constitution protects religious freedom, though in practice it is sometimes affected by the country’s broader political repression. Academic freedom is politically constrained, and self-censorship among faculty is common. There have been reports of university professors and teachers losing their positions due to their political affiliations. The government reportedly uses informants and electronic surveillance to monitor members of the opposition, nongovernmental organizations, and journalists, including the few members of the foreign press in the country.