EQUATORIAL GUINEA

Official name: Republic of Equatorial Guinea

Capital: Malabo

Population: 400,000

Currency: CFA franc

Official language: Spanish

Comprising five islands and the territory of Rio Muni on the west coast of Africa, Equatorial Guinea lies just north of the Equator. Mangrove swamps border the mainland coast. It gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. Multipartyism was accepted in 1991.

CLIMATE: The island of Bioko is extremely wet and humid, with an annual rainfall of 200 centimetres, while the mainland is only marginally drier and cooler.

TRANSPORT: Apart from once or twice weekly Iberia flights, all air links are through neighbouring countries. The Chinese financed the Ncue-Mongomo Highway project in the 1980s.

TOURISM: Equatorial Guinea is restricted to the adventurous, independent tourist despite the attraction of Malabo's scenery and beaches.

PEOPLE: Mainland has a majority of Fang, a people who also inhabit Cameroon and northern Gabon, Bioko is populated by a majority of Bubi and a minority of Creoles (known as Fernandinos). The Macias dictatorship consolidated the power of Fang especially the Mongomo clan, from which both Macias and his successor Obiang come.

POLITICS: Despite becoming a multiparty state in 1991, some of the exiled political parties have not returned. The ruling PDGE was set up in 1987 by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo after he overthrew his dictator uncle Francisco Macias Nguema's National Worker's Party (PUNT) in 1979. Multipartyism, initiated in 1988, has been marked by instability. The main 1993 elections were boycotted by the main opposition parties, while the presidential poll in 1996 in which Obiang was the only candidate was declared farcical by observers.

WORLD AFFAIRS: The country has sought to rebuild its international links after a period of isolation. However, many are wary of the Obiang regime.

AID: The EU, World Bank, IMF and Arab funds are all important sources of aid.

DEFENCE: Morocco has provided a 360-strong presidential guard since the early 1980s to guarantee Obiang's security. Nigeria, Cameroon and Gabon have interests in maintaining the autonomy of the Malabo and Rio Muni regions.

ECONOMICS: GNP: $167 million World GNP ranking: 186th Balance of payments: $-22 million. Strengths: Fertile soils, large tropical timber reserves, cocoa and coffee, extensive potential for fisheries. Oil and natural gas reserves. Weaknesses: Lasting effects of economic regression under the dictatorship. Bad administration and ideological attacks on the educated have restricted growth. Poor communications.

RESOURCES: Electricity production: 19 million kwh. Oil reserves: 3,600,000 billion barrels. Livestock: 36,000 sheep; 8,000 goats; 5,000 cattle.

ENVIRONMENT: The government has failed to take serious measures to stop rainforest depletion.

MEDIA: There is little sign of press liberalisation.

CRIME: Levels of crime are relatively low although a lot goes unreported. Human rights abuses occur.

EDUCATION: Declined in the Macias years when attendance rates fell from 90 per cent to 55 per cent. Funding is poor.

HEALTH: Life expectancy has risen from 37 years in 1960 to 47 in 1990. Restoring health care is a priority.

WEALTH: The little wealth tends to be concentrated in the ruling clan. Position in World (192 countries)

Life expectancy 174 Infant mortality 175 GNP per capita 157 Daily calorie intake 126 Literacy 155 Schooling index 104 Educational rank 104 Human dev. index 142