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Equatorial Guinea: Rio Muni
built 274 days ago
The republic of Equatorial Guinea consists of Río Muni, on the Atlantic coast of West Africa, and the offshore islands of Bioko and Annobon. Area: 28,051 sq km (10,831 sq mi). Pop. (1993 est.): 377,000. Cap.: Malabo. Monetary unit: CFA franc, with (Oct.
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Nguema won the preindependence elections and organized a sovereign government on 12 October 1968, when the colony became the independent Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Within six months, hostility between Riomunians and Fernandinos had sharpened. The continued presence of Spanish civil servants, troops, and ships and the unchanged influence of Spanish plantation management provoked a crisis in 1969. Two coups failed, the Spanish were evacuated, medical services were suspended (until WHO restaffed them), and fiscal transactions ceased. However, within six weeks a new understanding was reached with Spain, under UN auspices, and Spanish subsidies were restored.
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In the south, the Muni is not itself a river but the estuary of various rivers of Gabon and southern Equatorial Guinea. To the east the de facto border with Gabon follows the meandering course of the Kié (Kyé) River rather than the legal frontier, which runs along a line 11° 20¢ east of the Greenwich meridian. Except for limited hydroelectric power generation and the use of waterpower at some lumbering sites, the rivers of the mainland enclave are not exploited. The coast consists of a long stretch of beach with low cliffs toward Kogo to the south. Equatorial Guinea has no natural harbour, and Mbini and Kogo are no more than rudimentary ports of call for the ships that infrequently visit. Bata, on the other hand, has been enlarged artificially to become one of the country's main ports.
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The report observes that there are several obstacles to the full exercise of political rights in Equatorial Guinea. For example, political opposition parties and independent observers frequently state that the electoral processes at the Presidential, legislative and municipal levels are unfair and fail to reflect the actual votes that were cast. Thus many opposition political parties have withdrawn from recent elections, claiming that election procedures are neither transparent nor egalitarian. The Special Rapporteur's report notes, "While blatant cases of violence [against members of opposition political parties] are reportedly rare, the atmosphere is not conducive to an electoral process run according to democratic rules and to the norms of relevant Equatorial Guinea laws."
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