EQUATORIAL GUINEA'S

SOCIAL ISSUES

By Micha Nse Margarita

EQUATORIAL GUINEA'S BACKGROUND

• Brief History
• Equatorial Guinea, officially The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is a small
country located in West-Central Africa, bordered to the north and east
by Cameroon, to the south and east by Gabon, and to the west by the
Atlantic Ocean.
• The country is made up of a mainland territory, known as Rio Muni, and
five islands, including Bioko, where the capital city of Malabo is located.
• In the late 19th century, Spain claimed the territory as a colony and
established control over it. Equatorial Guinea remained a Spanish
colony until it gained independence in 1968.
Brief History

• Despite the country's rich natural resources, including oil and gas
reserves, Equatorial Guinea has faced significant challenges, including
widespread poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses. However,
recent efforts todiversify the economy and promote foreign
investment have shown some promise for the country's future.
Political System
• Equatorial Guinea is a presidential republic with a multiparty system.
• The President, currently Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is both
the head of state and the head of government.
• The President is elected by popular vote, and the Vice President is
appointed by thePresident.
• The legislature is a bicameral body, consisting of the Senate and the
Chamber of Deputies.
• Members of the Senate are appointed by the President, while
members of the Chamber of Deputies are elected by popular vote.
Demography

• Equatorial Guinea has a population of approximately 1.4 million

people, according to the latest estimates.
• The country has a diverse population, with several ethnic groups
represented, including Fang, Bubi, Ndowe, and Annobonese.
• Spanish and French are the official languages of the country.
• The country is predominantly Roman Catholic, with small Protestant
and Muslim minorities.
• The population is relatively young, with a median age of around 22
years.
SOCIAL ISSUES IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA
• POVERTY
• UNEMPLOYMENT
• CORRUPTION
POVERTY

• One of the most pressing social issues in Equatorial Guinea is poverty.

• Despite being a resource-rich country, with large reserves ofoil,
natural gas, and timber, poverty remains widespread, particularly in
rural areas.
• According to the World Bank, more than half of the population lives
below the poverty line.
Causes of poverty

• One of the main causes of poverty in Equatorial Guinea is corruption

• This has resulted in little investment in social services, such as
education, healthcare, and infrastructure. As a result, poverty and
inequality have remained high.
• Another factor contributing to poverty is the lack of economic
diversification. The country's economy is heavily reliant on the oil and
gas sector, which accounts for more than 90% of the country's
exports. This means that fluctuations in global oil prices can have a
significant impact on the country's economy, and there is little room
for other sectors, such as agriculture or manufacturing, to grow.
Countermeasures of poverty

• Implementing a stronger anti-corruption measures, such as increasing

transparency and accountability in government institutions, and
ensuring that public funds are allocated fairly and efficiently.
• Investing in other sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing, to
create jobs and reduce reliance on the oil and gas sector. Encouraging
foreign investment and promoting small and medium-sized
enterprises (SMEs) could also help to stimulate economic growth and
reduce poverty.
• Improving access to social services, such as education and healthcare,
is also crucial. The government could increase investment in these
areas and ensure that resources are distributed equitably across the
country, particularly in rural areas where poverty is most acute.
UNEMPLOYMENT

• Equatorial Guinea's oil boom has brought foreign investment but it

has not significantly improved life for most of the population.
• Youth unemployment is growing as the economy is not creating
enough new jobs while the country is not teaching the right skills it
needs
Causes of unemployment

• Job creation is limited however because of the small size of the non-
oil sector.
• Oil accounts for 78% of GDP, but employs only 4% of the labour force.
• Young people have few qualifications and do not meet labour market
needs.
• There is also a problem getting access to information about job
openings.
Countermeasures of unemployment

• Improving education and employment training to improve the skills of

the labour force.
• investing in other sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing, to
create jobs and reduce reliance on the oil and gas sector.
• Encouraging foreign investment and promoting small and medium-
sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Making hiring and firing workers easier.
• Increasing the flexibility of the labour force.
CORRUPTION

• Equatorial Guinea has the highest GDP per capita but also the widest
gap between rich and poor people.
• Political corruption in Equatorial Guinea is high by world standards
and considered among the worst of any country on earth.
Causes of corruption

• Mismanagement of public funds by the ruling elite, accused of

siphoning off the country's wealth for their own benefit.
• Lack of transparency and accountability in the government
institutions.
• Low levels of democracy in the country.
• Greed of money, desires.
• Ostentatious lifestyle.
• Higher levels of market and political monopolization.
• Lack of commitment to society. Etc.
Countermeasures of corruption

• Guinea's Anti-Corruption Agency (ANLC) is an autonomous agency

established by presidential decree in 2004. The ANLC reports directly
to the President and is currently the only state agency focused solely
on fighting corruption. However, it has been largely ineffective in its
role, with no successful convictions.
ONE RELEVANT POLICY IN EQUATORIAL GUINEA;
THE NATIONAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT PLAN (NHDP)
2020-2030

• The policy aims to improve the overall health of the populationby

providing equitable access to quality health services, promoting
healthy behaviors, and strengthening health systems.
Policy making

• The NHDP was developed by the Ministry of Health and Social

Welfare in collaboration with otherstakeholders, including
international organizations such as the World Health Organization
(WHO).
• The policy was informed by a comprehensive analysis of the health
sector, including a review of existing policies, programs, and health
outcomes.
Policy implementation

• To implement the NHDP, the government has allocated resources to

improve health infrastructure, including the construction of new
hospitals and health centers.
• The policy also includes initiatives to train and recruit healthcare
professionals, including doctors and nurses, to address the shortage
of skilled health workers.
• The government isalso working to improve the availability and
affordability of essential medicines and medical supplies.
Policy outcomes

• The NHDP is still in its early stagesof implementation, and it is too

soon to evaluate its impact fully. However, the policy has the potential
to improve health outcomes in the country significantly.
• By strengthening health systems and promoting healthy behaviors,
the policy could help to reduce the burden ofcommunicable and non-
communicable diseases, includingHIV/AIDS and malaria.
• The policy could also improve access to maternal and child health
services,leading to a reduction in maternal and child mortality rates.
MY VIEWPOINTS

• Despite its natural resource wealth, Equatorial Guinea has failed to

provide crucial public services, and does not produce reliable data
relevant to economic and social rights.
• Mismanagement of public funds, credible allegations of high-level
corruption, and serious human rights violations persist, including
repression of civil society groups and opposition politicians, torture,
and unfair trials.
• In a positive step, Equatorial Guinea in May ratified the United
Nations Convention Against Corruption, a move the International
Monetary Fund required as a pre-condition for a loan.
• I believe that access to education is a fundamental human right that
should be guaranteed to all citizens. Unfortunately, in Equatorial
Guinea, access to education remains limited, particularly in rural
areas. This hassignificant consequences for the country's
development and the wellbeing of its citizens.
• In conclusion, access to educationis critical for Equatorial Guinea's
development and the wellbeing of its citizens. As a student, I believe
that the government should prioritize investment in education,
particularly in rural areas, to ensure that all citizens have access to
quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status or
geographic location. Thiscan help to create a more productive and
equitable society, reduce poverty,unemployment and promote public
health.
REFERENCES

• Equatorial Guinea" I (PDF). Human Rights Watch.

• Mouawad, Jan (July 9, 2009). "Oil Corruption in Equatorial Guinea" L.
The New York Times.
• "Equatorial Guinea: One man's fight against dictatorship" L. The
Guardian.
• "Country Data Report for Equatorial Guinea, 1996-2013" © (PDF). The
World Bank. Archived from the original L (PDF) on July 10, 2010.
• "Equatorial Guinea" [. Natural Resoure Governance Institute]
September 2015.
END