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Equatorial Guinea

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Equatorial Guinea. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Malabo

Head of State

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

Head of Government

Prime Minister Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua

Chinese naval presence in the Gulf of Guinea is helping to protect its oil interests as it flexes its military muscles. Photo: Xinhua

China-Africa relations

In Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, China is proving it is master of the sea

China’s naval presence in an area notorious for piracy is both protecting its investments and stretching its military muscles.

29 Dec 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Guinea-Bissau and China announce strategic partnership during state visit

13 Jul 2024 - 4:00PMvideocam

China-Africa relations

Xi Jinping vows to help Equatorial Guinea shift from heavy oil and gas reliance

29 May 2024 - 8:14PMvideocam

US-China relations

China is facing more overseas security risks in year of elections, report says

With more than 60 countries heading to the polls – including the US, Russia and India – expect a ‘new phase in the geopolitical game’, according to Chinese think tank.

26 Jan 2024 - 5:21PMvideocam

This year’s election calendar is packed, with more than 60 countries heading to the ballot box. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Africa

US is ‘all in’ for Africa, Antony Blinken says opening coastal tour

Opening the trip in the shadow of coups and the rising influence of Russia and China on the continent, Blinken vowed ‘We are all in when it comes to Africa’.

23 Jan 2024 - 4:10AM

China-Africa relations

China rallies G77 for major reform of WTO and Bretton Woods at Kampala summit

Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Guozhong wins support, including from UN leaders, for speech calling for overhaul of global systems.

22 Jan 2024 - 4:34PMvideocam

Spain

Anti-racists slam blackface use in Spain’s Epiphany parades

The practice of parade participants painting their faces black with exaggerated, red-painted lips tarnishes the memory of enslaved people and disempowers black children, says black politician Rita Bosaho.

6 Jan 2024 - 9:12PM

Participants in the Epiphany parade wearing blackface in Alcoy, Spain, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

Science

New test reveals origins of pangolin products illegally sold in China

Scientists say southern Cameroon is emerging as poaching hotspot for endangered animals whose scales are prized in traditional Chinese medicine.

15 Dec 2023 - 3:00AM

North Korea

North Korea closes embassy in Uganda dating back to Idi Amin’s brutal rule

The move ends a half-century of diplomatic presence in one of Pyongyang’s longest-standing African allies. North Korea has provided Uganda with weapons and other military equipment as well as training for its security forces in the past.

25 Oct 2023 - 10:07AM

Africa

Analysis | Gabon’s leader thought he could resist Africa’s coup wave

The president of Gabon, Ali Bongo, knew well the threat of military coups in his part of the world. But he swore one wouldn’t happen to him.

31 Aug 2023 - 11:51AM

‘’I don’t know what’s going on’: Gabon’s deposed president Ali Bongo has been placed under house arrest. Photo: AFP

Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan port could be China’s top choice for next naval base: report

According to the US-based AidData research project, the port is the most likely spot for a base given the US$2.19 billion Beijing has already invested there.

28 Jul 2023 - 4:01PM

A Chinese research ship arrives at Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port in August 2022. Photo: AP

Human rights in China

Countries can follow ‘various paths’ on human rights, says Xi

Xi made the comments in a letter to a forum that heard some Western countries were acting like a ‘human rights teacher’ despite their own failings.

14 Jun 2023 - 9:05PMvideocam

Singapore

Singapore’s 11 hangings add to record year for executions worldwide in 2022

Last year’s 883 recorded executions were the most since 2017, activists said. The death penalty is also used extensively in North Korea and Vietnam but as with China, figures there remain ‘shrouded in secrecy’.

16 May 2023 - 3:17PMvideocam

North Korea

Growing up as African in North Korea under the protection of Kim Il-sung

Monica Macias was 7 when was sent by her father, the first president of Equatorial Guinea, to live in Pyongyang with her sisters in 1979.

4 Mar 2023 - 9:52AMvideocam

Monica Macias shares a toast with Kim Song-ae, wife of North Korea’s Kim Il-sung. Photo: Handout/Duckworth Books

China’s military

US fears over Chinese military in Africa should focus on Atlantic: analysts

A PLA installation on the continent’s west coast or near strategic maritime routes would pose biggest threat to Washington, observers say.

13 Feb 2023 - 7:06PMvideocam

China’s military base in Djibouti officially opened in 2017. Photo: AFP

Hong Kong

Opinion | Don’t overthink corruption index scores for mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan

Despite Covid-19 upheavals, their performances appear to have held up. But the index is only useful in picking out broader trends, and more can be done to fight corruption.

7 Feb 2023 - 3:30AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

China gives support to Africa push for seat at G20, UN Security Council

Foreign Minister Qin Gang and Beijing’s envoy in Brazzaville each addressed the issue at separate events in Ethiopia and the Republic of the Congo.

28 Jan 2023 - 10:00PMvideocam

Thailand

Thailand’s last gorilla doomed to caged life in shopping centre’s ‘horror zoo’

Activists, wildlife groups have campaigned for years to free the gorilla from her cage at the mall zoo, and nature sanctuaries have offered to house her to live out her years, but zoo owners have remained unmoved.

2 Jan 2023 - 6:46PMvideocam

Bua Noi (Little Lotus) sits and stares from behind the bars and glass cage at Pata Zoo, situated on the top floor of a shopping centre in Bangkok. Photo: EPA

Africa

Mali orders Ivorian troops jailed 20 years for ‘conspiracy against government’

The junta calls the soldiers mercenaries, but Ivory Coast and the United Nations say they were flown in as routine backup security for the UN peacekeeping mission.

31 Dec 2022 - 5:23AM

Africa

Biden tells African leaders US is ‘all in’ on the continent

The president laid out billions in promised government funding and private investment as he hosted the US-Africa Leaders Summit.

15 Dec 2022 - 5:59AMvideocam

Coronavirus pandemic

Opinion | End pandemic austerity plans that benefit only the few

More than 140 governments will cut spending in 2023, affecting more than 6.7 billion people – or 85 per cent of the world population. Unless this policy contagion is contained, the coming years will be even more painful than the era following the 2008 financial crisis.

9 Dec 2022 - 12:23PM

A person wrapped in plastic walks outside the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund during the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in Washington on April 15, 2020. Photo: AFP

China-Africa relations

China’s trade with Africa gets boost from rising commodity prices

The increase was fastest in the early part of the year before the Shanghai lockdown and supply chain disruptions hit.

6 Aug 2022 - 12:00PM

A China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo in Changsha, the capital of Hunan province, which the authorities plan to make a major hub for trade with the continent. Photo: Xinhua

US-China relations

Do China’s Africa ambitions include a second military base?

Washington unconvinced by Beijing’s denials of plans to expand its presence on the continent, but the move would align with global power aspirations.

31 May 2022 - 6:00AMvideocam

Africa

Families confront horror after 11 babies die in Senegal hospital fire

The two nurses who escaped were not able to save the newborns in their incubators from the blaze caused by a short circuit.

27 May 2022 - 7:39AM

China-Africa relations

China-reliant Gabon finds oil-free, green future in its forests

The small African country’s environment minister talks climate financing at the IMF’s spring meeting as the need to replace oil revenues grows.

3 May 2022 - 2:34PM

About a dozen Chinese companies own forest concessions in Gabon, with more than 30 others processing the wood Photo: Jevans Nyabiage

Africa

Fuel ship carrying 750 tons of diesel sinks off Tunisia’s coast

Tunisia’s Environment Ministry announced the activation of the national emergency response plan, put in place over the potential threat of maritime pollution.

17 Apr 2022 - 1:01AM

The merchant fuel ship which sank off the coast of Gabes in Tunisia on April 15 is seen in Rostov-on-Don, Russia in November 2017. Photo: Dmitry Frolov / Handout via Reuters

US-China relations

Indo-Pacific sees Russian war on neighbour as ‘cautionary tale’: US official

Kurt Campbell of the White House’s National Security Council reaffirms the US commitment to the region without mentioning China or Taiwan by name.

6 Apr 2022 - 3:56AMvideocam

Africa

Russia’s war in Ukraine a ‘diplomatic conundrum’ for some African nations

Dozens of countries that have close ties to both Moscow and the West have been hesitant to make their stand known.

5 Apr 2022 - 11:00AMvideocam

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