Belying its troubled political past, Equatorial Guinea is a country of luscious vegetation and beautiful scenery, including tropical forests and snow-capped volcanoes. The capital, Malabo, is a rather rundown but attractive town, with pleasant Spanish colonial architecture, a striking volcanic setting and a lively market. The white-sand beaches around the islands are stunning. No wonder the country was first of all named 'Formosa', meaning 'beautiful', by the Portuguese who first colonized it.

The area now occupied by Equatorial Guinea and the island of Bioko was first colonized by the Portuguese in the late 15th century and developed as a major slave market. In 1788 the territory was handed over to the Spanish who ran it as a protectorate of Spanish Guinea until 1959. At this point the colony was granted internal self-government and full independence followed in 1968. The first decade was blighted by the brutal and incompetent rule of President Macias Nguema. He was overthrown in a military coup led by his nephew, Lieutenant Colonel Teodoro Obiang, in 1979.

Initially, conditions improved somewhat, as Equatorial Guinea gained international recognition and aid; it also joined the CFA Franc Zone. Relations with Spain, the former colonial power, remained touchy, as its bilateral aid was made dependent on progress in democratizing the political system. Throughout the 1980s, Obiang maintained his opposition to the establishment of a multi-party system while shoring up his position at home through systematic repression. A democratic constitution was finally conceded in 1991 and the first multi-party legislative elections were held in November 1993. However, the government’s conduct of the election was such that the main opposition movement boycotted the poll, alleging systematic intimidation. This pattern of malpractice has continued more or less unabated at every election – for both the presidency and the national assembly – which has been held since then.

Despite being a mainly 'undiscovered' country with a history of human rights' abuses, Equatorial Guinea's financial fortunes appear to be looking up of late, following the discovery of oil and gas deposits in the Gulf of Guinea. Although this find has not alleviated the problem of a corrupt, inept and abusive Government, it might hopefully put the country back on the global map and ensure that more are aware of both this country's plight and its splendor.

Geography
Equatorial Guinea is bordered to the south and east by Gabon, to the north by Cameroon and to the west by the Gulf of Guinea. The country also comprises the island of Bioko, formerly Fernando Po, 34km (21 miles) off the coast of Cameroon, and the small offshore islands of Corisco, Great Elobey, Small Elobey and Annobón (formerly Pagalu). The mainland province, Rió Muni, is mainly forest, with plantations on the coastal plain and some mountains. Bioko rises steeply to two main peaks in the north and south. The southern area is rugged and inaccessible. Cultivation and settlements exist on the other slopes; above the farming land, the forest is thick. The beaches around the islands are extremely beautiful.