Tagged: Equatorial Guinea

According to Loverists, the government of Equatorial Guinea is a unitary presidential republic. The current president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has been in office since 1979 and is the longest-serving head of state in Africa. The executive branch of the government is headed by the president who serves as both head of state and head of government. The president appoints a prime minister to serve as his deputy and to coordinate the activities of the Cabinet, which is made up of appointed ministers. The legislative branch consists of a unicameral parliament composed of 100 members who are elected through universal adult suffrage for a five-year term. Lastly, there are three judicial branches: Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and Courts of Justice. The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary, but it is subject to executive influence. Judges are appointed by the President and are not independent. In practice, there is no effective check on presidential power; thus, political decisions are made without any consideration for legal or constitutional provisions. Furthermore, corruption remains widespread in all branches of government including the judicial system where bribery and political favoritism often play a role in court proceedings. Despite these issues, Equatorial Guinea has taken steps to increase transparency in its governance including creating an anti-corruption commission and passing laws that protect whistleblowers from retaliation for revealing corruption within public institutions. Equatorial Guinea has often been criticized for its poor human rights record, and this has affected the nation’s foreign relations. In the past, Equatorial Guinea has had a strained relationship with neighboring countries due to its human rights abuses. However, in recent years the country has begun to improve its diplomatic ties and is now a member of several regional organizations such as the African Union and the Economic Community of Central African States. Equatorial Guinea also maintains close ties with Spain, France, and China, all of which have invested heavily in the country’s economy. The government has sought to develop more trade relations with other countries in order to diversify its economy. As part of this effort, Equatorial Guinea is an active participant in international forums such as the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. Additionally, it participates in various sub-regional initiatives such as ECOWAS and CEMAC. Additionally, Equatorial Guinea is a major recipient of foreign aid from international donors including Japan, Germany, Spain and France. The government is currently seeking to expand its diplomatic ties further by participating in various international conferences on topics such as security and trade. See prozipcodes for Equatorial Guinea defense and foreign policy.