Equatorial Guinea is a country located on the west coast of Africa. It includes a mainland region as well as several islands. The country shares maritime borders with Nigeria and Sao Tome and Principe.
Equatorial Guinea is composed of five inhabited islands plus a portion on the African mainland, known as Rio Muni. Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea.
Equatorial Guinea is the only sovereign African state in which Spanish is an official language. It got independence from Spain on October 12, 1968. The capital is Malabo, on Bioko.
The country’s economy was highly dependent on the export of cocoa, coffee and timber to Europe. But, after independence, the discovery of large oil reserves in 1996, and their subsequent exploitation, boosted the government revenue.
The currency of the country is the Central African CFA franc. The capital city is Malabo on Bioko Island, and the largest city is Bata.
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