Equatorial Guinea, country located on the west coast of Africa. ... Formerly a colony of Spain with the name Spanish Guinea , the country achieved its independence on October 12, 1968. The capital is Malabo, on Bioko.
How long was Equatorial Guinea a Spanish colony?
From the 1778 until 1959 , Equatorial Guinea remained an underdeveloped African colony. In 1959, it became a Spanish province and this change of status led to the growth of Spanish investment. As a result, Equatorial Guineans became one Africa’s most educated population.
Is Equatorial Guinea under Spanish rule?
Spanish Guinea (Spanish: Guinea Española) was a set of insular and continental territories controlled by Spain from 1778 in the Gulf of Guinea and on the Bight of Bonny, in Central Africa. It gained independence in 1968 and is known as Equatorial Guinea.
Is Guinea Ecuatorial a Spanish speaking country?
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea is sub-Saharan Africa’s only Spanish-speaking nation , which makes it somewhat of a linguistic curiosity, and which has contributed to its political isolation from neighboring countries.
Why did Spain colonize Equatorial Guinea?
Colonial rule: 1472-1968
The intention is to give Spain a foothold in Africa from which to conduct her own slave trade . In return Spain recognizes Portugal’s rights in the interior of Brazil, far to the west of the Tordesillas line.
Did Spain have any colonies in Africa?
The effective Spanish colonization of Africa was finally established in the first third of the 20th century. North Morocco, Ifni, the Tarfaya region, Western Sahara, and the territories of early-21st-century Equatorial Guinea comprised what broadly could be defined as Spanish colonial Africa.
Why didn’t Spain colonize Africa?
Spain didn’t colonize outside of North Africa for several reasons. 1) They didn’t have to, since they had far more lucrative colonies in the New World . These had incredibly arable land, and brought in more money than colonies in Africa would.
What parts of America did Spain colonize?
Beginning with Columbus in 1492 and continuing for nearly 350 years, Spain conquered and settled most of South America, the Caribbean, and the American Southwest . Yeah, they kept themselves busy.
How safe is Equatorial Guinea?
Equatorial Guinea is, for the most part, a safe country to visit . However it does have an extremely high crime rate, though it’s mainly ridden with petty street crime. You should be vigilant and take all possible precaution measures in order to minimize the risk of getting stolen from.
What was Spain’s last colony?
In our geographic imaginaries, Spanish colonialism tends to be mapped onto South America and perhaps the Philippines. However, the last Spanish colony to claim independence from Spain in 1968 was a territory in West Africa— Equatorial Guinea —a nation-state where Spanish still serves as the official language.
Why is Equatorial Guinea so rich?
Since the start of oil production in the mid-nineties, Equatorial Guinea has become Africa’s wealthiest nation on a per-capita basis , and the third-largest oil producing country in sub-Saharan Africa.
Is Equatorial Guinea the richest country in Africa?
Equatorial Guinea has become the richest country , per capita, in sub-Saharan Africa since the discovery of oil and natural gas reserves in the 1990s, yet the majority of its people remain extremely poor. Despite its increased wealth, the realization of the rights to food, health and education has declined.
What was Equatorial Guinea called before?
Formerly the colony of Spanish Guinea, its post-independence name evokes its location near both the Equator and the Gulf of Guinea. As of 2015, the country had a population of 1,225,367. Equatorial Guinea consists of two parts, an insular and a mainland region.
Is there any country in Africa that speaks Spanish?
Did you know Equatorial Guinea is the only Spanish speaking country in Africa? With plenty of history, this country has amazed the world thanks to its resilience and resourcefulness. Today, you’ll learn about the history of Equatorial Guinea and how it turned out to be the only Spanish speaking country in Africa.
What is the smallest Spanish speaking country?
Uruguay is the smallest Spanish speaking country in South America? ...
What is the population of Equatorial Guinea 2021?
The current population of Equatorial Guinea is 1,459,409 as of Saturday, September 25, 2021, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
