A former Spanish colony, Equatorial Guinea's territory includes the island of Bioko, off the Cameroonian coast, which hosts the capital, Malabo.

OVERVIEW

In the 1970s it became notorious when the widespread human rights abuses of President Francisco Nguema caused a third of the population to flee. In 1979, Francisco Nguema was overthrown by his nephew, the current president.

Large oil and gas deposits were discovered off Bioko in the mid-1990s, and Equatorial Guinea is now one of sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers. But few ordinary people are benefiting from the economic boom.

Despite international calls for greater financial transparency in the sector, President Obiang has said oil revenue figures are a state secret.

In 1996 Equatorial Guinea's first multi-party presidential election was held amid reports of widespread fraud and irregularities, returning President Obiang Nguema with 99% of the vote.

His government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and of suppressing political opposition. A government-in-exile has been formed by opposition leaders living in exile in Spain.

In 2004, after an aircraft carrying alleged mercenaries was intercepted in Zimbabwe, President Obiang said foreign powers were involved in a plot to overthrow him.

FACTS

• Population: 521,000 (UN, 2005)
• Capital: Malabo
• Area: 28,051 sq km (10,830 sq miles)
• Major languages: Spanish, French
• Major religion: Christianity
• Life expectancy: 43 years (men), 44 years (women) (UN)
• Monetary unit: 1 CFA (Communaute Financiere Africaine) franc = 100 centimes
• Main exports: Petroleum, timber, cocoa
• GNI per capita: US $930 (World Bank, 2001)
• Internet domain: .gq
• International dialling code: +240

LEADERS

President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo

President Obiang Nguema overthrew and executed his uncle

Mr Obiang Nguema overthrew his uncle, President Francisco Nguema, in 1979. The former leader was tried and executed.

The new president proclaimed an amnesty for refugees and released some 5,000 political prisoners, but kept the absolute control he had inherited.

Officials said President Obiang Nguema won more than 97% of the vote in the country's most-recent presidential elections, in December 2002. Opposition candidates had withdrawn from the poll, citing fraud and irregularities.

An ethnic Fang, Teodoro Obiang Nguema was born in 1942 in mainland Equatorial Guinea. He received his military training in Spain and, after independence, served under his uncle-president, first as military governor of Bioko and then as presidential aide-de-camp.