Country Description
Equatorial Guinea is a developing country in central Africa. Its
capital, Malabo, is located on the island of Bioko, off the coast of
Cameroon. Its principal port, Luba, is also on Bioko. The
mainland territory of Equatorial Guinea is located between Cameroon
and Gabon. The principal city on the mainland is Bata. Facilities
for tourism are limited. Official languages are Spanish, which
is widely spoken, and French, which is sometimes used in business dealings
and with government officials.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
A passport and evidence of a yellow fever vaccination is required to
enter Equatorial Guinea. Visa inquiries should be made at the
nearest Equato-guinean embassy or consulate.
The Government of Equatorial Guinea has established stringent currency
restrictions. Visitors for business or tourism must declare any
currency in excess of 50,000 Central African francs [CFA] [approximately
$90] upon arrival. Although this requirement is not clearly posted,
travelers who fail to disclose their excess currency risk the forfeiture
of any amount over the CFA 50,000 limit upon departure. They
may also be frisked and have their bags searched to ascertain whether
they are attempting to take excess currency out of the country.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: It is not uncommon for a uniformed member
of the security forces to stop motorists on the pretext of minor or
nonexistent violations of the local motor vehicle regulations in order
to extort small bribes. Visitors are advised not to pay bribes,
and to request that the officer provide a citation to be paid at the
local court. Although large public demonstrations are uncommon,
foreigners should avoid large crowds, political rallies, and street
demonstrations.
Foreigners should take responsibility for their own personal security
while traveling overseas.
CRIME:
Violent crime is rare and the overall level of criminal activity is
low in comparison to other countries in the region. However,
there has been a rise in non-violent street crime and residential
burglaries.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
The loss or theft abroad of a passport should be reported immediately
to the local police and the appropriate Embassy or Consulate. The
Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate
medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds
could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution
of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular
officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process
and to find an attorney if needed.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Medical facilities are extremely limited. Pharmacies in Malabo
and Bata stock basic medicines including antibiotics, but cannot be
counted on to supply advanced medications. Outside of these cities,
many medicines are unavailable. Travelers are advised to carry
any special medication that they require. The sanitation levels
in even the best hospitals are very low. Doctors and hospitals
often require immediate payment for health services, and patients are
expected to supply their own bandages, linen and toiletries.
Malaria is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. Plasmodium
falciparum malaria, the type that predominates in Equatorial Guinea,
is resistant to the antimalarial drug chloroquine. Because travelers
to the country are at high risk for contracting malaria, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] advises that travelers should
take one of the following antimalarial drugs: mefloquine [Lariam -
TM], doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil [Malarone -TM]. Travelers
who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in
a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should
seek prompt medical attention and tell the physician their travel history
and what antimalarials they have been taking.
There are periodic outbreaks of cholera in Equatorial Guinea. Yellow
fever can cause serious medical problems, but the vaccine, required
for entry, is very effective in preventing the disease.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as
safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be
obtained from the CDC’s Internet site at CDC.gov. For
information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the
World Health Organization’s [WHO] website at who.int. Further
health information for travelers is available at who.int/ith.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
Foreigners should consult with their medical insurance company prior
to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas
and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, foreigners may encounter road conditions
that differ significantly from those at home. The information
below concerning Equatorial Guinea is provided for general reference
only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or
circumstance.
Equatorial Guinea's road networks, both paved and unpaved, are underdeveloped
and unsafe. During the rainy season, many roads are passable
only with four-wheel-drive vehicles. New road construction and
repair is taking place in Malabo, Bata, and a few outlying areas, but
only a fraction of the roadways have been affected. There are
few road and traffic signs. Livestock and pedestrians create
constant road hazards.
Travelers outside the limits of Malabo and Bata may expect to encounter
occasional military roadblocks. These are in place largely for
the control of illegal immigration and smuggling. Travelers should
be prepared to show proper identification [for example, a passport]
and to explain their reason for being at that particular location. The
personnel staffing these checkpoints normally do not speak or understand
English or French; travelers who do not speak Spanish would do well
to have their reason for being in the country and their itinerary written
down in Spanish before venturing into the countryside.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
There are no navigational aids at Bata Airport. At Malabo Airport,
there are navigational aids, and the airport accommodates night landings. Special
clearances are required to land in or to over fly Equato-guinean territory.
Commercial air travel to and from Equatorial Guinea can be difficult,
but is improving. Some regional airlines may not meet international
safety standards. The island of Bioko and the mainland are connected
by several small airlines offering daily service. Malabo is served
by European airlines that fly in and out of the country a few times
per week from Madrid, Amsterdam, Paris and Zurich. The airlines
of nearby Cameroon and Gabon also fly there, although their schedules
are subject to change or cancellation without notice, and their flights
tend to be extremely crowded.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Equatorial Guinea has a strictly cash economy. Credit cards and
checks are not accepted; credit card cash advances are not available
and there are no ATMs. In addition, most local businesses do
not accept travelers' checks, dollars or euros. However, dollars
can be changed at local banks for CFA. Cash in CFA is usually
the only form of payment accepted throughout the country.
Special permits from the Ministry of Information and Tourism [or from
the local delegation if outside Malabo] are required for virtually
all types of photography. Police or security officials may charge
a fine, attempt to take a violator into custody, or seize the camera
and film of persons photographing the Presidential Palace and its environs,
military installations, airports, harbors, government buildings, and
other areas.
Travelers are advised that the possession of camouflage-patterned clothing,
large knives, binoculars, firearms, or a variety of other items may
be deemed suspicious by the security forces and grounds for confiscation
of the item and detention of the carrier.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, a foreigner is subject to that country's
laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those
at home and may not afford the protections available to the individual
under their own nations law. Penalties for breaking the law
can be more severe than at home for similar offenses. Persons
violating Equato-guinean laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled,
arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking
in illegal drugs are strictly enforced. Convicted offenders
can expect jail sentences and fines. Engaging in illicit sexual
conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography
in a foreign country is a crime.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION:
Foreigers living or traveling in Equatorial Guinea are encouraged to
register with their Embassy.