República de Guinea Ecuatorial

Area: 10,830 sq. mi. (28,051 sq. km).

Population: 743,600 (2012E—UN); 685,991 (2012E—U.S. Census).

Major Urban Centers (2005E): MALABO (Bioko, 90,000), Bata (Río Muni, 70,000).

Official Language: Spanish. (French was adopted as a “commercial” language in September 1997 during a period of friction between Malabo and Madrid. In addition various African dialects are spoken, and pidgin English serves as a commercial lingua franca.)

Monetary Unit: CFA franc (official rate November 5, 2012: 513.15 CFA francs = $1US). The CFA franc, previously pegged to the French franc, is now permanently pegged to the euro at 655.957 CFA francs = 1 euro.

President: Gen. Teodoro OBIANG Nguema Mbasogo (Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea), assumed power as president of a Supreme Military Council following the ouster of MACIE ...