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Election Date: April 25, 2004

At Stake: Chamber of People's Representatives

Background

Equatorial Guinea is a coastal territory located between Cameroon and Gabon, which also includes the islands of Bioko and Annabon. Two relatives have ruled the African nation since it attained its independence from Spain in 1968. Francisco Macías Nguema administered the country for 11 years, but constant abuses to human rights forced a third of the population to flee.

Teodoro Obiang Nguema ousted his uncle in 1979, and ordered his execution. Despite releasing many political prisoners during his first few days as ruler, Obiang has maintained Equatorial Guinea's overly repressive culture, where dissent frequently leads to punishment.

When petroleum deposits were discovered in the island of Bioko in 1996, Obiang turned the country into one of Africa's leading oil and gas producers. The opposition claims that the average inhabitant has seen little or no benefits from the gleaming industry.

The country has also endured racial tensions involving the Fang community, located in the mainland, and the minority Bubi who live in Bioko. In 1998, 15 people were sentenced to death by a military tribunal after violence erupted in the island.

The first open presidential election was held in 1996, with Obiang garnering 99 per cent of the popular vote as the candidate for the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE). The ballot was internationally rebuked for fraudulent conditions.

After the 1999 legislative election, several members of the opposition Popular Union (UP) were arrested after declaring that the vote had been rigged. In July 2001, exiled activist Florentino Ecomo Nsogo of the Party of Reconstruction and Social Well-Being (PRBS) returned to Equatorial Guinea after Obiang made a public commitment to allow opposition parties to register.

The 2002 presidential election was also marred by irregularities, as four candidates withdrew before the vote took place. Celestino Bonifacio Bacale of the Convergence for Social Democracy (CPDS) complained that citizens were not allowed to cast their votes in secret, and Buenaventura Moswi of the Social Democratic Coalition Party (PCSD) claimed that only the president's name was included in the ballots used in several voting stations, making it impossible for the electorate to choose an opposition contender.

In November 2003, the European Union (EU) committed international observers to the Equatorial Guinea parliamentary election. The proposal was brought forth to the EU by Plácido Micó Abogo, current leader of the CPDS. Micó was arrested for political dissent along with 67 political activists in 2002, for his role in an alleged coup attempt. After a confession purportedly obtained through torture, Micó was kept in jail for more than a year. The trial originally considered capital punishment as a possible sentence.

The interior ministry agreed to fund the electoral campaigns of the country's 13 contending parties in the 2004 parliamentary vote. Each political organization received $18,230 U.S. to finance their activities.

Voters participated in the electoral process on Apr. 25. Some opposition representatives alleged irregularities, including the use of bogus polling stations. CPDS members said their party stood to garner close to 40 per cent of all cast ballots, a marked improvement from the 5.3 per cent enjoyed in 1999.

Final results were released on May 4. The ruling PDGE was the winner with 68 seats, followed by the Democratic Opposition (OP), a loose alliance of several political organizations with close ties to the president. The CPDS—widely regarded as the lone alternative to government-friendly parties—won only two seats with 5.8 per cent.

Micó of the CPDS described the election as "fraudulent and illegal." Four foreign monitors—including Spanish senator Juan José Laborda—said the overwhelming victory for president Obiang and his supporters was "not very credible." Laborda stated that in some polling stations, the CPDS received more than 31 per cent of all ballots, a fact that suggested a much higher share of the vote than the final tally indicated.

On Jun. 11, Cándido Muatetema Rivas resigns as prime minister. On Jun. 14, president Obiang names Miguel Abia Biteo Borico as Equatorial Guinea's new prime minister. The new cabinet included Obiang's half-brother Antonio Mba Nguema as the new defence minister. Foreign minister Pastor Micha Ondo, finance minister Marcelino Owono Edu, and interior minister Clemente Engonga Nguema retained their respective posts.

Political Players

President: Teodoro Obiang Nguema - PDGE
Prime minister: Miguel Abia Biteo Borico - PDGE

The president is elected to a seven-year term by the popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo (Chamber of People's Representatives) has 100 members, elected to a five-year term by proportional representation in multi-member constituencies. Before the 2004 election, the Chamber had 80 members.

Results of Last Election:

President - Dec. 15, 2002

Chamber of People's Representatives - Apr. 25, 2004

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