Editing Politics of Equatorial Guinea (section)

==Political conditions==
A great deal of political party activity ensued when [[Equatorial Guinea]] attained autonomy from [[Spain]] in 1963. [[Bubi people|Bubi]] and [[Fernandino peoples|Fernandino]] parties on the island preferred separation from [[Río Muni]] or a loose federation. Ethnically based parties in Río Muni favored independence for a united country comprising [[Bioko]] and Río Muni, an approach that was adopted. The [[Movement for the Self-Determination of Bioko Island]] (MAIB), which advocates independence for the island under Bubi control, is one of the offshoots of the era immediately preceding independence.

Equatorial Guinea became independent from Spain on October 12, 1968.  Since then, the country has had [[Heads of State of Equatorial Guinea|two presidents]]: [[Francisco Macías Nguema]], who had been the mayor of [[Mongomo]] under the Spanish colonial government, and [[Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo]] Macías's nephew, who has ruled since 1979, when he staged a military [[coup d'état]] and executed his uncle. When Macías came to power, political activity largely ceased. Opposition figures among the exile communities in Spain and elsewhere agitated for reforms; some of them had been employed in the Macías and Obiang governments. After political activities in Equatorial Guinea were legalized in the early 1990s, some opposition leaders returned to test the waters, but repressive actions have continued sporadically.

The [[1982 Equatorial Guinean constitutional referendum|1982 Constitution]] gives Obiang extensive powers, including the right to name, and dismiss, members of the cabinet. The 1982 constitution also give him the power to make laws by decree, dissolve the Chamber of Representatives, negotiate and ratify international treaties, and calling legislative elections. Obiang retained his role as [[commander-in-chief]] of the armed forces and minister of defense when he became president and he maintains close supervision of military activity. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President and operates under powers designated by the president. The prime minister coordinates government activities in areas other than foreign affairs, national defense and security.

With the prodding of the [[United Nations]], the [[United States]], Spain, and other donor countries, the government undertook an electoral census in 1995 and held freely contested municipal elections, the country's first, in September. Most observers agree that these elections were relatively free and transparent and also that the opposition parties garnered between 2/3 and 3/4 of the total vote. The government delayed announcing the results, then claimed a highly dubious overall 52% victory, and capture of 19 of the 27 municipal councils. The council of [[Malabo]], the capital, went to the opposition however. In early January 1996 Obiang called presidential elections, to be held in six weeks. The campaign was marred by allegations of fraud, and most of the other candidates withdrew in the final week. Obiang claimed re-election with 98% of the vote. International observers agreed the election was neither free nor fair. In an attempt to mollify his critics, Obiang announced a new cabinet, giving minor portfolios to some people identified by the government as opposition figures.

Since President Obiang has been constrained only by a need to maintain a consensus among his advisers and political supporters in the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea, most of whom are drawn from the Nguema family in [[Mongomo]],<ref>
{{cite book
|page=2
|title=Polity IV Country Report 2010: Equatorial Guinea
|date=2010
|author=Political Instability Task Force
|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency
|url=http://www.systemicpeace.org/polity/EquatorialGuinea2010.pdf
}}</ref>
part of the [[Esangu]] subclan of the [[Fang people|Fang]] in the eastern part of Río Muni. Alleged coup attempts in 1981 and 1983 raised little sympathy among the populace.

Under Obiang, schools reopened and primary education expanded, public utilities and roads were restored, a favorable contrast with Macías' tyranny and terror, but his administration has been criticized for not implementing genuine democratic reforms. Corruption and a dysfunctional judicial system disrupt development of Equatorial Guinea's economy and society. In March 2001 the President appointed a new Prime Minister, [[Cándido Muatetema Rivas]], and replaced several ministers perceived to be especially corrupt. However, the government budget still does not include all revenues and expenditures. The [[United Nations Development Programme]] has proposed a broad governance reform program, but the Equatorial Guinean Government has not moved very rapidly to implement it.

Although Equatorial Guinea lacks a well-established democratic tradition comparable to the developed democracies of the West, it has progressed toward developing a participatory political system out of the anarchic, chaotic, and repressive conditions of the Macías years.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}} In power since 1979, the Obiang government has made little progress in stimulating the economy. Extremely serious health and sanitary conditions persist, and the educational system remains in desperate condition. Although the abuses and atrocities that characterized the Macías years have been eliminated, effective rule of law does not exist. Religious freedom is tolerated.

On December 15, 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200212160112.html |title=allAfrica.com: Equatorial Guinea: Obiang Sure to Win As Opposition Quits Poll (Page 1 of 1)<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-06-05 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044905/http://allafrica.com/stories/200212160112.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Equatorial Guinea's four main opposition parties withdrew from the country's presidential election. Obiang won an election widely considered fraudulent by members of the western press.

According to a March 2004 [[BBC]] profile,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3516588.stm | work=BBC News | title=Profile: Equatorial Guinea's great survivor | date=2004-03-17 | access-date=2010-05-22 | first=Nicholas | last=Shaxson | archive-date=2004-06-12 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040612221158/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/3516588.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> politics within the country are currently dominated by tensions between Obiang's son Teodoro (known by the nickname ''Teodorín'', meaning Little Teodoro), and other close relatives with powerful positions in the security forces. The tension may be rooted in a power shift arising from the dramatic increase since 1997 in oil production.

A November 2004 report<ref>
{{cite news
| url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/mark-thatcher?page=4
|title=Mark Thatcher
|work=The Guardian
|access-date=15 May 2014 
}}</ref> named [[Mark Thatcher]] as a financial backer of a March 2004 attempt to topple Obiang organized by [[Simon Mann]]. Various accounts also name the UK's [[MI6]], the US [[Central Intelligence Agency]], and Spain as having been tacit supporters of the coup attempt.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8830120/MI6-knew-about-Equatorial-Guinea-coup-plot-leader-claims.html
|title=MI6 knew about Equatorial Guinea coup plot, leader claims
|work=The Telegraph
|first=Martin 
|last=Evans
|date=16 October 2011
|access-date=15 May 2014
}}</ref> Nevertheless, an Amnesty International report on the ensuing trial highlights the government's failure to demonstrate in court that the alleged coup attempt had ever actually taken place.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releases/equatorial-guinea-new-report-shows-trial-alleged-mercenary-coup-plotters-unfair|title=Equatorial Guinea: New report shows trial of alleged 'mercenary coup plotters' unfair |work=Amnesty International|access-date=15 May 2014|date=7 June 2005}}</ref>