Editing Equatorial Guinea (section)

=== Languages ===
{{Main|Equatoguinean Spanish|Academia Ecuatoguineana de la Lengua Española}}
[[File:Malabo (16511251451).jpg|thumb|left|Floral inscription with the name of the country in Spanish in [[Malabo]]]]

Since its independence in 1968, the main official language of Equatorial Guinea has been Spanish (the local variant is [[Equatoguinean Spanish]]), which acts as a lingua franca among its different ethnic groups. In 1970, during Macías' rule, Spanish was replaced by [[Fang language|Fang]], the language of its [[Fang people|majority ethnic group]], to which Macías belonged. That decision was reverted in 1979 after Macías' fall. Spanish remained as its lone official language until 1998, when French was added as its second one, as it had previously joined the [[Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa]] (CEMAC), whose founding members are French-speaking nations, two of them (Cameroon and Gabon) surrounding its continental region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/anuario/anuario_09/gil_otero/p05.htm|title=5. Guinea Ecuatorial - Centro Virtual Cervantes|language=es|access-date=25 January 2022|archive-date=26 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126002920/https://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/anuario/anuario_09/gil_otero/p05.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CIA /> Portuguese was adopted as its third official language in 2010.<ref name="CPLP">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/id-258.aspx|title=Guiné Equatorial|publisher=CPLP|access-date=28 November 2014|language=pt|archive-date=27 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141127113041/http://www.cplp.org/id-258.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="sol">{{cite web|url=http://www.sol.pt/noticia/99354|title=Formação de professores e programas televisivos introduzem português na Guiné-Equatorial|language=pt|trans-title=Teacher formation and television programs introduce Portuguese in Equatorial Guinea|publisher=Sol|date=5 February 2014|access-date=27 November 2014|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101000230/http://www.sol.pt/noticia/99354|url-status=live}}</ref> Spanish has been an official language since 1844. It is still the language of education and administration. 67.6% of Equatorial Guineans can speak it, especially those living in the capital, [[Malabo]].<ref name=obi>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080216191116/http://actualidad.terra.es/internacional/articulo/obiang_comunidad_naciones_1710388.htm Obiang convierte al portugués en tercer idioma oficial para entrar en la Comunidad lusófona de Naciones], ''Terra''. 13 July 2007</ref> French was only made official in order to join the [[Organisation internationale de la Francophonie|Francophonie]], and it is not locally spoken, except in some border towns; and Portuguese was only made official in order to join the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]], so it too is not locally spoken, although the Annobonese and local Catholics have links to the language.

Aboriginal languages are recognised as integral parts of the "national culture" (Constitutional Law No. 1/1998, 21 January). Indigenous languages (some of them [[Creole language|creoles]]) include [[Fang language|Fang]], [[Bube language|Bube]], [[Benga language|Benga]], [[Combe language|Ndowe]], [[Balengue language|Balengue]], [[Bujeba language|Bujeba]], Bissio, Gumu, [[Igbo language|Igbo]], [[Pichinglis]], [[Annobonese language|Fa d'Ambô]] and the nearly extinct [[Baseke language|Baseke]]. Most African ethnic groups speak [[Bantu languages]].<ref name="GEpress_noticia134en">[http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=134&lang=en Oficina de Información y Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial, Ministerio de Información, Cultura y Turismo] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109193517/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=134&lang=en |date=9 January 2014 }}. Guineaecuatorialpress.com. Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref>

[[File:Lenguas de Guinea Ecuatorial.png|thumb|African languages of Equatorial Guinea and its environment.]]

[[Annobonese language|Fa d'Ambô]], a Portuguese creole, is in use in [[Annobón Province]], in Malabo, and on Equatorial Guinea's mainland. Many residents of Bioko can also speak Spanish, particularly in the capital, and the local trade language, [[Pichinglis]], an English-based creole. Spanish is not spoken much in Annobón. In government and education, Spanish is used. Noncreolized Portuguese is used as a liturgical language by local Catholics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethnologue.com/language/fab|title=Fa d'Ambu|work=Ethnologue (Free All) |publisher=Ethnologue|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=7 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190407195306/https://www.ethnologue.com/language/fab|url-status=live}}</ref> The Annobonese ethnic community tried to gain membership in the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]] (CPLP). The government financed an [[International Portuguese Language Institute|Instituto Internacional da Língua Portuguesa]] (IILP) sociolinguistic study in Annobón. It documented strong links with the Portuguese creole populations in São Tomé and Príncipe, Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.<ref name="sol" />

Due to historical and cultural ties, in 2010, the legislature amended Article 4 of the [[Constitution of Equatorial Guinea]] to establish Portuguese as an official language of the Republic. This was an effort by the government to improve its communications, trade, and bilateral relations with Portuguese-speaking countries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equatorial-guinea-adds-portuguese-as-the-countrys-third-official-language-131882808.html|title=Equatorial Guinea Adds Portuguese as the Country's Third Official Language|publisher=PRNewsWire|date=14 October 2011|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612163747/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equatorial-guinea-adds-portuguese-as-the-countrys-third-official-language-131882808.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GuineEqGov">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703l|title=El portugués será el tercer idioma oficial de la República de Guinea Ecuatorial|publisher=Gobierno de la Republica de Guinea Ecuatoria|access-date=15 November 2010|language=es|archive-date=3 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150903222205/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703l}}</ref><ref name="GuineEqGovPDF">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/imgdb/2010/20-7-2010Decretosobreelportuguescomoidiomaoficial.pdf|title=Proyecto de Ley Constitucional|publisher=Gobierno de la Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial|date=14 October 2011|access-date=15 November 2010|archive-date=3 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103202646/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/imgdb/2010/20-7-2010Decretosobreelportuguescomoidiomaoficial.pdf}}</ref> It also recognises long historical ties with Portugal and with Portuguese-speaking peoples of Brazil, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde.

Some of the motivations for Equatorial Guinea's pursuit of membership in the [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries]] (CPLP) included access to several professional and academic exchange programmes and facilitated cross-border circulation of citizens.<ref name=obi /> The adoption of Portuguese as an official language was the primary requirement to apply for CPLP acceptance. In addition, the country was told it must adopt political reforms allowing effective democracy and respect for human rights.<ref>[http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703 "Portuguese will be the third official language of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104083320/http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=703 |date=4 November 2011 }}. ''Guinea Ecuatorial Press'', (20 July 2010). Retrieved on 5 May 2013.</ref> The national parliament discussed this law in October 2011.<ref name="GEpress_noticia1980">{{cite web|url=http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=1980|title=S. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo clausura el Segundo Periodo Ordinario de Sesiones del pleno de la Cámara de Representantes del Pueblo|language=es|trans-title=President Obiang closes second session period of parliament|author=María Jesús Nsang Nguema (Prensa Presidencial)|publisher=Oficina de Información y Prensa de Guinea Ecuatorial (D. G. Base Internet)|date=15 October 2011|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=7 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107084939/http://guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=1980|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2012, Equatorial Guinea's foreign minister signed an agreement with the IILP on the promotion of Portuguese in the country.<ref name="IILP_Blog2012-02-07">{{cite web|url=http://iilp.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/assinado-termo-de-cooperacao-entre-iilp-e-guine-equatorial/|title=Assinado termo de cooperação entre IILP e Guiné Equatorial|language=pt|trans-title=Protocol signed on cooperation between IILP and Guinea Equatorial|publisher=Instituto Internacional de Língua Portuguesa|date=7 February 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222061328/http://iilp.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/assinado-termo-de-cooperacao-entre-iilp-e-guine-equatorial/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CPLP_News1875">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1875|title=Protocolo de Cooperação entre a Guiné-Equatorial e o IILP|language=pt|trans-title=Protocol on cooperation between IILP and Guinea Equatorial|publisher=CPLP|date=7 February 2012|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=13 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120713062429/http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1875|url-status=live}} This note contains a link to the text of the protocol in PDF format.</ref> In July 2012, the CPLP refused Equatorial Guinea full membership, primarily because of its continued serious violations of human rights. The government responded by legalising political parties, declaring a moratorium on the death penalty, and starting a dialog with all political factions.<ref name="sol" /><ref name="expr">{{cite web|url=https://expresso.sapo.pt/cplp-vai-ajudar-guine-equatorial-a-assimilar-valores=f890337|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141124094752/http://expresso.sapo.pt/cplp-vai-ajudar-guine-equatorial-a-assimilar-valores=f890337|archive-date=24 November 2014|title=CPLP vai ajudar Guiné-Equatorial a "assimilar valores"|language=pt|publisher=Expresso|date=20 September 2014|access-date=24 November 2012}}</ref> Additionally, the IILP secured land from the government for the construction of Portuguese language cultural centres in Bata and Malabo.<ref name="sol" /> At its tenth summit in [[Dili]] in July 2014, Equatorial Guinea was admitted as a CPLP member. Abolition of the death penalty and the promotion of Portuguese as an official language were preconditions of the approval.<ref name="CPLP_NewsID1635">{{cite web|url=http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1635|title=Nota informativa: Missão da CPLP à Guiné Equatorial|language=pt|publisher=CPLP|date=3 May 2011|access-date=27 March 2012|archive-date=12 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212105328/http://www.cplp.org/Default.aspx?ID=316&M=News&PID=304&NewsID=1635|url-status=live}}</ref>