The Need for EG Justice

The West-Central African nation of Equatorial Guinea (EG), a former Spanish colony, consists of an area approximately the size of Maryland and a population of approximately 600,000. At present EG is the third largest oil-exporting nation in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2008, oil and natural gas accounted for over 90 percent of the nation’s US$15.82 billion in exports. Despite these extraordinarily rich resources, and a per capita income exceeding that of Italy, the vast majority of its population lives in poverty on less than two US dollars per day.

Since independence in 1968, Equatorial Guinea has suffered under two corrupt and undemocratic governments whose oppressive rule and mismanagement of the economy have resulted in systematic deprivation of the population. The current regime maintains power through arbitrary detentions without trial, suppression of public participation in political activities, torture and even execution of its critics. Yet because of the strategic economic importance of oil and natural gas, many countries have been reluctant to criticize or enforce regulations against the nation’s ruling regime.

At current extraction rates and proven reserves, the country’s oil reserves are estimated to run out in 20 years, only providing a narrow window of opportunity to use windfall oil profits to curb the nation’s ubiquitous poverty. This does however offer an unparalleled opening to push for meaningful reform in the areas of human rights, transparency and the rule of law. EGJustice is making that push.