Equatorial Guinea explained to kids

Equatorial Guinea is a country in Central Africa. The official languages are French and Spanish. The capital city is Malabo. Equatorial Guinea is located on the west coast of Africa. It is bordered by Cameroon to the north, Gabon to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The country has an area of 28,051 square kilometers (10,830 square miles). The population of Equatorial Guinea is 1,222,292 (2019 estimate). Most people in the country are of African descent. The largest ethnic groups are the Fang, Bubi, and Ndowe. The economy of Equatorial Guinea is based on oil and gas. The country is a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The first Europeans to visit Equatorial Guinea were the Portuguese in the 1470s. The country was later colonized by Spain. Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain in 1968. The government of Equatorial Guinea is a dictatorship. The president is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. He has been in power since 1979.