Equatorial Guinea has officially changed its capital from Malabo to Ciudad de La Paz, the government announced through a presidential decree. Malabo, located on Bioko Island, has served as the nation’s capital for decades, but the relocation to the mainland has been under discussion for nearly 20 years. President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo cited strategic and developmental reasons for the move, including the need to centralize government operations on the mainland and address Malabo’s rapid urban growth. Ciudad de La Paz is situated in the heart of the Equatorial forest, offering a more central location for national governance.
According to the decree, all presidential offices, government agencies, and public enterprises are expected to relocate from Malabo within one year. The decree does not clarify whether foreign embassies will follow the move, leaving some diplomatic arrangements uncertain. The relocation mirrors similar moves in other African nations, such as Nigeria’s shift from Lagos to Abuja, aimed at promoting balanced regional development and improving administrative efficiency.
