Category: General

The UNAIDS Representative in Equatorial Guinea, Jeanne Seck, read the UNAIDS Executive Director’s message to the press to mark World AIDS Day on 1st December.

The message reveals the importance of restoring equality in order to end AIDS. Within the context of equality, it is also imperative to achieve that equality for women and girls in order to reduce the risk of infection; hence the importance of enabling girls to complete their secondary education.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

Africa’s advances in maternal, infant mortality face setbacks: WHO report

Brazzaville – A slowdown in the progress made during the past decade against maternal and infant mortality is projected in the African region, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report released today finds.

The Atlas of African Health Statistics 2022 assessed the nine targets related to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on health and found that at the current pace, increased investment is needed to accelerate progress towards the targets. Among the most difficult to achieve will be reducing maternal mortality.

In sub-Saharan Africa, it is estimated that 390 women will die in childbirth for every 100 000 live births by 2030, the Atlas 2022 reports. This is more than five times above the 2030 SDG target of fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births, and much higher than the average of 13 deaths per 100 000 live births witnessed in Europe in 2017. It is more than the global average of 211. To reach the SDG target, Africa will need an 86% reduction from 2017 rates, the last time data was reported, an unrealistic feat at the current rate of decline.

The region’s infant mortality rate stands at 72 per 1000 live births. At the current 3.1% annual rate of decline, there will be an expected 54 deaths per 1000 live births by 2030, far above the reduction target of fewer than 25 per 1000.

“Africa has scored some of the fastest reduction rates globally in key health objectives, but the momentum is waning. This means that for many African women, childbirth remains a persistent risk and millions of children do not live long enough to celebrate their fifth birthday,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “It is crucial that governments make a radical course-correction, surmount the challenges and speed up the pace towards the health goals. These goals aren’t mere milestones, but the very foundations of healthier life and well-being for millions of people.”

Although the region is witnessing a decelerating momentum towards key health objectives such as vaccine coverage, it has made remarkable progress in some areas during the first decade of the 21st century. Under-5 mortality fell by 35%; neonatal death rates dropped by 21%; and maternal mortality declined by 28%. In the last decade, advances in all three targets have flatlined, particularly for maternal mortality. While Africa has advanced on family planning, with 56.3% of women of reproductive age (15-49) having their family planning needs satisfied with modern contraceptive methods in 2020, the region is still far below the global average of 77% and the worst performing.

The slowdown has been exacerbated by the disruptive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crucial health services such as postnatal care for women and newborns, neonatal intensive care units, and antenatal care services, immunization services were disrupted during the pandemic. Since 2021, Africa has also faced a resurgence in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks. Measles cases rose by 400% between January and March 2022 compared with the same period the year before.

Inadequate investment in health and funding for health programmes are some of the major drawbacks to meeting the SDG on health. For example, a 2022 WHO survey of 47 African countries found that the region has a ratio of 1.55 health workers (physicians, nurses and midwives) per 1000 people, below the WHO threshold density of 4.45 health workers per 1000 people needed to deliver essential health services and achieve universal health coverage.

In the African region, 65% of births are attended by skilled health personnel – the lowest globally and far off the 2030 target of 90%, according to the Atlas 2022. Skilled birth attendants are crucial for the well-being of women and newborns. Neonatal deaths account for nearly half of all under-5 mortality. Accelerating the agenda to meet its reduction goal will be a major step toward reducing the under-5 mortality rate to fewer than 25 deaths per 1000 live births.

The Atlas 2022 also presents the latest data for more than 50 health-related indicators of the SDGs and provides comprehensive country-level statistics for the region.

WHO held a press conference today led by Dr Humphrey Karamagi, Senior Technical Officer, Health Systems Development, WHO Regional Office for Africa. He was joined by Dr Benjamin Tsofa, Principal Research Officer, Kenya Medical Research Institute.

Also on hand from WHO Regional Office for Africa to answer questions were Dr Fiona Braka, Team Lead, Emergency Operations; Dr Fank Lule, Medical Officer, HIV/AIDS Treatment and Care; and Dr Serge Bataliack, Strategic Health Information Officer.

Source: World Health Organization

Equatorial Guinea’s Ambassador to the European Union, Carmelo Nvono-Ncá, who has been leading negotiations to be removed from the EU’s Aviation Blacklist for years, once again met the European Commission’s Aviation Safety Unit to sign a historic agreement that will instigate key negotiations on this issue.

Specifically, Nvono-Ncá met Peter Sorensen, Director of the Air Safety Unit from the European Commission General Directorate for Mobility and Transport, and Clarisa Barbero, Aviation Policy Officer. This meeting served no less than to ratify and specify what will be the first official aviation agreement between the European Union and Equatorial Guinea.

This historic agreement, financed entirely by the European Union, will kick-start the work that could enable Equatorial Guinea to be removed from the European Aviation Blacklist. During the first phase, technical work will be carried out by the Equatorial Guinea Aviation Agency and the EU Safety Agency (EASA). Subsequently, in what is expected to be early 2023, this will include coordinated work with the EU’s Directorate General for Mobility and Transport.

Historic agreement towards leaving Aviation Blacklist

This first stage is expected to be completed around May next year, leading to the following stages and a final examination. This first important step will open the door for Equatorial Guinea to meet the necessary technical requirements to allow national carriers such as Ceiba and Cronos to be removed from the list. It is expected that the removal could be formalised at some point during 2024.

Through this historic agreement, Ambassador Nvono-Ncá brings to a successful conclusion the only challenge left to him after eleven years in charge of the Diplomatic Mission in Brussels. As he stated, “the mission I was given in this regard has been more than fulfilled. I hope that national authorities will be able to carry out and continue the work that is incumbent on them, so that our airlines can finally fly in international airspace with full rights”.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

Equatorial Guinea has confirmed the re-election of President H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, following his proclamation as winner of the 20th November elections.

The PDGE political programme triumphed after gaining 94.9 % of the vote, according to the National Electoral Board. This success was achieved thanks to the strategic plan designed by the National Campaign Director, Nguema Obiang Mangue, which was also ratified on Wednesday 30th November by the Constitutional Court.

“The successful organisation of the campaign and the conviction of party militants emphasise the undisputed political leadership of its President Founder which has led to the victory of the PDGE in these elections that we are all celebrating today with all the pride, euphoria and pomposity it deserves,” said Nguema Obiang Mangue, in his campaign summary report.

“We are fully hopeful that the trust received in the past from the Equatoguinean people, once again confirmed today, will be the same trust we will continue to receive in the future in order to continue guiding the Republic of Equatorial Guinea along the desired path of sustainable development, and to a permanently peaceful, safe harbour, towards the desired emergence of our country through Horizonte 2035, until time and circumstances dictate otherwise,” added the National Campaign Director when addressing the audience.

A total of three candidates stood in the elections: Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, from the PDGE and coalition made up of 14 political parties, Andres Esono Ondo’s CPDS and Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu’s PCSD.

In addition to the State judiciary, these groupings were on the one hand vying for control of the Senate and Parliament, and of town halls located throughout Equatorial Guinea on the other. However, the voice of the people has been heard at the ballot box, tipping the balance in favour of the PDGE and its coalition, which won a majority of seats in both chambers.

In that sense, in his campaign summary report, the PDGE Vice-President stressed that the political programme presented by the candidate elect, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, had once again been accepted by the Equatoguinean population as addressing crucial issues in various sectors of society.

“The PDGE electoral programme presented for the 2022 elections is historic in the sense that it systematically covers all the key sectors making up a society called on to achieve the sustainable human development paradigm laid down in the 2035 Agenda,” said Nguema Obiang Mangue, at another point in his speech.

The party’s National Office headquarters is celebrating its victory in style, after obtaining an overwhelming majority in the 1,486 polling stations, once again gaining leadership of the highest State magistracy by winning 100 seats in the Lower Chamber, 55 in the Upper Chamber, in addition to control in hundreds of councils that will guide the destiny of Equatorial Guinea for a term of 7 and 5 years, respectively.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

On Friday 18th November, the campaign for next Sunday’s Presidential, Legislative and Municipal elections in the Republic of Equatorial Guinea came to a close.

The final PDGE and coalition candidate political rally took place in the new Malabo Stadium, where more than 60 young people and CPDS militants rejoined the ranks of the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.

The ceremony took place in the presence of the Vice-President of the Party and President of the PDGE Specialist Women’s Organisation, H. E. Constancia Mangue de Obiang, the President of the Youth Federation and National Director of the PDGE Electoral Campaign, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, and the Deputy General Secretaries and Second, Third and Fourth Deputy National Directors, Armando Ela Nsue Mengue, Judit Nfono Ngomo Nchama and Dolores Nchama Alogo Nsa, respectively.

The event was also attended by all PDGE structures, federated organisations and related associations, militants and sympathisers from the districts of Malabo, Baney, the Municipality of Rebola and other urban districts, who went to hear political speeches from the Mayoress of Malabo, the Campaign Coordinator, and words from an elder.

The Secretary General and First Deputy National Director, Jerónimo Osa Osa Ecoro, presented to the audience the electoral programme set out by Candidate Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose actions to be introduced will represent continuity, progress and political and social stability.

More than 12 political parties from the democratic opposition are supporting the People’s Candidate, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, in these presidential elections, and their respective groupings are also running in coalition with the PDGE in the hope of winning 75 Senate seats, 100 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and more than 1,000 town councillors.

Teodoro Nguema Obiang, National Campaign Director, conveyed the political message of the People’s Candidate of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea to the people who had gathered.

“I give you the customary greeting of peace,” was how Obiang Nguema Mbasogo began his speech, in his significant reflections.

The PDGE candidate also spoke of his election within the party as candidate for President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea for the next seven years, and explained that in order to avoid further expense it had been decided to organise these three elections -Presidential, Legislative and Municipal-, together, since the country was suffering an economic crisis due to the low price of hydrocarbons, the COVID-19 pandemic and 7M, in addition to the wars ravaging the world as a whole.

The political agenda from the nation’s highest leader also provides a prominent place for women, which is why the quota for women’s participation in the National Parliament, local governments and the central executive has gone up to 35%.

Equatoguinean youth, as the next generation, led by Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, was also called upon to contribute towards the country’s development; thus priority was given to their training and incorporation within the highest State management bodies.

At another point in his discourse, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo described as courageous the leaders of the democratic opposition political parties who have decided to work alongside the Government and the PDGE for the consolidation of the nation’s genuine democratic process.

H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo congratulated the political leadership of his party for the magnificent organisation of the electoral campaign; thanks and congratulations that were also extended to all the militants who have contributed financially to the success of this political party.

During the fifteen days of the nationwide election campaign, the PDGE rallies have been marked by a massive turnout of people from all parts of the country, whether provincially, regionally and nationally.

Dances, baleles and folk groups entertained the political rally in which security and public order services, health services, civil protection and the media worked side by side before, during and after the political event.

And the political atmosphere, according to party leaders in the provinces of Kie Ntem, Djibloho, Centro Sur, Wele Nzas, Litoral, Annobon, Bioko Sur and Norte was favourable for the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea.

They are all hoping, as on previous occasions, for an overwhelming victory on Sunday 20th November throughout the national territory of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

The PDGE Campaign National Director, H. E. Nguema Obiang Mangue, spoke about the institutional message of the PDGE candidate.

At the beginning of his speech, he said that the aim of the PDGE was to carry forward the political programme devised by the ruling party.

In these elections, the PDGE has received the endorsement of the 14 coalition political parties, which they recognise for their commitment to the cause of the people.

The PDGE candidate’s message expressed full understanding that the country’s development had been supported by government decisions. “We have always maintained the spirit of democracy, in order to choose the best alternative in which the people can participate. On the one hand, the law brings a legislature to a close, and on the other, the people decide the historical destiny of the country”

“The essential thing about Equatorial Guinea: there are colonial influences and we cannot forget the 11 sad years of the sad memory, and we cannot forget the years of progress that our country is going through”.

The institutional message acknowledges bad memories of the past, and we must look at where we have come from and where we are going. He recalled that the oil crisis was cyclical. However, he also advised exploring other sources of income for the country’s development, such as tourism, to name but one.

The development achieved in the country has been thanks to the policies of the PDGE. There are those who want to give us lessons in Human Rights, but we cannot achieve development without social cohesion, and therefore respect for individual rights.

Regarding the global crisis, the government is creating jobs in the public administration.

To reaffirm the country’s development policies, he stressed that a friend you know was better than one you were yet to meet.

As the founding ideal of the PDGE, it is time to do good and avoid evil, so he advised the people not to be swayed by destructive political influences.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

Message of congratulations from the Equatorial Guinea Ambassador Permanent Representative before the UN in New York, to H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, on the overwhelming landslide victory of the governing party, in the recent 2022 Presidential Elections. We are including the message of congratulations here.

Message of congratulations from the Equatorial Guinea Ambassador Permanent Representative before the UN in New York, to H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, on the overwhelming landslide victory of the governing party, in the recent 2022 Presidential Elections.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government

Message of congratulations from the Consulate General of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in Dubai, United Arab Emirates to H. E. Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on his re-election as President of the Republic The full message is included here.

The Consul General of Equatorial Guinea in Dubai, Román Obama Ekua Abeme, signed the congratulatory message sent from the Consulate General of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to the President of the Republic, on his re-election as leader of the country’s plans.

Source: Official Web Page of the Government