As we reported yesterday, the Government is working against the clock to implement the on-line visa system. On Thursday 26th January, H. E. Nguema Obiang Mangue once again met the inter-ministerial commission and the United Arab Emirates company, VSF Global, at the People’s palace in Malabo, to speed up work on the project that will further open the country’s doors to the world.
With just one click, the tourist can obtain a visa to visit Equatorial Guinea from anywhere in the world. This is the new policy that the Vice-President of the Republic wishes to promote, insisting that any foreigner wanting to travel to the country should not be stifled by a lot of administrative bureaucracy.
On this issue, H. E. Nguema Obiang Mangue is continuing to lead meetings on the on-line visa project, with work this time focusing on payment methods and other security aspects.
According to the website designed by the Emirati company, VFS-Global, the applicant will be able to make the payment via a prepaid card.
Nguema Obiang Mangue is aware that cyber-attacks have left several computer security systems vulnerable. For that reason, he enquired about how the website would guarantee to the Government of Equatorial Guinea and the airline companies that the visa obtained by the tourist was authentic.
The concern of the Vice-President of the Council of Ministers arises following reports about manipulation, theft and subsequent transfer of the Equatorial Guinea GQ domain to a Dutch company, by the French who manage the Orange company in Equatorial Guinea. An action that Nguema Obiang Mangue has described as interference in our system and a blockade on cyberspace progress.
To that end, he has ordered the state lawyers to look into the issue.
The Head of Defence and Security wants Equatorial Guinea to open up to the world to further boost the tourism sector, but insisted that the security of his compatriots and the country’s territorial integrity are non-negotiable.
In the meantime, before the official launch, the member of the Government wants to ensure that any tourist applying for the visa on-line enters Equatorial Guinea legally.
After a detailed review and check that the recommendations made at the working session held on Wednesday had already been included in the project, Nguema Obiang Nguema once again stated that this website should integrate the airlines so that they, in turn, can certify the authenticity of the visas, since the implementation of the on-line visa will not now be effective as of 1st February.
Likewise, from next Monday, Malabo will begin training the technicians who will carry out these services. A proposal for the creation of an on-line visa application will also be made.
All these aspects to improve the implementation of the on-line visa have influenced the decision of the Equatoguinean Executive to delay the date foreseen for its launch, with the aim of being in a position to offer a quality product for Equatorial Guinea, which will contribute towards putting an end to the bureaucratic process that non-nationals have had to undergo in order to obtain an entry visa to Equatorial Guinea.
Source: Official Web Page of the Government