Equatorial Guinea

Malabo is the capital of Equatorial Guinea, situated on Bioko Island in the Gulf of Guinea. It’s one of the few African capitals located off the mainland and reflects the country’s Spanish colonial history—Spanish is an official language, making Equatorial Guinea unique in sub‑Saharan Africa. The government is developing a planned capital, Ciudad de la Paz (formerly Oyala), on the mainland, but Malabo remains the official capital. The other options are capitals of neighboring states: Libreville (Gabon), Brazzaville (Republic of the Congo), and N'Djamena (Chad). Memory tip: Malabo on Bioko—both end with "bo"—and Equatorial Guinea’s Spanish heritage pairs with the Spanish-sounding name Malabo.