As late as the early 1990s, Equatorial Guinea was often presented as a backward and unappealing country. The country was not only bankrupt but also suffering from moral decay. By the early 2000s, stories on Equatorial Guinea made international headlines and Malabo (its capital) had become more appealing, awash with cash from major oil companies. Although these developments offered some promise for the future of this country, there has been little change in the bleak living conditions of most of the population.

Equatorial Guinea is located on the western coast of Africa, between Cameroon and Gabon. The total land area is about 28,051 square kilometers (10,828 square miles), and its total population is about 510,000. The country consists of a mainland area (Rio Muni Province) and five islands, the largest of which is Bioko. Several languages are spoken, including Fang, but Spanish is the official language. Equatorial Guinea is...