Month: September 2015

21.09.2015

On 17 September, Prime Minister for Administrative Coordination, Vicente Ehate Tomi, presided over the presentation of the preliminary results of Equatorial Guinea’s population census for the 2015 year.

During this ceremony, Minister of Economy, Planning and Public Investments, Eucario Bakale Angue, reported that Equatorial Guinea currently has a population of 1,222,442 inhabitants—882,747 in the continental region (72.2% of the total population) and 339,695 in the insular region (27.8%). Of this, 651,820 are male, 570,622 are female (with a discrepancy between the two due to the number of foreign labourers in the country, which are mostly male). Foreigners in Equatorial Guinea amount to 209,612 inhabitants.

The Minister thanked the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund for their support in the preparation of this census based on international surveying standards.

The full report can be viewed here.

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=6929

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17.09.2015

On 14 September, the meeting of African National Coordinators of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) opened in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Delegate Minister of Mines, Industry and Energy, H.E. Fidel Mañé Ncogo, led this important event which seeks to bring together African countries to find a common position ahead of the EITI Global Conference, taking place in Lima, Peru in February 2016. The meeting in Malabo is the second in a series of meetings in Africa on EITI, with the first taking place in June in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast. Participant countries discuss ongoing issues related to the EITI standard and its impact on the extractive industries in Africa.

Participant countries include: Congo, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. On this meeting, Director General of the EITI in Equatorial Guinea, Cesar Hinestrosa Gomez, stated: “That all countries have selected Equatorial Guinea to host this important meeting reinforces our commitment to become a member of EITI.”

Read more here: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=6921

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15.09.2015

The Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Mari-Cruz Evuna, met on September 8 with the British Parliamentarian of the Conservative Party, Lord Jonathan Marland. The aim of the meeting was to explore different opportunities for cooperation in trade and investment between Equatorial Guinea and the Commonwealth.

During the audience, in addition to trying to establish an association between Equatorial Guinea and the Commonwealth, they also discussed the Equatorial Guinean development program for Horizon 2020, in order to attract more British investment to our country. According to confirmed sources, the partnership with the Commonwealth could be formalized in a few months.

In conversation with the Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea in the United Kingdom, Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Lord Marland expressed his willingness to assist the Republic of Equatorial Guinea in accelerating the reform agenda of the business sector, and ensured that a brief study of the outstanding issues under this initiative will be carried out.

Lord Marland was treasurer of the Conservative Party and played a crucial role in the election of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. In 2011, he was appointed Chairman of the Ambassadors of Commerce of Great Britain, and special envoy for commercial concerns of the British Prime Minister until 2014.

According to Evuna Andeme, it is necessary to promote the economic and political relations of Equatorial Guinea with the United Kingdom, which would expedite the efforts to make our country a full member of the Commonwealth.

Originally posted at: http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=6914&lang=en

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07.09.2015

From 29-30 August, Equatorial Guinea’s Senate President, Teresa Efua Asangono, was in attendance at the 10th Meeting of Women Speakers of Parliament at the UN Headquarters in New York which gathered female parliamentary leaders from around the world. Efua Asangono was also accompanied by Representative of the Chamber of Deputies, Jesusa Obono Engono. This year’s meeting was held under the theme of “Innovating for Gender Equality: Making development, peace and democracy a reality for women and men”, with the aim of promoting a more effective inclusion of gender issues in policymaking.

Innovative policies were discussed which sought to address the continued fight against violence against women (particularly in regions of conflict), early and forced child marriages and female genital mutilation. Failing to take action against such practices only legitimises gender-based discrimination and inequality. During her speech, Efua Asangono stressed that achieving gender equality and greater women’s empowerment is important for promoting sustainable development within a country. Promoting economic empowerment will be key to the progress of countries around the world.

The parliamentary leaders concluded this meeting with a final declaration which emphasised that unity and solidarity in action will be crucial towards the goal of achieving full gender equality within a generation. This action must be taken quickly to ensure that destructive attitudes and cultural norms that disrupt the progress of women are stifled.

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07.09.2015

Irene Oyono of Equatorial Guinea is representing our country at this year’s Miss Black Africa UK pageant. Oyono is competing against 20 other women from countries across Africa (including those of African descent born in the UK) in this pageant celebrating African beauty, culture and talent. This programme seeks to develop leadership qualities in women by allowing them to design a charity programme based on their pageant platform. The winner of the pageant will have the opportunity to implement the charity programme of their choice. Previous winners have participated in charity work across the UK and in Africa.

 

The Miss Black Africa UK pageant began in 2011. This year’s Grand Finale event will take place on 10 October at Newham Town Hall, Barking Road, E6 2RP. For further information, and to vote for your favourite contestant, please visit the pageant’s website here.

Image via missblackafrica.com.