Equatorial Guinea
Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain in 1968. Since the military coup in 1979, the country has reportedly been experiencing human right violations, corruption, and other abuses.[1]
The country is relatively rich in natural resources, which, among other things, leads to armed conflicts and arms proliferation.[2] Most weapons that enter West Africa illegally are smuggled through Equatorial Guinea. Corruption, piracy, and maritime crimes create a favourable environment for the proliferation of small arms and light weapons (SALW).[3]
In response to the accidental explosion in 2021, AMAT/GICHD provided ammunition technical support under the UN SaferGuard quick-response mechanism, in cooperation with the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), as well as in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Golden West Humanitarian Foundation.[4]
[1] Amnesty International (2019, August 2): Equatorial Guinea: 40 Years of Repression and Rule of Fear Highlights Human Rights Crisis. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/press-release/2019/08/equatorial-guinea-years-of-repression-and-rule-of-fear.
[2] PoA Report 2003, Equatorial Guinea. https://unoda-poa.s3.amazonaws.com/poa-reports-le/2003%4061%40EquatorialGuinea-engl.pdf.
[3] Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime (2021): Global Organized Crime Index. Equatorial Guinea. https://ocindex.net/country/equatorial_guinea.
[4] GICHD (2022): Ammunition Management Activity Platform. https://global.imsma.org/dashboards.
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Further information
Accidental explosions
Since the beginning of data collection in 1979 by the Small Arms Survey, one accidental explosion was reported in Equatorial Guinea (Table 1).
Table 1. Accidental explosions in Equatorial Guinea (1979-2021)
Year | Location | Owner/manager | Deaths | Injuries |
2021 | Bata | State (military) | 105 | 600 |
Source: Small Arms Survey (December 2021): Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS). Database. https://smallarmssurvey.org/database/unplanned-explosions-munitions-sites-uems.
Cases of diversion
Insufficient information on cases of diversion in Equatorial Guinea.
Disposal
Insufficient information on the disposal of ammunition in Equatorial Guinea.
Needs
To further enhance safe and secure ammunition management, the following needs have been identified for Equatorial Guinea:
- Recommendations for risk reduction of accidental explosions;
- Mitigation strategies and training of personnel on a better management of weapons and ammunition facilities;
- Technical assessment and improvement of physical security of stockpiles.
Source: DefenceWeb News (2022, May 4): Equatorial Guinea Explosions Highlight Need for Stockpile Management. https://www.defenceweb.co.za/land/land-land/equatorial-guinea-explosions-highlight-need-for-stockpile-management.
