Information on nationwide demonstrations around 21 March 1992 against the government's apparent desire to renege on a promise to hold multiparty elections is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, information on government measures taken in the months leading to the demonstrations is available.

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo overthrew the government of Marcias Nguema in a coup d'état in August 1979, and until mid-1987 all political parties were banned in the country (Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East 1993, 87; Europa 1993 1993, 1030; Encyclopedia of the Third World 1992, 600; Political Handbook of the World: 1992 1992, 238-39). Equatorial Guinea became a one-party state with the formation of the government's Equatorial Guinea Democratic Party (PDGE) in 1987 (ibid.) Multiparty politics was legalized through a referendum in 1991, and a transitional government was appointed by the government on 24 January 1992 (ibid). According to Africa Research Bulletin, in January 1992 the president signed a law permitting the formation of political parties (1-31 Jan. 1992, 10410B).

However, the opposition groups were critical of the new law because of the "extraordinary restrictions it placed on the democratic process" (ibid.). The opposition parties also did not appreciate the appointment to government positions of people they considered to be too close to the government (ibid.). However, some observers thought important posts went to those with opposition sympathies (ibid.). For further details on the January 1992 law on demonstrations, please refer to the attachment from the 1-31 January 1992 issue of Africa Research Bulletin.

For information on the political situation during the period January-March 1992, please refer to pages 80 to 87 of Country Reports 1993. This document is available at your Regional Documentation Centre. For additional information on the measures adopted by the government leading up to the demonstrations, please refer to pages 1-13 of the February 1994 Amnesty International report entitled Equatorial Guinea: A Missed Opportunity to Restore Respect for Human Rights, and pages 1-2 of the summary of the January 1993 Amnesty International report entitled Equatorial Guinea: Political Reform Without Human Rights. These documents are available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Africa Research Bulletin [Oxford]. 1-31 January 1992. Vol. 29, No. 1. "Equatorial Guinea: Democratization Controversy."

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. Vol. 1. 4th ed. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts On File.

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. July 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. 1993. London: Longman Group UK Ltd.

Attachments

Africa Research Bulletin [Oxford]. 1-29 February 1992. Vol. 29, No. 2. "Equatorial Guinea: Opponents Arrested," p. 10468A.

. 1-31 January 1992. Vol. 29, No. 1. "Equatorial Guinea: Democratization Controversy," PP.10410B-10411B.

The Europa World Year Book 1993. 1993. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications Ltd., pp. 1030-1032.

Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992. 4th ed. Vol. 1. Edited by George Thomas Kurian. New York: Facts On File, pp. 597-607.

Le Monde [Paris]. 11 January 1992. "La loi instaurant le multipartisme a été promulguée."

Radio Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial Network [Malabo, in Spanish]. 29 January 1992. "Transition" Cabinet Holds First Meeting." (FBIS-AFR-92-022 3 Feb. 1992, p. 4)

Political Handbook of the World: 1992. July 1992. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications, pp. 237-240.

Political Parties of Africa and the Middle East: A Reference Guide. 1993. Edited by Roger East and Tanya Joseph. London: Longman Group UK Ltd., pp. 87-90.

Additional Sources Consulted

Africa Confidential [London]. Weekly.

Africa Events [London]. Monthly.

Africa Report [New York]. Bi-monthly.

Country file on Equatorial Guinea containing articles and reports from diverse sources (primarily dailies and periodicals) from the Weekly Media Review.

On-line searches of news articles.

New African [London]. Monthly.

News From Africa Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Jeune Afrique [Paris]. Weekly.

West Africa [London]. Weekly.