Equatorial Guinea, a small but resource-rich country in Central Africa, has embarked on one of its most ambitious projects to date, the creation of a new capital city, Ciudad de la Paz, which translates to the City of Peace. Located in the mainland region of Río Muni, the name already raises the first hurdle, which is that there is already of course a country whose national capital city is called La Paz.
The new capital aims to replace Malabo, the current capital situated on the island of Bioko. While the project was initially heralded as a sign of the country’s modernization, the reality has been far more complex. And somewhat underwhelming.
Why Build a New Capital?
Malabo, though the political centre of Equatorial Guinea since independence in 1968, is geographically isolated from the country’s mainland. While the country’s vast oil reserves and other natural resources are found in Río Muni, the island-based capital creates logistical and infrastructural challenges. The new capital was therefore conceived as a strategic move to better integrate the mainland with the government and political institutions.
The government of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, who has ruled the country with an iron fist since 1979, saw Ciudad de la Paz as a means to decentralize power from the island, promote national unity, and catalyse development in the less-developed mainland region. By situating the capital in Río Muni, the government hoped to stimulate regional economic growth, improve infrastructure, and demonstrate the country’s ambitions of modernization to the world.
The vision for Ciudad de la Paz
The vision for Ciudad de la Paz was grand and futuristic. Architects aimed to create a "smart city" built around sustainability and cutting-edge urban design. The capital was expected to feature green energy, high-tech infrastructure, and a modern, well-organized urban layout. Government buildings, such as the presidential palace, national assembly, and ministries, were to be housed in sleek, state-of-the-art facilities. Additionally, residential and commercial districts were planned to accommodate the future influx of government employees, businesses, and citizens.
At the outset, the move to build a new capital was framed as part of a broader national effort to showcase Equatorial Guinea’s wealth from its oil resources, diversify the economy, and create a modern, globally connected urban hub.
The reality of an empty capital
However, the reality of Ciudad de la Paz has been far less impressive. Despite years of construction, the city remains largely empty, with many of its large government buildings and luxurious residential complexes sitting unused. The wide boulevards and grand infrastructure projects stand as empty symbols of the government’s ambitions but lack the vital component of actual inhabitants or economic activity.
Most government functions, businesses, and even residents, continue to operate out of Malabo, which remains better connected and has more established infrastructure.
The city has become something of a punchline – an ambitious but empty ghost town that fails to live up to its lofty promises. While international observers and critics have ridiculed the development, others view it as a stark reminder of the disconnect between the extravagant projects funded by the country's oil wealth and the ongoing struggles faced by the majority of Equatorial Guinea’s population.
The role of Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s Government
The construction of Ciudad de la Paz is also inextricably tied to the long reign of President Teodoro Obiang, who has led the country for over four decades. Under his authoritarian rule, Equatorial Guinea has seen significant economic growth fuelled by oil, but little in the way of political freedoms or substantial improvements in the living standards of ordinary citizens. Obiang has often used grand projects like the new capital to showcase his leadership, despite the country’s continued poverty and political repression.
A tourism opportunity?
For those interested in weird or surreal locations, Ciudad de la Paz offers a feeling of a city frozen in time. It's as if the ambitions of the government were not quite realized or have been paused. The juxtaposition of grand, futuristic plans against the backdrop of underdevelopment and absence of a vibrant local population creates a striking atmosphere that some might find fascinating or even unsettling.
The surrounding area, a tropical forest, adds to the surreal atmosphere. There’s a sharp contrast between the manicured, modern cityscape and the untamed wilderness that encircles it, which may appeal to those interested in exploring how human intervention interacts with nature in strange or unexpected ways.
If you’re as excited as we are about exploring Ciudad de la Paz as well as the rest of Equatorial Guinea, you can find out more here .
