Tag Archives: Equatorial Guinea

AMA

Congo Basin Countries Forge Strategic Path to Carbon Markets with Roadmaps to Monetize Forest Wealth

MaraviPost

Washington, USA, 24 February 2026 -/African Media Agency (AMA)/- Six countries of the Congo Basin—Cameroon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and Republic of Congo—are working to take bold steps to unlock results-based payments and climate finance. The newly launched Strategic Roadmaps for Carbon Market and Climate Finance in the Forest Sector for the Congo Basin Countries developed with support from the World Bank, serve as blueprints to transform the region’s vast forest wealth into a powerful engine for climate-resilient growth and sustainable development and green jobs.

These roadmaps provide country-specific blueprints to help High Forest, Low Deforestation (HFLD) Congo Basin countries to engage credibly and effectively in global carbon markets, mobilize results-based finance, and transform their forest assets into engines for climate-resilient growth. Tailored to each country’s readiness and institutional landscape, the roadmaps build on the foundational data from Congo Basin Forest Ecosystem Accounts to create a comprehensive framework aligning nature and climate goals with national development priorities. As part of the World Bank’s broader Analytical and Advisory Services (ASA) for the Congo Basin, these roadmaps aim to shift the region’s development narrative—from one of forest loss or degradation to forest-led growth.

“Forests across the Congo Basin offer more than global climate regulation—they represent critical financial assets and a development opportunity,” said Chakib Jenane, World Bank Regional Practice Director Western and Central Africa Region. “These roadmaps provide the crucial link and show how countries can convert natural capital into tangible investments that generate revenues, jobs, and resilience for local communities.”

The roadmaps call for stronger institutional coordination, equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, and robust digital, and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems aligned with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. While countries like Gabon, Republic of Congo are advancing with pilot results-based agreements and REDD+ progress, others like Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic are in the early stages of development. Opportunities abound also in Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. The roadmaps highlight the gaps and prioritize key actions that will allow countries to harness the potential from carbon markets and climate finance.

“Carbon markets can be a game-changer for Congo Basin countries—but only if the right enabling conditions are in place,” said Cheick Fantamady Kanté, World Bank Division Director for Cameroon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Republic of Congo. “These strategic roadmaps provide a practical end-to-end guide for governments to operationalize carbon finance, with a focus on good governance, private sector engagement, and benefits for local communities.”

Developed through broad stakeholder consultations and grounded in national priorities, the roadmaps support countries to:

  • Align national frameworks with Paris Agreement Article 6.2 and 6.4.
  • Build digital and institutional capacity for MRV readiness.
  • Clarify the legal and fiscal treatment of carbon credits.
  • Engage the private sector and ensure the participation of local communities and indigenous peoples.
  • Attract long-term climate investment and technical partnerships.

These carbon market climate roadmaps represent a convergence of jobs, environment, and economic agendas.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of Word Bank Group.

The post Congo Basin Countries Forge Strategic Path to Carbon Markets with Roadmaps to Monetize Forest Wealth appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle, Politics, Regional

From sex tape scandal to Prison: Baltasar Ebang Engonga

MaraviPost

MALABO-(MaraviPost)-Baltasar Ebang Engonga – nephew of Equatorial Guinea’s president and once at the centre of a sex tape scandal – has been jailed for 8 years for embezzlement.

Nicknamed “Bello” for his looks, the former financial agency chief diverted public funds for personal use, a court ruled.

He gained notoriety in 2024 when leaked sex videos surfaced, showing him with multiple women – including wives and relatives of powerful figures – while he was already under investigation for stashing money in Cayman Islands accounts.

Source: BBC

AMA, Health

Kenya achieves elimination of human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness as a public health problem

MaraviPost
Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC)
Community screening for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and monitoring of local populations in Lambwe Valley, Homa Bay County, Kenya.

GENEVA, Switzerland, August 12th 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness as a public health problem, making it the tenth country to reach this important milestone. HAT is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in Kenya: the country was certified free of Guinea worm disease in 2018.

“I congratulate the government and people of Kenya on this landmark achievement,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Kenya joins the growing ranks of countries freeing their populations of human African trypanosomiasis. This is another step towards making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases”.   

HAT is a vector-borne disease caused by the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of tsetse flies that have acquired the parasites from infected humans or animals. Rural populations dependent on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry or hunting are most at risk of exposure.

As the name indicates, HAT is transmitted only on the African continent. The disease exists in two forms, gambiense and rhodesiense. The rhodesiense form (r-HAT), which is found in eastern and southern Africa, is the only one present in Kenya. It is caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and progresses rapidly, invading multiple organs including the brain. Without treatment, it is fatal within weeks.

Kenya’s progress

“This validation marks a major public health milestone for Kenya, as we celebrate the elimination of a deadly disease in our country. The achievement will not only protect our people but also pave the way for renewed economic growth and prosperity,” said Dr Aden Duale, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health. “This follows many years of dedication, hard work and collaboration”.

The first cases of HAT in Kenya were detected in the early 20th century. Since then, Kenya has engaged in consistent control activities, without indigenous new cases reported for over 10 years. The last autochthonous case was detected in 2009, and the last two exported cases, infected in the Masai Mara National Reserve, were detected in 2012.

Recently, Kenya strengthened HAT surveillance in 12 health facilities in six historically endemic counties to act as sentinel sites. They were equipped with diagnostic tools and had their clinical personnel trained on diagnostic procedures, including the most sensitive and practical tests for r-HAT. The country also actively monitors the control and surveillance of tsetse flies and animal trypanosomiasis, both within and beyond the historical HAT endemic areas, supported by the national veterinary health authorities and the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC). These activities and the related data provide supplementary backing to the claim of HAT elimination as a public health problem.

“This key milestone reflects Kenya’s efforts and commitment over many years, as a collaboration between national and county governments, national research institutions, development partners and affected communities,” said Dr Patrick Amoth, EBS, Director General Health, Ministry of Health, Kenya. “The country remains fully committed to sustain the quality of care and surveillance in line with WHO’s recommendations”.

Supported by WHO and partners, including FIND, Kenya’s HAT elimination programme will now implement a post-validation surveillance plan to detect any potential resurgence or reintroduction of transmission. WHO continues to support ongoing monitoring in previously affected areas and maintains a stock of medicines to ensure rapid treatment of possible future cases, thanks to donations from Bayer AG and Sanofi.

“This success was made possible by the Ministry of Health’s leadership, the dedication of health workers in areas at risk and the support from key partners,” said Dr Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative to Kenya. “WHO is proud to have contributed to this achievement and encourages all stakeholders to remain involved in post-validation monitoring”.

Progress in global HAT elimination

A total of 57 countries have eliminated at least one NTD. Of these, 10 (including Kenya) have successfully eliminated HAT as a public health problem. The other countries that have reached this milestone are Benin, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of WHO.

The post Kenya achieves elimination of human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness as a public health problem appeared first on African Media Agency.

Lifestyle

UN court backs Equatorial Guinea in disputed islands case with Gabon

Maravi Post Reporter

Judges at the top U.N. court sided with Equatorial Guinea in a dispute with neighboring Gabon over which treaty settled the ownership of three largely uninhabited oil-rich islands.

The decision effectively hands the islands to Equatorial Guinea.

The countries brought their dispute to The International Court of Justice in 2021, asking judges to determine what legal agreement settles the possession of the oil-rich islands.

The 15-judge panel found a 1900 treaty between Spain and France, which divided up colonial holdings, to be the ultimate authority.

A later agreement, known as the 1974 Bata Convention, which gives the islands to Gabon, was dismissed as “not a treaty having the force of law,” Judge Julia Sebutinde said.

The document was contested by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon did not produce an original copy for the court.

Equatorial Guinea had control of the territory until 1972, when Gabon took over the largest island, Mbanie, in a military skirmish. When oil was discovered in coastal waters, the dispute reignited.

The economies of both countries are highly dependent on oil, but production from existing areas has been in decline in recent years.

The countries asked the court to settle the ownership question after repeatedly failing in efforts to find a diplomatic solution.

Source: Africanews

https://video.euronews.com/mp4/ED/15/32/73/04/ED_PYR_1532734_20250519154011.mp4
Regional

Three African countries lose UN voting rights over unpaid dues

Maravi Post Reporter
South Sudan, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon have lost their voting rights at the United Nations for non-payment of dues.

The three countries are part of six nations facing such a punitive measure for owing arrears in dues to the United Nations’ operating budget.

The other countries are Dominica, Venezuela and Lebanon, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

These countries can’t participate in votes in the 193-member General Assembly, the U.N. chief said in a letter circulated last week.

Gabon is serving a two-year term on the Security Council though its voting rights there are not affected.

– –

The General Assembly however decided Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia who are also owing keep their voting rights. They have been granted an exemption.

According to the secretary-general’s letter, the minimum payments needed to restore voting rights are $76,244,991 for Venezuela, $1,835,303 for Lebanon, $619,103 for Equatorial Guinea, $196,130 for South Sudan, $61,686 for Gabon, and $20,580 for Dominica.

The U.N. Charter states that members whose arrears equal or exceed the amount of their contributions for the preceding two full years lose their voting rights.

But it also gives the General Assembly the authority to decide “that the failure to pay is due to conditions beyond the control of the member,” and in that case a country can continue to vote.

Gabon’s foreign minister dies of heart attack

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Equatorial Guinea: Nguema to extend 43-year rule as voters go to the polls

Maravi Post Reporter
– –

Equatorial Guinea‘s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema is seeking to extend his time in office as voters go to the polls on Sunday.

Obiang Nguema is the world’s longest-serving president staying in power for 43 years.

Over 400,000 people out of the 1.5 million population registered to vote in this year’s general election.

Voters will also be electing 100 members of parliament for the lower house, 55 of the country’s 70 senators, and local mayors.

Obiang’s Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea holds 99 of the 100 seats in the outgoing lower house of parliament and all 70 of the senate seats.

– –

The 80-year-old Obiang is vying for a sixth term against two opposition candidates – Buenaventura Monsuy Asumu, who is running for the sixth time against Obiang, and Andrés Esono Ondo, who is running for the first time.

Before Sunday’s vote Obiang said the presidential election was forward by several months to save money due to the economic crisis.

The United States and the European Union called for a free and fair election in separate statements, and raised concerns over reports of harassments and intimidation of the opposition and civil society groups.

The government rejected the reports, calling them interference in its electoral process

– –

Equatorial Guinea has had only two presidents since independence from Spain in 1968. Obiang ousted his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema in a coup in 1979.

Nguema Mbasogo has since then overseen Equatorial Guinea’s emergence as an important oil producer, beginning in the 1990s.

Here are four of Africa’s longest serving Presidents

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source: Africa Feeds

Regional

Equatorial Guinea: Death toll from military base explosions hits 105

Maravi Post Reporter

– –

The death toll from explosions at a military camp in Equatorial Guinea has now risen to 105.

According to authorities, a total of 615 people were injured in Sunday’s blasts at the Nkoa Ntoma camp in Bata, the country’s economic hub.

Buildings at the compound and houses in surrounding districts were badly destroyed by the explosions.

133 people were still in hospital, the health ministry has said in a tweet on Tuesday.

– –

The defence ministry of Equatorial Guinea said blasts were caused by heavy-calibre munitions.

The explosion had caused “shock waves which totally destroyed numerous homes nearby”.

The country’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, has blamed the military for “negligence” for stocking ammunition close to residential areas.

The camp houses special forces and gendarmes and their families. President Obiang said the officers had “been careless” since dynamite is normally “stocked very far from people and kept underground”.

– –

Portugal president swims to rescue women at sea

Source: Africafeeds.com

Source