Freedom of the Press 2008 - Equatorial Guinea

Status: Not Free
Legal Environment: 27 (of 30)
Political Environment: 35 (of 40)
Economic Environment: 27 (of 30)
Total Score: 89 (of 100)
(Lower scores = freer)

Freedom of expression and of the press are legally guaranteed, but these rights are severely restricted in practice. The 1992 Press Law gives the government unusually extensive authority to restrict press activities through official prepublication censorship. Registration requirements to establish newspapers and periodicals are burdensome. All domestic journalists are required to register with the Ministry of Information, and equally strict accreditation procedures are in place for foreign correspondents. Almost all local coverage is orchestrated or tightly controlled by the government. There are no laws guaranteeing freedom of information, and both local and foreign journalists could not generally access government information. Conditions improved only slightly in 2007 with televised public events that provided some information on public revenues and expenditures.

Local journalists, including the few who work for foreign news outlets, were subject to systematic surveillance and practiced self-censorship. As in 2006, there were no reported cases of physical abuse or imprisonment during the year, a reflection of the government's degree of control over the local press. Mild criticism of infrastructure and public institutions is allowed, but nothing disparaging about the president or security forces is tolerated. In the past, foreign journalists have been monitored closely and occasionally deported if their coverage is deemed to be sensitive. The opposition had little access to domestic media, and political party publications are not permitted to be publicly distributed. Opposition criticism of the government was televised in September during coverage of a legislative session. During the year, authorities announced that they would boost cooperation with the governments of Zimbabwe and China to enhance the production and transmission of official broadcasts; neither partnership boded well for enhanced media freedom.

Equatorial Guinea is one of the few African countries with virtually no independent media. Given the high level of poverty and illiteracy throughout the country, the most influential form of media is radio, but all domestic radio and television stations are owned directly by the government or by the president's family. State-owned media are dominated by sycophantic coverage of the government and the president. Applications to open private radio stations have been pending for several years but have thus far not been approved. A dozen ostensibly private local newspapers appeared irregularly but functioned mainly as political mouthpieces. According to the U.S. State Department, foreign publications are not permitted to be sold or distributed without government permission, there are no newsstands in the country, and the only bookstores are those affiliated with religious organizations. Foreign broadcasts are available, including those of the British Broadcasting Corporation, Radio France Internationale and Radio Exterior, an international shortwave service from Spain; uncensored satellite broadcasts were increasingly available to those who could afford the service. Through its interviews with opposition politicians, Radio Exterior operates as the only means by which opposition voices can reach rural populations. The government does not restrict internet access, although government operatives are believed to monitor citizens' email and internet use. Due to high poverty levels, less than two percent of the population was able to access the internet in 2007.