Equatorial Guinea has officially designated Ciudad de la Paz as its new capital following the publication of a presidential decree on Saturday, January 3, marking a historic shift from Malabo, the island-based former capital. The decision, announced on January 4, is intended to ease congestion in Malabo and promote more balanced national development through improved distribution of public services. Authorities say the move will bring the state closer to citizens, as political and economic activity is increasingly centred on the mainland, particularly in Bata, the country’s economic hub.
Located in the forested eastern province of Djibloho near Mengomeyén airport, Ciudad de la Paz—previously known as Oyala—was launched in 2008 under President Teodoro Obiang. The city is envisioned as a modern metropolis capable of housing up to 200,000 people and accommodating all government institutions, although infrastructure and population levels remain limited.
The decree provides for the transfer of public services within one year, a timeline that has raised questions about feasibility. Construction of the new capital has been largely financed by oil revenues, with the project accounting for nearly half of the national budget in 2016.