Equatorial Guinea has officially relocated its capital from Malabo to Ciudad de la Paz, a purpose-built city on the mainland in Djibloho Province, marking a major administrative shift for the Central African nation.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has directed all government ministries, departments and state institutions to complete their relocation to the new capital within one year. The order formalises a long-planned transition aimed at reshaping how the country is governed.
The government says the move is designed to ease administration, strengthen national unity, and address long-standing logistical challenges linked to Malabo’s location on Bioko Island, which has often complicated coordination with the mainland, where the majority of the population resides.
Ciudad de la Paz, previously known as Oyala, was conceived as a modern political and administrative hub, featuring government complexes, diplomatic zones, housing and transport infrastructure. Construction of the city began over a decade ago as part of a broader vision to decentralise power and promote balanced national development.
While administrative functions will shift inland, Malabo will retain its status as a key economic and commercial centre, as well as a cultural and historical capital. The government has stressed that the relocation does not diminish Malabo’s importance but rather redefines its role within a dual-city framework.
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Officials say the transition will be phased to minimise disruption to public services, with priority given to core governance institutions before the full transfer of civil servants.
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