Equatorial Guinea government resigns after missing targets

Equatorial Guinea's entire government has resigned after the president said it had failed to meet its objectives, in a move that highlights tensions over governance and economic performance in the oil-rich central African state. Vice-President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue said the prime minister had presented the resignation of all cabinet members after the administration reached barely 10% of its targets. A new government is expected to be appointed.

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Obiang Mangue, who is also the son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, said the resignation reflected the principle that responsibility in public management must be accompanied by results. He said the degree of execution achieved was "clearly insufficient" in relation to the expectations and commitments undertaken. The ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea said the president was dissatisfied with the outgoing government's management and cited corruption, misuse of state resources and stagnation in development projects.

The outgoing cabinet had been appointed in 2024, with Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua as prime minister. The president has ruled Equatorial Guinea since 1979 and has kept a strong grip on power while placing family members in key government roles. The latest resignation therefore affects the top tier of a political system that has long been dominated by the same leadership circle.

It also comes as the government faces pressure to show progress on economic diversification and public management. That issue is significant because Equatorial Guinea's economy remains heavily dependent on petroleum, with oil and gas accounting for most exports and state revenues. Despite that wealth, much of the country's 1.8 million people have not benefited, and poverty remains widespread.

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The economy has also been in decline in recent years amid reduced production and weaker demand for oil, increasing the importance of any effort to broaden growth beyond hydrocarbons. The ruling party statement said the president wanted more effective use of state resources and faster implementation of development projects. It also said the government had not done enough to diversify the economy, particularly in agriculture, which could reduce reliance on imported goods that can be produced locally.

Those comments suggest the resignation is being presented not only as a personnel change but also as a response to broader policy failure. What remains unclear is how quickly a new cabinet will be named and whether any ministers will return in different roles. It is also not yet clear whether the resignation will lead to any wider reshuffle in the administration or changes in economic policy.

The next key development will be the composition of the new government and whether it is given a clearer mandate to deliver results.

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