Showing posts with label Equatorial Guinea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Equatorial Guinea. Show all posts

November 12 - Peace-Keeping Organizations: Leaving or Joining?

Posted on November 12, 2020

On this date in 1933, Germans voted on their nation's withdrawal from the League of Nations. The League of Nations had been created after World War I with the intent of using diplomatic talks to solve conflicts between countries.

In other words, it was an attempt to create a global peace-keeping organization.


Nazi Germany, of course, didn't value peace as much as some do - and their withdrawal from the League, a few years before they began to take over and/or attack other nations, was a signal of their disregard for peace.

There was some pressure on the German voters to "ratify" or approve the withdrawal with a referendum vote. Almost all of the voters showed up to the polls (more than 96% turnout!), and almost all of them (95%) voted to approve leaving the League of Nations.


On this date in 1956, Morocco and Sudan and Tunisia all joined the United Nations - the world's second, and more successful, attempt at a peacekeeping organization. On this date in 1968, Equatorial Guinea joined the U.N., and on this date in 1975, the Comoros joined. These five African nations joining on the November 12, but in different years - is that coincidence? Design?

Above, Morocco
Below, Sudan


Above, Tunisia
Below, Equatorial Guinea


Above, Comoros

Note that loads and loads of African nations joined the U.N. on different dates, from Togo's joining on 9/20/1960 to Namibia's on 4/23/1990.


October 12 - Independence Day in Equatorial Guinea

Posted October 12, 2020

On this date in 1968, Equatorial Guinea became independent of Spain.

Equatorial Guinea is not to be confused with two other African nations, Guinea and Guinea-Bissau. Today's celebrant is not on "the bulge" with the other two, but is instead (as you might guess from its name) close to the Equator.

Equatorial Guinea includes the small rectangular
portion on the African continent and also the island of Bioko, which is where the capital city of Malabo is located.


Like every nation, there are beautiful sights in Equatorial Guinea, including waterfalls and beaches...





August 15 - Constitution Day in Equatorial Guinea

Posted on August 15, 2020


Today is the anniversary of Equatorial Guinea's adoption of its constitution, in 1982. This small African nation gained its independence from Spain in 1968, and it adopted a constitution then; however, the very first president who was elected ended up forming a single-party nation and totalitarian rule!! A new constitution was crafted to make all of that "legal." When a military coup removed the dictator, the nation needed a new constitution. Again.

Unfortunately, the coup removed one dictator and replaced him with another dictator. The nation is an example of terrible inequality in income distribution and horrific human rights violations!

Did you know...?

Equatorial Guinea is the only nation in Africa with Spanish as an official language.

Even though Equatorial Guinea is near the Equator (as you would expect), it's not actually touching the Equator, and only one teeny island owned by the nation (an island called Annobon) lies south of the Equator. 


The island of Annobon has NEVER had a cloudless day! It is either rainy or misty at least part of every day. Like, EVERY day.