The Process of Decolonization of Equatorial Guinea

Abstract

Equatorial Guinea, which was formally a Spanish colony since 1778, gained its independence the 12th October, 1968. By this date almost all former French and British colonies in Africa were already independent. This delay was due to two main reasons: Spain's delayed entry into the United Nations and its reluctance to grant independence to its aforementioned colony. This essay traces the process of emancipation of the said colony, studying the evolution of the decolonizing pressure whithin the UN, focusing on the main evasive measures taken by Spain to avoid the said pressure in regard to the Spanih Guinea and describing the process of constitution of the current Republic of Equatorial Guinea.

Keywords: United Nations, Spain, non-self-governing territories, decolonization, Spanish Guinea