Equatorial Guinea has officially moved its capital from the island city of Malabo to Ciudad de la Paz, or City of Peace, citing national security concerns and long-term administrative planning as key reasons for the change.
President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo enacted the decision on Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, through a decree law and institutional declaration, according to the country’s Press and Information Office.
The relocation shifts the seat of government from Malabo and the coastal hub of Bata to the mainland interior.
Authorities said the move follows several security incidents in recent years, including attacks launched from maritime routes and a foiled 2017 coup near the border with Cameroon in the Ebibeyin district.
The presidency said the new location offers better conditions for building a secure and resilient defense structure.
The change is part of a broader territorial policy introduced after Obiang took power in 1979. It aims to improve administrative management and promote more balanced national development.
The signing ceremony was attended by Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, senior officials, provincial governors and leaders of constitutional bodies.
Officials said relocating the capital also reflects a desire to move away from colonial-era administrative structures and reduce population pressure on coastal cities such as Malabo and Bata.
Ciudad de la Paz, also known as Djibloho or Oyala, is on the mainland and is described as centrally accessible, with road links connecting nearby districts within a few hours.
Obiang urged all government institutions and constitutional bodies to implement the decision in accordance with the decree, the statement said.
