Equatorial Guinea president affirms relocation of capital city from island based Malabo to City of Peace in the mainland

Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has affirmed the relocation of the capital city from Malabo, located on Bioko Island, to the mainland city of Ciudad de la Paz [City of Peace] in Djibloho Province, according to the state-run Information and Press Office of Equatorial Guinea.

Obiang signed the decree on the relocation plan on Friday [Jan 2, 2026] during a ceremony attended by top government officials.

Ciudad de la Paz, which means "City of Peace," aims to improve accessibility and address logistical and security issues associated with island-based Malabo.

"The relocation of the nation's capital, from a security standpoint, is a crucial step, given that the government has been the victim of several attacks originating from abroad via maritime routes," the Information and Press Office said in a statement.

The relocation also allows the Central African country to break with outdated colonial-era structures that no longer contribute to its modernization, the statement added.

According to local media, it will take one year to transfer all administrative services to the new capital.