Malabo

Malabo is a major city located in the Bioko Norte province of Equatorial Guinea.

It sits on the northern coast of Bioko island. The island was historically known by Europeans as Fernando Pó. Malabo is the oldest city in Equatorial Guinea. For many years, it served as the national capital. However, the government is currently moving its institutions to a new planned community. This new capital is called Ciudad de la Paz. The transition of governance began in February 2017. Ciudad de la Paz was officially proclaimed the capital in January 2026.

The history of the island involves several different European powers. In 1472, the Portuguese navigator Fernão do Pó encountered the island. He named it Formosa. Later, the island was named after him. In 1507, Ramos de Esquivel attempted to colonize the island for Portugal. He established a factory in Concepción and grew sugarcane. In 1777 and 1778, the Treaties of San Ildefonso and El Pardo changed ownership. Spain received the islands of Fernando Pó and Annobón. In exchange, Portugal received the Colonia del Sacramento and Santa Catarina Island. Spain eventually lost interest in the region by 1827. This allowed the British to use the island as a base. They aimed to suppress the African slave trade.

British presence significantly shaped the modern identity of the capital. In 1821, the ship Nelly arrived at the island. It found the area abandoned. The British later established Port Clarence on December 25, 1827. They named it after the Duke of Clarence. The indigenous Bubi people called the area Ripotó. This name means "place of the foreigners." The population grew as freed slaves arrived from other areas. These people joined migrants from Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria. They formed a group known as the Creole or fernandinos. They spoke Pichinglis, a Bantu-English Creole with Spanish elements. The British consul also served as the colony's governor. One governor, John Beecroft, helped modernize the capital.

Spain regained direct control of the island in 1855. They renamed the capital Santa Isabel to honor Queen Isabella II. The city became the capital of Equatorial Guinea. In 1973, the name was changed to Malabo. This change was part of a campaign by President Francisco Macías Nguema. He wanted to replace European names with African names. Malabo honored Malabo Löpèlo Mëlaka, the last Bubi king. The Bubi people resisted Spanish rule for a long time. Their full conquest was not completed until 1912. During the later dictatorship of Macías Nguema, a period called the Reign of Terror, many people suffered. The Black Beach prison was used to jail political leaders.

Malabo has a tropical monsoon climate, known as Köppen Am.

The city is very wet and cloudy. It receives a lot of rain throughout the year. There is a short dry season from December through February. January is usually the driest month. The wet season lasts for nine months from March to November. September and October are the rainiest months. The city is one of the cloudiest and wettest capitals in the world. It only gets 1,020 hours of sunshine per year. There is also a lot of fog and haze. Daytime temperatures stay very steady throughout the year.

The geography around Malabo includes several important landmarks. The city is located at 3° 45' 7.43" North and 8° 46' 25.32" East. The Cónsul River limits the southern part of the city. Malabo International Airport is about 9 km from the city center.

To the north, there are various bays and capes. One notable cape is punta de la Unidad Africana. Another is punta Europa, located near the airport. The highest mountain in the country is Pico Basilé. It is part of a volcanic shield. You can see this mountain from all over Malabo. Other nearby attractions include the Ilachi Waterfalls. These are the largest waterfalls in the country. They are more than 250 meters high.

Culture and tourism are growing parts of life in Malabo. Spanish is the official language, but Pichinglis is used for wider communication. The city has many cultural institutions. The Cultural Center of Spain offers training in art, film, and music. It hosts the International Festival of Hip Hop in Malabo. The Museum of Modern Art holds traditional and contemporary art. The city also has the National Library, built in 1916.

Tourism is expanding because of the discovery of oil. This has led to new infrastructure. Visitors can travel from Malabo to see primates and birds in San Antonio de Ureca. They can also watch leatherback sea turtles spawn from November to February. The city serves as a focal point for exploring Bioko island.