When did India open an embassy in Equatorial Guinea?

According to the MEA brief of August 2026, India opened its resident Mission in Malabo in March 2019. Its opening was announced during President Ram Nath Kovind's visit in April 2018.

Has an Indian President visited Equatorial Guinea?

Yes. President Ram Nath Kovind visited from 7-9 April 2018 and was conferred with the "Great Collar of the Order of National Independence" on 8 April 2018.

When was the first India-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission Meeting?

The First Joint Commission Meeting was held on 16 October 2017, led by Shri M.J. Akbar and Foreign Minister Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy.

India and Equatorial Guinea: relations and milestones

This article covers the political relationship between India and Equatorial Guinea: the opening of India's mission in Malabo, visits in both directions, the agreements signed and the dialogue mechanisms between the two countries. It is based on the MEA brief of August 2026, the bilateral brief on India-Equatorial Guinea relations published by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Background

According to the MEA brief of August 2026, India and Equatorial Guinea (EG) "have traditionally enjoyed warm and friendly relations even prior to the latter's independence in 1968". India opened its resident Mission in Malabo in March 2019. The brief states that bilateral relations have seen "greater engagement and momentum in recent years".

Visits from India

President Ram Nath Kovind paid what the brief calls a first-ever high level visit to Equatorial Guinea from 7-9 April 2018, and held discussions with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. On 8 April 2018, President Kovind was conferred with Equatorial Guinea's highest civilian honour, the "Great Collar of the Order of National Independence". The visit concluded with a Joint Communique, and the opening of an Indian resident Mission in Malabo was announced during it.

Ministerial visits from India recorded in the brief:

In May 2011, MoS (IT and Telecom) Shri Sachin Pilot visited Equatorial Guinea as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of India, to invite President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to the Second India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-II) in Addis Ababa. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo attended IAFS-II in his capacity as Chairman of the African Union.
In August 2015, MOS (AYUSH) Shri Shripad Yesso Naik visited as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to invite the President to the Third India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS-III).
Minister of State for External Affairs Shri M.J. Akbar visited Equatorial Guinea on 18 August 2017. The brief states that the momentum in bilateral relations picked up with this visit.
Shri M.J. Akbar visited again from 11-13 October 2018 to attend the 50th anniversary of Equatorial Guinea's independence.

Three agreements were signed during the visit of August 2017:

Establishment of Joint Commission
Foreign Office Consultations
Exemption from visa requirement for holders of Diplomatic and Official/Service passports

Visits from Equatorial Guinea

President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo visited India in October 2015 with a high level delegation for IAFS-III and held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the sidelines. The EG Foreign Minister also held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of External Affairs.
President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo visited India again on 11 March 2018 with an 88-member delegation for the Founding Conference of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), and held bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Modi. Equatorial Guinea signed and ratified the ISA agreement.
In February 2021, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, accompanied by Vice Minister of National Defence Mr. Candido Ncogo and senior officials, attended Aero India Show 2021 in Bengaluru.

Other ministerial visits include:

Foreign Minister Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy led a delegation to the First India-Equatorial Guinea Joint Commission Meeting in New Delhi on 16 October 2017.
The Minister of Transport, Posts and Telecommunication, Mr. Rufino Ovono Ondo Engonga, visited India from 24-27 November 2022 as Special Guest for the prize distribution ceremony of the UNESCO-India-Africa Hackathon, at the invitation of Minister of Education Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.

On 17 August 2024, Mrs. Mari-Cruz Evuna Andeme, Secretary of State in Charge of International Organizations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Diaspora, took part in the Second Session of Foreign Ministers of the 3rd Voice of Global South Summit, held in virtual format.

Other ministerial interactions

Minister of External Affairs Shri S. Jaishankar held bilateral discussions with EG Foreign Minister Mr. Simeon Oyono Esono Angue in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2019.
Minister of State for External Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan held a virtual meeting, over telephone, with Foreign Minister Mr. Simeon Oyono Esono Angue on 11 December 2020. They discussed a wide range of issues, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact, and reviewed bilateral relations.

Joint Commission

The First Joint Commission Meeting between India and Equatorial Guinea was held on 16 October 2017. The Indian delegation was led by Shri M.J. Akbar, Minister of State for External Affairs, and the Equatorial Guinea delegation by Mr. Agapito Mba Mokuy, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Foreign Office Consultations

Shri Sevala Naik Mude, Additional Secretary (Central and West Africa) in the MEA, visited Malabo from 9-12 February 2025 for the first round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), held on 10 February 2025.