Equatorial Guinea Donates US$500,000 To Efforts In Mali

Nation continues policy of support for African initiatives.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Equatorial Guinea will donate US$500,000 to support African forces in Mali. President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo announced this donation at the end of the African Union Summit, which took place in Addis Ababa from January 26 to 28.

In an interview, President Obiang said that, "Equatorial Guinea has pledged support to the African forces in Mali with a financial contribution of US$500,000. When an allied country suffers, we must support them and make a contribution." He said that although Equatorial Guinea will not contribute troops to the effort to stabilize Mali, he hopes international community "recognizes the contribution that we are offering to our allied African countries."

In 2012, Equatorial Guinea gave US$30 million to the Food and agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assist African countries with food shortages and improve food security across Africa. Equatorial Guinea also sent a humanitarian aid shipment to the Republic of Congo in 2012, donated 2 million Euros to Somalia famine victims in 2011, and contributed $500,000 to Japan after the Fukushima nuclear disaster. It previously contributed to earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti in 2010 and Sichuan, China, in 2008.

"African countries have to take the lead in their own development, take a responsible political path, and strive for growth," President Obiang said. "What we are doing in Equatorial Guinea is an example of a country of reference, because we are working to achieve a level of respect."

He also announced that Equatorial Guinea has been chosen as a member of the Security Council of Africa.

About Equatorial Guinea
The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (República de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea