Deep in the rainforest, Equatorial Guinea is building a new capital from scratch.
In short: Ciudad de la Paz, formerly known as Djibloho or Oyala, is a planned city rising from the jungle. Designed to replace the island capital of Malabo, this inland project aims to house up to 200,000 people, serving as the nation's new administrative, military, and political heart.
The ambition behind Ciudad de la Paz is rooted in security and geography. Following a 2004 coup attempt, the government sought a capital with better inland access and a milder climate than the coastal, island-based Malabo. Located in the center of the Río Muni region, the city was established as an urban district in 2015 and officially named in 2017. By January 2026, a presidential decree finalized the transition, designating this mainland site as the official capital of Equatorial Guinea.
Designed by the Portuguese firm FAT—Future Architecture Thinking, the city spans 8,150 hectares of tropical forest. Its infrastructure is powered by the 120 MW Djibloho Dam. While the project has faced criticism from political opposition and reports of construction delays—including rumors of buildings being relocated to improve the president's view—it has seen significant progress. By 2022, structures like the Grand Hotel Djibloho and the Afro-American University of Central Africa appeared functionally complete, even as other areas remained under development.
The construction effort is a global endeavor, involving international expertise from companies like China State Construction, Vinci SA, and Bouygues. While specialized components were imported, the project relied on local quarrying for foundational stone. Despite its grand scale and the government's move to the city starting in 2017, the reality remains a work in progress. The Grand Hotel, for instance, is still described as being surrounded by forest rather than a bustling urban center, highlighting the unique challenge of carving a modern capital out of the undeveloped wilderness.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Ciudad de la Paz
- Also: Ciudad de la Paz | national capital, Equatorial Guinea | Britannica
- Also: Wikidata — Ciudad de la Paz · CC0
- Also: Wikidata — La Paz Centro · CC0
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