Africa's capital city on island that looks like it should be in totally different country

If you glance at a map of Africa, you might do a double-take when you see Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea.

Unlike most capitals, which sit firmly within the heart of their nations, Malabo is perched on Bioko Island, far closer to Cameroon than the mainland of Equatorial Guinea.

This geographical quirk has long shaped the country’s history, politics, and economy, making it one of Africa’s most unique capitals.

Malabo’s unusual location can be traced back to its colonial past. The island of Bioko was first settled by the indigenous Bubi people before being discovered by the Portuguese in the 15th century.

In 1778, Spain took control of the island, forming the foundation of what would become Equatorial Guinea. However, Spain initially struggled to maintain a firm grip on the territory, leasing it to the British in the early 19th century, who used it as an anti-slavery naval base.

The British established a settlement on Bioko, naming it Port Clarence (now Malabo) and bringing freed slaves to populate it.

After Spain reclaimed the island in 1855, Malabo became the colonial capital, largely due to its more developed infrastructure compared to the mainland.

This set the stage for the island’s dominance in Equatorial Guinea’s administration, which continues to this day.

Looking at a map, Malabo seems like it should be part of Cameroon, just 32 kilometres (20 miles) away, rather than Equatorial Guinea, whose mainland sits much farther south. But historical treaties dictated otherwise.

When European powers carved up Africa, Bioko remained in Spain’s hands, while Cameroon became a German, and later a French and British, colony. The artificial borders drawn during the colonial era remain in place today, leaving Malabo in its seemingly misplaced position.

Despite being one of Africa’s smallest nations, Equatorial Guinea is one of the continent’s wealthiest per capita, thanks to vast offshore oil reserves discovered in the 1990s.

Oil accounts for over 90% of the country’s revenue, transforming Malabo from a sleepy colonial town into a city with modern infrastructure, luxury hotels, and ambitious construction projects.

However, this wealth has not been evenly distributed. Under President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has ruled since 1979, Equatorial Guinea has faced allegations of corruption, human rights abuses, and repression.

While Malabo boasts high-end developments, much of the population, especially on the mainland, continues to live in poverty with limited access to healthcare, education, and clean water.