Equatorial Guinea Set for CPLP Presidency Amid Portugal Row
LISBON — Equatorial Guinea is positioning itself to take the helm of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) in 2027, according to former Executive Secretary Murade Murargy. However, the diplomat accompanied the announcement with a sharp rebuke of Portugal, claiming the European nation has failed to support the country it often criticizes.
In a telephone interview with Lusa ahead of the CPLP’s 30th anniversary on July 17, Murargy—who now serves as an advisor to the Equatoguinean government—confirmed that the oil-rich African nation is actively preparing for its presidency. He revealed that he extended his own advisory term by a year specifically to oversee the transition.
A Defense of Progress
Equatorial Guinea’s membership in the bloc has long been a point of contention due to its human rights record. Nevertheless, Murargy insists the nation has fulfilled the roadmap set out for its 2014 accession. “They promised to establish a moratorium on the death penalty, and they did it,” he emphasized, noting that the punishment has since been formally abolished from the Constitution.
Addressing international reports that label Equatorial Guinea as one of the world’s most repressive regimes, Murargy was dismissive. “I have lived there for eight years and I do not recognize any repression,” he said, adding that “all countries have prisons.”
The Language Barrier
A major hurdle for the upcoming presidency remains the Portuguese language. While Equatorial Guinea adopted Portuguese as an official language to join the bloc, its usage remains limited among high-level officials. Murargy admitted that more training is required but laid the blame for slow progress at Lisbon’s doorstep.
“Portugal does nothing with Equatorial Guinea, yet demands that it speaks Portuguese,” Murargy charged. He argued that while the country has the funds to finance its own initiatives, the responsibility for spreading the language should be shared, particularly by Portugal as the “most interested party.”
The diplomat contrasted the current situation with the support previously given to East Timor, which received seven advisors to help integrate into the community. Currently, Murargy says he is personally teaching Portuguese to employees at the Equatoguinean Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Looking Toward 2027
The CPLP was founded in 1996 and currently comprises nine member states: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and East Timor.
As the organization approaches its third decade, Murargy remains a staunch defender of its expansion. He recalled the 2014 Dili summit, where Equatorial Guinea’s entry was finalized, as a career highlight. For the 2027 presidency to be a success, however, he maintains that the bloc must move past criticism and offer the “support and participation” necessary for the continent’s only Spanish-speaking nation to fully embrace its Lusophone identity.
Image: Pexels – Mathias Reding
