Equatorial Guinea has a multi-party system, but the ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) has dominated politics since independence in 1968. The PDGE has won every presidential and parliamentary election since then, often by large margins. The opposition is fragmented and weak, and many opposition leaders have been imprisoned or exiled.
Equatorial Guinea is a member of the United Nations, the African Union, and the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The country has a relatively small economy, which is heavily dependent on oil and gas production. Despite its oil wealth, Equatorial Guinea has high levels of poverty and inequality. The government has been criticized for its human rights record, which includes restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, as well as reports of torture and arbitrary detention.