Guinée équatoriale

Equatorial Guinea, a small Central African nation of approximately 2 million inhabitants, is currently under scrutiny due to the methods being employed to finance Pope Leo XIV's visit scheduled for April 21-23, 2026. As part of the Pope's first major international tour, which also includes Algeria, Cameroon, and Angola, the Equatorial Guinean government is reportedly encouraging, and in some cases compelling, its citizens to contribute financially. This includes calls for donations, promotion of papal-themed merchandise, and even deductions from the salaries of civil servants and military personnel. These measures have sparked public outcry and controversy, highlighting concerns about the financial burden placed on the population to support the papal visit. The situation underscores the complex relationship between the state, the church, and the economic realities faced by ordinary citizens in Equatorial Guinea.