Equatorial Guinea’s ongoing steps toward democratization must be contextualized by its political, institutional, and economic history. Its story is unlike any other country in the region, but understanding its institutional development will clarify the underlying political divides and challenges that persist today. Equatorial Guinea developed into an extractive economy dependent on exports, managed by oligarchs in a clientelist political system, suffering from traumatic memories of atrocity and securitization. The history of Equatorial Guinea is a story of three distinct geographies: the island of Boiko, the continental mainland of Rio Muní, and the small fragment of Annobón. It will be your responsibility to help decide the future of Equatorial Guinea and the longevity of its democratic institutions.