Miss Equatorial Guinea seeks Hispanic backing against discrimination

Equatorial Guinea asks the Hispanic world not to leave it alone in the face of Spanish-speaking discrimination

Equatorial Guinea is no ordinary African country. It is the continent's fourth-largest economy by GDP per capita, ahead of powers such as South Africa and Egypt. And its Miss Universe contestant has asked the Hispanic world for support to avoid discrimination for being a Spanish speaker. On a continent where English and French dominate commerce, speaking Spanish can be a burden. The Hispanic community, with Spain at the helm, should ask itself whether it is making the most of this asset.

The economic value of speaking Spanish in Africa

Equatorial Guinea, with around 1.5 million inhabitants, is the only African country where Spanish is an official language. According to recent data, its GDP per capita ranks fourth in Africa, above South Africa and Egypt. This is no coincidence. The Spanish colonial legacy left behind an educational and administrative infrastructure which, combined with oil resources, has enabled relative development. However, linguistic discrimination is real: in international bodies and regional trade, Spanish carries little weight. By asking the Hispanic world for support, the beauty queen is highlighting a deeper economic problem: the lack of economic integration among Spanish-speaking countries.

A wake-up call for Spain?

Spain, as head of the Hispanic community, has much to gain from supporting Equatorial Guinea. Not only out of cultural solidarity, but also for commercial and geopolitical interests. Bilateral relations are weak compared with those France maintains with its former African colonies. If the Hispanic world wants to remain relevant in the 21st century, it cannot ignore its only African partner. The Miss Universe contestant has sent the message. Now we must see whether anyone picks it up.

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