Heavy gunfire in Malabo

On the morning of 17 February 2009, there was heavy gunfire in the Ela Nguema district of Malabo. Although the situation is now calm and under control, British nationals are being advised by the FCO to stay indoors until the situation becomes clearer. It has not been confirmed yet whether the shootings were financially or politically motivated. Similar incidents have occurred in the past and the government had ruled out the possibility of a coup d’etat and believed that the shootings were criminally motivated and blamed a sea-borne armed group operating around the Niger Delta.