Why did Equatorial Guinea make Portuguese an official language?

Equatorial Guinea adopted Portuguese as an official language primarily to foster closer economic associations with its Lusophone neighbors.12

While the country has historical ties to Portugal—as Portuguese explorers were the first Europeans to sight the islands of Bioko and Annobón in the 15th century—the decision to elevate the language to official status was a strategic move to strengthen regional economic ties. This follows a similar pattern seen with French, which was made an official language in 1997 to support economic integration with Francophone countries. Spanish remains the country's primary means of communication and the main language used in schools and the press.231