Francisco Macías Nguema (1924–1979) was the first President of Equatorial Guinea, serving from its independence in 1968 until his overthrow in 1979. His reign is remembered as one of the most brutal, erratic, and anti-intellectual dictatorships in modern history. Often compared to Pol Pot, he oversaw a “reign of terror” that led to the death or exile of nearly one-third of his country’s population.
Key Biographical Information
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Francisco Macías Nguema (born Mez-m Ngueme) |
| Born | January 1, 1924, Nfengha, Spanish Guinea |
| Died | September 29, 1979 (aged 55), Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
| Title | First President of Equatorial Guinea (1968–1979) |
| Political Party | United National Workers’ Party (PUNT) |
| End of Rule | Overthrown by his nephew, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |
| Cause of Death | Execution by firing squad following a military trial |
Rise to Power and “President for Life”
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Colonial Clerk: Macías worked as a clerk and court interpreter under Spanish colonial rule. Though he failed the civil service exam three times, he was eventually promoted with Spanish support, serving as Mayor of Mongomo and Minister of Public Works.
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1968 Election: In the country’s first post-independence election, Macías ran on a fiercely nationalist and anti-Spanish platform. He won and was sworn in on October 12, 1968.
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Consolidation: Within years, he moved to dismantle all opposition. In 1972, he declared himself “President for Life,” Grand Master of Education, Science, and Culture, and the “Unique Miracle” of Equatorial Guinea. He established a one-party state under the PUNT.
A Reign of Terror: The “Dachau of Africa”
Macías’s rule was characterized by extreme paranoia, anti-intellectualism, and state-sponsored violence that earned the country the nickname “the Dachau of Africa.”
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Anti-Intellectualism: Deeply distrustful of educated people, he banned the word “intellectual,” closed private schools, and executed or drove into exile nearly the entire educated class of the country.
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Religious Persecution: He outlawed Christianity, closed churches, and changed the national motto to “There is no other God than Macías.”
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Economic Collapse: He banned Western medicine and destroyed all boats in the country to prevent citizens from fleeing. At one point, he reportedly kept the national treasury in suitcases under his bed in his home village, burning much of it before his capture.
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Mass Killings: It is estimated that between 50,000 and 80,000 people were murdered during his 11-year rule—roughly 20% of the population at the time. A notorious incident involved the execution of 150 political prisoners in a stadium on Christmas Eve while a band played “Those Were the Days.”
Downfall and Legacy
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The 1979 Coup: By 1979, his paranoia reached a breaking point, even targeting members of his own family and inner circle. His nephew, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, led a military coup on August 3, 1979.
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Trial and Execution: Macías fled to the jungle but was captured weeks later. He was tried by a military tribunal for genocide, mass murder, and embezzlement. He was sentenced to death and executed by firing squad on September 29, 1979. Local soldiers were reportedly so afraid of his “magical powers” that Moroccan troops had to be brought in to carry out the execution.
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Legacy of “Nguemism”: His nephew, Teodoro Obiang, took power and remains the President of Equatorial Guinea to this day (December 2025), making him the world’s longest-serving non-royal head of state.