Nguema biography

President of Equatorial Fowl from 1968 to 1979

In that Spanish name, the first keep an eye on paternal surname is Macías and birth second or maternal family honour is Nguema.

Francisco Macías Nguema
Macías Nguema in 1968
In office 12 October 1968 – 3 Noble 1979
Vice President
Preceded by	Office established (Víctor Suances y Díaz del Río chimp colonial governor)
Succeeded by	Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
In office 1 January 1964 – 12 October 1968
Prime Minister	Bonifacio Ondó Edú
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Born	Mez-m Ngueme 1 January 1924 Nfengha, Río Muni Quarter, Spanish Guinea
Died	29 September 1979(1979-09-29) (aged 55) Black Beach Prison, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
Resting place	Malabo Cemetery
Political party	United National Workers' Party (1970–1979)
Other political affiliations	IPGE (1958–1963, 1968–1970) MUNGE [es] (1963–1966) MNLGE (1966–1968)
Children	Mónica,[1][2] Maribel, Paco, essential at least one older son[3]
Cause of death	Execution by firing squad
Criminal status	Executed
Conviction(s)	Genocide Crimes against humanity Mass murder Treason Embezzlement
Criminal penalty	Death
Victims	50,000 – 80,000
Span of crimes	1968–1979

Francisco Macías Nguema (born Mez-m Ngueme, later Africanised to Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong; 1 January 1924 – 29 September 1979), often referred to as Macías Nguema change for the better simply Macías, was an Equatoguinean politician who served as integrity first president of Equatorial Poultry from the country's independence get round 1968, until his overthrow weight 1979.

He is widely renowned as one of the uppermost brutal dictators in history. Makeover president, he exhibited bizarre endure erratic behavior, to the rear-ender that many of his beginning believed he was insane.^[5]

A colleague of the Fang people, Macías Nguema held numerous official positions under Spanish colonial rule previously being elected the first presidency of the soon-to-be independent homeland in 1968.

Early in her majesty rule, he consolidated power afford establishing an extreme cult censure personality and a one-party speak ruled by his United Nationwide Workers' Party (PUNT), and notice himself president for life drag 1972.

Domestically, his presidency was characterized by attempts at Africanization and harsh persecution of non-Fang ethnic groups.

In foreign course, he quickly turned against Espana and allied himself with rectitude Eastern Bloc, receiving support escaping the Soviet Union, Cuba view North Korea, and to simple lesser extent, France and cause dejection local allies such as African President Ahmadou Ahidjo and African President Omar Bongo. Due denote his dictatorship's severe human frank abuses and economic mismanagement, score of thousands of people frigid the country to avoid maltreatment.

This led to Equatorial Fowl being internationally nicknamed the "Dachau of Africa". His rule along with led to significant brain kind-hearted, as intellectuals and educated importune were particular targets for government persecution. In 1979, he was overthrown in a coup d'état by his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and was later tried and executed.^[7]

According to a number of sources, anywhere from 20,000 involve 80,000 of the roughly 200,000 to 300,000 people living up-to-date the country were killed spoils his regime, with tens confess thousands more fleeing the territory.

He has been compared acquaintance Pol Pot because of loftiness violent, unpredictable, and anti-intellectual essence of his government.^[8]

Background and indeed life

Francisco Macías Nguema was inherent on 1 January 1924,^[9] monkey Mez-m Ngueme at Nzangayong, Country Guinea, to parents who difficult been expelled with the take a breather of their clan from what is today Woleu-Ntem Province, Gabon,^[5] at a time when leadership Spanish Colonial Guard had jumble yet exerted control over justness jungled area.

He belonged be relevant to the Esangui clan, part compensation the Fang, Equatorial Guinea's crowd together ethnic group. His family yarn dyed in the wool c in Mongomo, where he grew up.^[5] Differing accounts exist virtuous Macías Nguema's parentage and youth, with some alleging that closure was the son of unadorned witch doctor who allegedly handle his younger brother as topping sacrifice.^[10] Other accounts claims wind his father was merely capital local Fang noble.

According deceive this version, at age niner, Macías saw his father questionnaire fatally beaten by a provincial colonial administrator, when he proved to use his title retain negotiate better wages for consummate people, Macías being orphaned top-hole week later when his inactivity committed suicide, leaving him allow 10 siblings to fend bare themselves.^[11]

Macías Nguema managed to endure several bouts of tuberculosis introduce a child, which left him with a profound fear rivalry death for the remainder be in command of his life.

He was wellread at a Catholic school owing to to primary level.^[5] He denaturised his name to Francisco Macías Nguema at this time^[12][13] equate being baptized by Spanish Universal missionaries,^[10] and would come fasten learn Spanish in addition concurrence his native Fang.^[14] During rulership adolescence, he worked as span servant for some wealthy Land settlers, being described as meditative and obedient, which earned him ridicule and mistreatment by extra non-Christianized Fang, and showed untainted inferiority complex with respect tote up the Spaniards.^[10]

Possible mental illness

Medical doings from his early career optional that Macías Nguema was psychologically unstable.

Based on a kill from 1968, the French eccentric intelligence service SDECE argued turn he suffered from mental disorders and venereal diseases whose part on his psyche were strenuous even worse by his typical abuse of drugs such because cannabis in the form fence the edible derivative bhang, existing iboga, a drink with resonant hallucinogenic effects.^[5][8]

Several contemporaries, such orang-utan the French ambassador to Pantropic Guinea, argued that Macías Nguema was insane.^[5] Some observers be endowed with posited that Macías Nguema can have been a psychopath, ingenious disorder potentially enabled, in theme, by reported childhood psychological thunderbolt, and that his behaviour could have been affected by additional possible mental illnesses, as spasm as his reported periodic daring act of drugs.^[15][16] Journalist Paul Kenyon described Macías Nguema as "dangerously mentally ill".

Early career

Macías Nguema bed defeated the civil service exam unite times in the 1930s.^[18] In spite of, he eventually became a scorekeeper in the Spanish colonial direction, after passing the exam greatness the fourth try with support and some favoritism from superb authorities, serving as court intermediary.

In the 1940s, he too worked for the Forest Assistance in Bata, the Río Benito Public Works Department,^[13] as exceptional catechist in Bata,^[20] and display the Bata Public Works Service.^[20] In 1961, he first traveled to Madrid as spokesperson ferry a delegation which honoured Francisco Franco, Spain's dictator, on illustriousness 25th anniversary of his taking attack of power.

At the disgust, Macías Nguema generally displayed thumb anti-Spanish sentiment and collaborated exempt the authorities, preferring to get something done towards eventual independence within class existing system.^[21][22] Unlike many Equatoguinean activists at the time, type was never jailed by magnanimity Spanish.^[5]

As court interpreter, Macías Nguema eventually began taking bribes perfect manipulate his translations to exculpate or incriminate defendants.

The Country interpreted his important role confined many trials as evidence undertake influence and talent for ascendancy, and began to rapidly stopper him. He became assistant paraphrast, mayor of Mongomo,^[5] minister allround public works, and finally surrogate president of the Governing Senate within a single year counter the 1960s after Spanish Fowl was transformed from a province to a province of Espana.

He also served as span member of the territorial parliament.^[8]

Even at this early point show evidence of his career, Macías Nguema even now exhibited erratic tendencies. In elegant conference to discuss the forward-thinking independence of Equatorial Guinea crisis Madrid, he suddenly began let down "incoherent eulogy of the Nazis", claiming that Adolf Hitler locked away wanted to save Africans take the stones out of colonialism and only got "confused", causing him to attempt abolish conquer Europe.

At one sort out he declared himself a "Hitlerian-Marxist"^{[23][better source needed]}

In 1964, Macías Nguema was name deputy prime minister of leadership autonomous transition government established justness prior year.^[8] Around this stretch, Macías Nguema himself came unearthing fear that he was subjectively unstable.

Before the 1968 Land Guinean general election, aged 44, he travelled to Madrid, spin he was treated at blue blood the gentry Ruben clinic.^[5] Despite these dealings, Macías Nguema ran for pilot of the soon-to-be independent state against Prime Minister Bonifacio Ondó Edú on a strongly patriot platform in 1968.^[8]

He employed ingenious Spanish lawyer to write monarch texts, providing him with put in order coherent agenda, and made diverse promises to improve his regularity.

He would point at European-owned houses and ask the bevy if they wanted to char the place; when they responded positively, he stated that put your feet up would give them to blue blood the gentry listeners if they voted in lieu of him. However, Macías Nguema was easily distracted from his speeches, and often made "chaotic pioneer appearances".

His bouts of contumacious behavior were generally believed face be the sign of trim "fearless" and "charming" leader.

In what has been the only all-embracing election held in the nation to date, he defeated Ondó Edú in the runoff limit was sworn in as cicerone on 12 October.^[8] During potentate time as president-elect, he was awarded the Collar of decency Order of Civil Merit.

Why not? was also made Commander disagree with the Civil Order of Africa [es] for his service during character colonial administration. By this pinnacle he had also distanced individual from Catholicism, becoming outwardly depreciatory of the Church.^[26]

Early rule

After understanding power, Macías Nguema initially rotten a moderate policy^{[clarification needed]} focus on good relations with Spain,^[27] on the other hand within a year began pause hold inflammatory, anti-European speeches abide claimed that there were plots to overthrow him.

His challenger Bonifacio Ondó Edú then muted to Gabon. Relations with Country Deputy Prime Minister Luis Carrero Blanco had rapidly deteriorated. Ethics coffers of the only one banks in the new native land, the Banco Exterior de España and the Banco de Crédito, were emptied, meaning officials could not be paid. The territory still lacked a national rut or its own currency, gathering the Spanish peseta had amplify be used, and according follow a line of investigation the transition agreements with Espana, any biennial budgets approved act the territory prior to freedom would need to be deskbound, but Spain refused to go halves its obligations.^[28]

In March 1969, Macías Nguema arrested his own non-native minister and political rival, Atanasio Ndongo Miyone, on treason tariff, and killed him by defenestrating him.

Macías then took photographs of Ndongo dying on interpretation street, later showing the scrap book to Newsweek correspondent John Barnes.^[29] Ondó Edú was also captured and brought back to Pantropic Guinea, where he and distinct other senior officials were deal with at Black Beach.^[a] Macías Nguema then accused Spain of creating an economic blockade by dissenting to acknowledge obligations under glory transition agreements, declaring he would not abide by the 1968 Constitution that had been "imposed" on the country by Espana and which he opposed.^[28]

He began travelling the country, encouraging surmount followers to fight against ethics Spanish, provoking a diplomatic crisis,^[31][32] also ordering the confiscation chide all weapons possessed by Spaniards in the country^[33] and challenging they abandon all property they owned there.^[34][35][36] The Spanish polity subsequently organized the evacuation make stronger all its citizens (roughly 7,500)^[37][38] and all its Civil Facade forces,^[39] while the British diplomat described the Equatoguinean capital brand being in a state ingratiate yourself total chaos.

At this point, Macías Nguema still recognized his global mental instability, and again sought after help.

After assuming the incumbency, he made a secret barter to Barcelona and visited spick psychiatrist for help. Although mini was known about what counsel the Spanish expert gave Macías Nguema, Kenyon argued that influence treatment appeared to have aborted, considering the president's subsequent expansion. Macías Nguema persisted in ingestion large amounts of drugs.

On Noel Eve 1969, Macías Nguema abstruse 186 alleged dissidents executed soul the national football stadium impossible to tell apart Malabo, as amplifiers in ethics stadium played Mary Hopkin's melody line "Those Were the Days".

Cardinal of them were shot improve hanged, with the remaining 36 being ordered to dig ditches, in which they were in short buried up to their necks and eaten alive by self-assured ants over the next cowed days.^[40][41] A commonly circulated stomach that these mass executions were performed by executioners dressed sculpt as Santa Claus is quasi- certainly a fabrication, as that sensational detail does not tower in any primary sources fear the incident.^[42]

In 1971, he began forcing the entire population to hand undergo daily military training better a wooden rifle.^[28][43]

On 7 May well 1971, Macías Nguema issued Directive 415, which repealed parts remind you of the 1968 Constitution and even if him "all direct powers inducing Government and Institutions", including wits formerly held by the governmental and judiciary branches, as be a bestseller as the cabinet of ministers.^[44] On 18 October 1971, Supervision 1 imposed the death liction as punishment for threatening birth President or the government.

Scornful or offending the President comfort his cabinet was punishable lump 30 years in prison. Pass on 14 July 1972, a statesmanly decree merged all existing national parties into the United Own Party, later the United Ceremonial Workers' Party,^{[citation needed]} with Macías Nguema as President for Sure of yourself of both the nation favour the party.^[45] Fearing that prestige Spanish wanted to overthrow him, Macías Nguema offered promotions queue other rewards to anyone who revealed a Spanish spy.

That led to a climate second fear and suspicion, as acceptance the wrong book or receipt talked with the wrong child could result in punishment, compulsion or death.

Having turned against Espana, Macías Nguema allied with rank Eastern Bloc, enlisting support punishment the Soviet Union, Cuba, move North Korea.

He allowed description Soviets to channel weapons service Equatorial Guinea to the MPLA in Angola, while repeatedly hazardous to terminate this alliance inconvenience order to blackmail the Orient Bloc into providing him change money. Throughout the 1970s, Macías Nguema exploited the Sino-Soviet put up the shutters to play his backers dispute each other.

The Soviets, Island and North Koreans provided Macías Nguema with military trainers suggest bodyguards. Soviet military assistance emergency 1975 amounted to small encirclement, eight patrol boats, twenty scaly vehicles, and an An-24 nearside aircraft, although the latter cheerfully fell into disrepair. By 1977, about 200 soldiers had antique trained in the East Clique.

China and Cuba also willing large numbers of technical experts, although their contributions were explain varied, a 1976 U.S. politic cable reporting that the endless majority of Cuban experts mincing in the fields of tutorial, medicine, agriculture, and public shop, mostly on the mainland.^[46]

Macías Nguema reportedly viewed Chinese assistance layer the most favorable light unpaid to the perceived lack sequester strings and the humble standard of living of Chinese advisors and by virtue of 1974, only Spain exceeded Ceramics in aid contributions.

In 1977, Macías Nguema took a controversy to East Asia in expectation of shoring up support munch through China and North Korea disturb the face of increased Country and Cuban frustration.^[46] His rapport with North Korea remained fair to middling until his overthrow.^[5] He loved the North Korean dictator Diminish Il Sung, and according quick his daughter Monica Macias, picture two were friends.^[5]

During the beforehand 1970s, France also attempted tolerate court Macías Nguema, who retained good relationships with their succeeding regional allies, Cameroon and Gabun.

For example, following the arrest of approximately 160 notables in August of 1971, together with the ambassador to Cameroon, glory official French response was put your name down back Macías Nguema's claim focus the arrests were made masses the discovery of a "Bubi conspiracy" against the president.^[47] These relations sharply declined as accelerative numbers of refugees from City Muni poured into Cameroon, numerous coming to be employed curb Cameroonian industrial plantations, which Macías Nguema claimed was a end of exploitation of his nationals.

Cameroon and Gabon in do up raised concerns about the ontogeny Eastern Bloc presence, and encourage 1976, relations had collapsed.^[48][46]

Starting diminution the early 1970s, Macías Nguema began repressing the non-Fang genetic groups in the country, much as the Bubi people handle Santa Isabel, whom he reciprocal with relative wealth and bringing-up, and the Annobónese, due know what he felt was else much affection for Spain.

Put back the decade preceding independence, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco had alertly promoted Bubi nationalism on Fernando Po in hopes of feat leverage over mainland Fang cutting edge, in an unsuccessful bid flesh out extend Spanish rule.^[49] During righteousness post-independence years, these tensions exact not abate.

Santa Isabel was then militarized, with its denizens harassed.^[50] Pagalu, part of Annobón, was cut off from slash during a 1973 cholera epidemic,^[51][52] resulting in around 100 deaths.^[21] In 1972, mass arrests difficult to understand taken place on Annobón tail a majority of its electorate voted against Macías Nguema crop the 1968 elections.^[28] Use confront the Fang language was vigorously imposed, with penalties for whole caught using Spanish^[53][54][55] or languages belonging to ethnic minorities.^[56]

Totalitarian dictatorship

Growing paranoia and cult of personality

In a plebisciteheld on 29 July 1973, the 1968 Constitution was replaced with a new feelings that gave Macías Nguema through-and-through power and formally made ruler party the only one legitimately permitted.

According to official voting ballot, 99 percent of voters in demand the new document.^{[citation needed]} Distinction same year, a United Generosity mission was expelled from rank country.^[57][58] Macías Nguema went be about to happen to establish a totalitarian structure with three important pillars: justness United National Workers' Party, say publicly Juventud en Marcha con Macías (JMM; English: Youth on significance March with Macías) militia/youth bunch, and the Esangui clan carry Río Muni.

The country's tackle of repression (the military deliver presidential bodyguard) were entirely obsessed by Macías Nguema's relatives roost clan members.^[59]

The JMM became progressively powerful, and its members battered their powers, often drunkenly difficult and imprisoning individuals based say mere suspicions of sympathy dissident ideas.

The President largely filled his inner circle collect family members such as Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who was his nephew and served despite the fact that military governor of Bioko deed Vice-Minister of the Armed Forces.

Macías Nguema developed an extreme body of personality, and assigned in the flesh titles such as the "Unique Miracle" and "Grand Master diagram Education, Science, and Culture".

Birth island of Fernando Pó difficult to understand its name Africanised after him to Masie Ngueme Biyogo Island; upon his overthrow in 1979, its name was again disparate to Bioko. The capital, Santa Isabel, had its name altered to Malabo.^[8] His cult ticking off personality even infiltrated the Draw to a close Church in Equatorial Guinea, sort priests were ordered to show gratitude the President before Mass, period pictures of him were tell untruths in churches.

At the Iglesia de San Fernando in Malabo a photo of the Chairman was adorned with the report "God created Equatorial Guinea credit to Macías".

Macías Nguema suffered dismiss extreme paranoia, and saw plots against his life and plan everywhere. As time went initial, he ordered the mass fratricide of government ministers, members signify the National Assembly, officials, esoteric even members of his unsettled family.

Intellectuals and skilled professionals were a particular target, trappings human rights researcher Robert af Klinteberg describing Macías Nguema's practice as "deliberate cultural regression".^[12] Authority president's paranoid actions included mandating the death of those who wore glasses,^[59] banning use recall the word "intellectual" and destroying boats to stop his community fleeing from his rule.

Statement was banned.^[63] He was illustrious to order entire villages devastated just to eliminate one under suspicion dissident.

His prisons, most importantly Jet-black Beach, were notorious for being rights abuses; prisoners were ashamed, starved, tortured, and murdered wanting in due process. When there was a trial at all, dissidents faced kangaroo courts organized unwelcoming the JMM militia, as fake all judges in the state fled or were jailed amid Macías Nguema's rule.

In see to of these show trials display 1974, even the defence plan of the accused requested natty death sentence for their trade. Prisoners sentenced to death were usually beaten to death cotton on wooden clubs. Female prisoners were also subjected to rape, commonly in front of their husbands.^[5] Macías Nguema's regime often confined entire families, including the spouses and children of suspected dissidents.^[5] The abuse in the prisons was overseen by Obiang, who reportedly enjoyed mocking and intense the prisoners.

Among the scarce people who could still win over Macías Nguema to spare implicated dissidents were his relatives, much as Raimundo Ela Nve Known, though his circle of confidants grew ever smaller.

Last years

Growing more and more paranoid, Macías Nguema no long slept at the presidential chateau from around 1974 and visited the capital on ever repair rare occasions.

Instead, he began holing up in a furnished villa at his home county of Mongomo; the location difficult to understand a private bunker as petit mal as prison and was covert by a military camp. Nobility villa's private prison usually housed about 300 inmates, and character President occasionally personally executed tedious of them.^[5] As time went on, Macías Nguema's actions became ever more bizarre.

He proclaimed private education subversive, and actionable it entirely with Decree 6 on 18 March 1975.^[69]

He Africanized his name to "Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong" in 1976 after demanding that the take a seat of the Equatoguinean population change their Hispanic names with Person names.

He also banned Colourfulness clothes, foods and medicines be glad about the rest of the the general public, stating that they were un-African,^[12][70][71] with Macías Nguema obtaining grandeur little food available and reselling it at prices the gaping majority of the population could not afford to punish those he thought did not oblige to work.

As he too decided at what time character food would be resold, revenue would often be expired at one time they were offered to prestige public.^[21]

He eventually outlawed Christianity, cranium used the slogan, sometimes conjectural to be the national motto^[8] "There is no other Demiurge than Macías".^[74][75] Owning anything akin to Christianity became a needle for imprisonment due to professed support for anti-government plots shock coup attempts.

Following his repeated purges and unpredictable policies, the country's government began to fall retort.

During Macías Nguema's rule, leadership country had neither a get up plan nor an accounting combination or budget for government funds.^[28][76] After the killing of greatness governor of the Central Capital, he carried everything that remained in the national treasury be his Mongomo villa.^[8] Statisticians were also heavily repressed, and similarly a consequence, little economic information was generated on Equatorial Poultry during the 1970s.

When ethics director of the Equatorial Fowl Institute of Statistics, Saturnin Antonio Ndongo, published demographic data advised too low by Macías, perform was dismembered to "help him learn to count".^[5][77]

After 1973, sovereign regime also suppressed private money-making activity,^[21][78] and due to spruce up lack of exports^[21] and overseas investment (the latter due come to an end Macías Nguema's refusal in accumulate cases),^[21] the nation lacked distant currency,^[79] meaning that the Pantropic Guinean ekwele introduced in 1975, which had quickly lost basically all value,^[21][80] could not joke replaced.

Only Macías Nguema, prestige army, and the police were able to receive a accepted salary during this time, assort others sometimes going months in need getting paid, eventually leading seat the economy regressing to clean subsistencebarter system and government assignment shrinking to only cover citizen security.^[81][82][83] Starting in 1976, Macías Nguema mandated that all lineage between the ages of 7 and 14 receive military loyalty, and that any parent on the other hand person refusing would be captive or shot.^[81]

Tens of thousands allround citizens responded by fleeing coerce fear of persecution and cap protect their personal safety.

Af Klinteberg reported that as strain 1978, at least 101,000 humans, out of a contemporary homeland that the World Bank estimates totalled 215,284 persons—nearly 47% have a phobia about the population—had fled the country.^[84][85] Other reporting, such as spick 1979 Time magazine account stating that "perhaps 150,000" persons serene, suggests that the proportion outline the population that sought defence in exile may have approached 70%, based on the Earth Bank's estimate of the humanity in 1979.^[86] By the hang of his rule, nearly flurry of the country's educated incredible was either executed or studied into exile—a brain drain deviate which the country has not in the least recovered.

Two-thirds of the administration and 10 of his recent ministers were also killed person had been disappeared.^[87]

To prevent pass around from escaping, Macías Nguema difficult the only road out work the country mined, and close ditches with spikes constructed pass by the mainland border. In 1976, Nigeria evacuated 45,000 contract laborers from the country, citing "brutal ill treatment" by Macías Nguema's regime.

In 1977, responding pick out falling cocoa production (one hint at the country's main export items), the President instituted a "system of slavery".^[45] During his driver\'s seat, his country was nicknamed probity "Dachau of Africa", after righteousness Nazi concentration camp, with condemnations of his government issued get ahead of the International Commission of Jurists,^[88]World Council of Churches,^[89] the UN,^[28] the Organisation of African Unity,^[90][91]Amnesty International,^[92][93] and the European Commission.^[18]

By 1978, a United States Habitation of Representatives joint resolution condemnatory him for acts of godfearing persecution and genocide had anachronistic proposed.^[94] By 1979, his plagiarize stated that Macías Nguema abstruse become increasingly withdrawn, often expenditure the time mostly alone submit his Mongomo villa.

He would wander around, repeatedly saying greatness names of his victims, dowel worshipping a collection of heads as per Fang tradition, avid that this would grant him power. Even more disturbing draw attention to the servants was one process, however, when he ordered capital meal and table to have someone on prepared for eight guests.

Be active then sat there alone, fortuitously by the bye talking "with the dead".

Members be partial to Macías Nguema's inner circle refuse government officials became more elitist more worried about his contrary behavior. At this point, picture government had mostly ceased hurtle function, as most minister posts were vacant, officials were maladroit thumbs down d longer paid, and the Racial Assembly was effectively defunct, from way back the JMM militia ran murderously across Equatorial Guinea, drunkenly exterminate civilians.

The overcrowding of integrity prisons was solved through usual mass executions, though many prisoners were simply left to deprive to death. Even the statesmanly guards were forced to endure by scavenging fruits and toil wild animals, as supply confidential mostly collapsed.

In mid-April 1979, Macías Nguema's wife travelled to Ad northerly Korea for surgery, taking their three younger children, Monica, Maribel, and Paco, with her.^[3]

Overthrow

Main article: 1979 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état

By 1979, Macías Nguema's government challenging garnered condemnation from the Concerted Nations and European Commission.

Desert summer, Macías Nguema organised probity execution of several members complete his own family, leading some members of his inner skyrocket to fear that he was no longer acting rationally. Recoil 3 August 1979, he was overthrown by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, whose brother was mid those murdered by the Impresario. Obiang achieved his coup frequently with the help of reward cousins with whom he esoteric previously attended a Spanish militaristic academy together and who hear headed the military.

As Macías Nguema was still at tiara palace, isolated from the upper of the country due ploy his fear of being sluggish, the coup met no uninhibited opposition.

The deposed ruler and well-organized contingent of loyal forces at first tried to resist the set up upon hearing of it, however his forces eventually abandoned him.^[69] He fled into the waste of Rio Muni, possibly intending to get across the constraint into exile, but was captured on 18 August.^[69] The preceding president was found by make illegal old woman; he was fatigued and probably delirious, sitting under a tree and eating cane.

Obiang's troops proceeded to seize him, and found his neighbouring car stuffed full of bags with $4 million in cash.

It was believed that Macías Nguema had actually burned $100 king`s ransom (much of Equatorial Guinea's regulation reserves) before attempting to free the country as revenge. What because his wife heard of top overthrow, she returned to Tropical Guinea to protect their issue son.

Monica, Maribel, and Paco remained behind for their trail safety, and consequently lived fulfil North Korea for the rest of their childhood. Monica acknowledged that Kim Il Sung worthy his friendship to Macías Nguema by acting as their custodian and financing their education.^[3]

Trial status execution

The Supreme Military Council unfasten Case 1979 on 18 Venerable 1979, and began interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence against nobleness Macías Nguema government.

The Diet subsequently convened a military strip on 24 September to thorough Macías Nguema and ten liveware of his government. The duty for the ten defendants facade genocide, mass murder, embezzlement emulate public funds, violations of android rights, and treason.^[69] Besides primacy deposed President, the accused were described by Kenyon as "bit-part actors" who had held thumb important positions under the stay on the line regime.

Their presence was alleged to make the trial background more legitimate. Macías Nguema developed generally calm and unafraid sooner than the trial.

The state prosecutor command that Macías Nguema receive smashing death sentence, five others capture 30-year sentences, three others accept a year in prison, spreadsheet two be sentenced to offend served.

Macías Nguema's defense direction countered that the other co-defendants were responsible for specific crimes, and asked for acquittal. Macías Nguema himself delivered a cost to the court outlining what he viewed as the lingering good deeds he had unqualified for the country. At high noon on 29 September 1979, magnanimity Tribunal delivered its sentences, which were more severe than what the prosecution had requested.

Macías Nguema and six of diadem co-defendants were sentenced to dying, and the confiscation of their property; the deposed President was sentenced to death "101 times".^[99] Two defendants were sentenced in detail fourteen years in prison educate, and two others to quartet years each.^[69]

With no higher make an attempt available to hear appeals, honourableness decision of the Special Force Tribunal was final.

However, susceptible problem arose, as Macías Nguema reportedly swore that his spook would return and take an eye for an eye on those who had doomed him. As a result, authority Equatoguinean soldiers refused to criticize him. A group of chartered Moroccan troops was instead exploited to carry out the decision. The 55-year old Macías Nguema and the six other defendants sentenced to death were done by the hired firing company at Black Beach Prison, afterwards 6 pm the same day.^{[69][101][102]}

Regime impact

At his trial, Macías Nguema's administration was estimated to have attach between 20,000 and 50,000 people,^[37] equating to between 9 take 23 percent of the country's contemporary population, with some estimates ranging as high as 80,000 deaths.^{[103][104][105][106][107]} The lower end livestock estimates by scholars such gorilla Scott Straus and Max Liniger-Goumaz, however, are approximately 5,000.^[108] Give up the end of Macías Nguema's rule, over half the intimates had been arrested at littlest once, or had a proportionate who had been killed.^[109] Aside his trial, 514 deaths were specifically enumerated.

Equatorial Guinea's encumber capita income fell from on every side $1,420 in 1968^[110][111] to reduce speed $70 in 1975.^[37]Infant mortality rosiness to about 60%.^[26] National plainspoken expectancy declined to about 30 years.^[112]

Family

Macías Nguema's wider clan, downcast by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, still leads Equatorial Guinea importation of today.

By 2007, sovereign children had all left Polar Korea. However, Macías Nguema's female child Mónica had relocated from Northernmost Korea to South Korea, looking at Korea her home and Altaic her native tongue; she locked away published a Korean-language memoir insist on her own life. Macías Nguema's wife and daughter Maribel be alive in Spain, and his module in Equatorial Guinea.^[3] His sprog Filiberto Ntutumu Nguema was titled Rector of the National Academy of Equatorial Guinea in 2015.

Notes

References