Long a civil servant under the Spanish colonial authorities, Nguema joined the government of Equatorial Guinea from 1964 onward. Gradually, he would steer the regime toward a severe dictatorship, driven by his bloodthirsty impulses, madness, and brutality. Poorly educated, Macias turned his frustration into ferocity toward intellectuals and deep contempt for the Spaniards, former colonizers through whom he had nevertheless gained access to politics. He remains the most unrestrained tyrant Equatorial Guinea experienced during the 1960s and 1970s
Francisco Macias Nguema was born on January 1st, 1924 in Rio Muni (the continental region of Equatorial Guinea). His father was a powerful traditional sorcerer from the Fang ethnic group, the majority ethnic group in Equatorial Guinea. This tribal advantage would later allow him to rise within the administration. Like most children born in Black colonies, Francisco received his education in a Catholic mission school. Very little is known about his childhood, except that he completed his studies early and soon came under the wing of the Spanish colonizers. Aware of Nguema’s intellectual shortcomings, they nevertheless saw in him great oratorical qualities and understood that he could become a useful pawn to strengthen colonial domination. Indeed, as a member of the Fang ethnic group, he possessed both the cultural sensitivity and mastery of the dialect needed to address them more effectively. Thus, the Spaniards instrumentalized the young Nguema, first assigning him administrative duties before rapidly promoting him to various political positions.
First assistant interpreter at the indigenous court of Mongomo, a role that earned him the nickname “the mayor of Mongomo” among his compatriots; then adviser for Public Works (equivalent to minister). In 1958, the colonial authorities agreed to establish an autonomous regime, which nevertheless remained dependent on Spain. Francesco Macias became its vice-president in 1964, backed by his mentors and under the leadership of Bonifacio Ondo Edu. Yet they ignored the deep hatred Nguema harbored toward them and toward colonization as a whole. Realizing he was being manipulated to serve their interests, he chose to remain discreet and obedient so as not to arouse suspicion. However, he would soon make a spectacular shift in allegiance. Around 1967, while still vice-president and as independence negotiations intensified, Francisco Macias Nguema emerged as the spokesman of the struggle for freedom. Uncompromising and now defiant toward his former masters, he embraced the revolution with aggression and rigidity. He was supported by many independence activists eager to follow local leaders rather than Europeans.
On August 11, 1968, a referendum was proposed to the population and free elections were organized under United Nations supervision, opposing Nguema to Ondo Edu.
When Spanish Guinea gained independence on October 12, 1968 and became the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Francisco Macias Nguema became its president. Shortly afterward, his Minister of Foreign Affairs, Atanasio Ndong Miyone, attempted a coup d’état. This marked the beginning of the regime’s radicalization, as the dictatorship took shape. His electoral rival was imprisoned and executed, while several members and former members of the government were arrested and tortured or committed suicide in prison. By 1970, he established the single Workers’ Party, and a year later, in July 1971, he repealed part of the constitution.
In 1972, he proclaimed himself president for life as well as Minister of Justice and Finance. He abolished federal ties with the King of Spain. Citizens were required to call him the “Unique Miracle of Equatorial Guinea” and submit to his tyrannical and utterly senseless rule: during his reign, wearing shoes was forbidden… Many Equatorial Guineans went into exile to escape repression, while countless others were arbitrarily condemned and/or killed.
In 1976, he decreed that all names of Spanish ancestry be changed in order to reclaim African identity. To remain consistent with this law and set an example, he changed his own name to Masie Nguema Biyogo Negue Ndong. This was perhaps the only action aimed at unity and reconciliation with African roots, the only meaningful and symbolic measure of his opposition to the legacy of the colonial period, along with the Africanization of city names: the capital, Santa Isabel, became Malabo.
Beyond this, Nguema made decisions that isolated the country and worsened its economic and social conditions: hospitals and schools were closed in favor of more traditional medicine; fishing was forbidden for inhabitants; cocoa production was severely slowed, and he ordered the dismantling of the railway system. In 1978, he banned the practice of the Catholic religion. The regime became centered entirely on extreme militarization and security within national borders.
He allowed the Russians to install a secret submarine base in the country. At the same time, in this atmosphere of isolation, Nguema, who had once worked as a postal clerk before entering government, had thousands of stamps produced purely for his own pleasure, despite having nowhere to export them…
To govern the state, he surrounded himself with relatives and numerous members of his family, including his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. The latter, initially head of the Black Beach prison, became Colonel of the national army. On August 3, 1979, he overthrew the president with the support of his soldiers. Masie took refuge in a bunker and destroyed the country’s foreign currency reserves, causing the collapse of the currency (ekwele-bikwele), which inevitably triggered a severe monetary crisis. Masie Nguema Biyogo Negue Ndong was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death. The International Commission of Jurists monitored the fairness of the trial, but due to the lack of reliable legal institutions, Spanish military law was applied. The dictator was executed by firing squad on September 29, 1979, by Moroccan soldiers, as local troops did not dare carry out the task, so mystified were they by the man.
Masie Nguema Biyogo Negue Ndong ruled for 11 years, imposing limitless terror. He left the country in a critical economic and structural condition and a bitter memory among Equatorial Guineans. Nearly two-thirds of the population either died or went into exile under his regime.
