The president of Equatorial Guinea is the country’s head of state and leads the Council of Ministers. Also, the president is in charge of the Armed Forces. Francisco Macías Nguema became the first president on October 12, 1968.
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the current president, holding office since August 3, 1979. However, the Constitution, as of 2021, includes a two-term limit for the presidency, but no president has followed this limit so far.
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Complete List Of Equatorial Guinea Presidents From 1968 Till Date
No. | Name | Took office | Left office | Political party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Francisco Macías Nguema | 12 October 1968 | 3 August 1979 (Deposed in a coup) | IPGE (until 1970), PUNT (1973) |
2 | Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo | 3 August 1979 | Incumbent | Military (until 1982), Independent (until 1987), PDGE (1989, 1996, 2002, 2009, 2016, 2022) |
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Who Was The First President Of Equatorial Guinea?
Francisco Macías Nguema was the first president of Equatorial Guinea. He became president on October 12, 1968, the same day the country gained its independence from Spain. Macías ruled the country until he was overthrown on August 3, 1979.
His time in power was harsh and full of human rights abuses. He was known for being a dictator, and his rule is considered one of the most brutal in history.
Macías was born on January 1, 1924, in a small village called Nfengha, which was part of Spanish Guinea at the time. His family was poor, and his father was a traditional healer.
Macías went to Catholic schools and later worked as a court clerk. He moved up in local government, becoming the mayor of Malabo, the capital, and later the Minister of Public Works.
Eventually, he became the deputy president of the governing council when the country was still under Spanish rule. When the country moved toward independence in the late 1960s, elections were held.
Macías was elected as president in 1968, and he gained more power. He declared himself President for Life in 1972, and he created laws that gave him full control over the government.
In 1972, he made Equatorial Guinea a one-party state, with his own party being the only one allowed to exist. His rule became even more oppressive after that, with many laws that punished anyone who opposed him.
Macías built a strong cult of personality around himself. He saw himself as an all-powerful leader and targeted anyone who might challenge his authority.
Intellectuals, anyone wearing glasses, and educated people were treated badly. Also, many were executed or forced to leave the country. The government killed tens of thousands of people during his rule, and many others were tortured or disappeared.
Macías’s paranoia led him to kill even close friends and family members. He was eventually overthrown in a coup led by his nephew, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. Macías was caught and executed on September 29, 1979.
Even after his death, the country struggled with problems, and his nephew, Teodoro Obiang, became president and continued a similar authoritarian rule.
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Who Is The Current President Of Equatorial Guinea?
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is the current president of Equatorial Guinea. He has been in power since August 3, 1979, when he took control through a coup against his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, who was the country’s first president.
Obiang was born on June 5, 1942, in a small village called Acoacan, in Spanish Guinea, which is now Equatorial Guinea. He had his military training in Spain, and after returning to his country in the early 1960s, Obiang became close to his uncle, the president at that time.
However, he later led a coup to overthrow him with the brutality of Macías Nguema’s regime. After taking power, Obiang executed his uncle and began ruling the country.
In the beginning, he was seen as a potential reformer, but over time, he established a one-party state under the Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), which he has led since.
His rule has been seen by authoritarian control, where he suppresses any opposition and does not tolerate criticism. His government has been accused of serious human rights violations, such as torture, arbitrary detentions, and limiting freedom of speech.
Many international groups have criticized him for these actions. Obiang’s government is also corrupt. He is often accused of using the country’s oil wealth for his benefit, while the people of Equatorial Guinea remain poor.
His family, especially his son, Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue, plays a big part in politics. Teodorin is the Vice President and is seen as a possible future leader. Obiang has been re-elected multiple times, but these elections are often controversial.
In 2022, he won his sixth term with 97% of the vote, a result that many people believe was the result of fraud. Although there are opposition parties in Equatorial Guinea, they are weak and unable to challenge Obiang’s rule due to the strict control he maintains over the political system.
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Who Is The Current Vice President Of Equatorial Guinea?
Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, also known as Teodorín, is the current Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, and he has been in office since June 22, 2016.
Teodorín is the son of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the long-time President of Equatorial Guinea, who has been in power since 1979. This makes Teodorín’s role as Vice President part of a family-led political system in the country.
Many believe that Teodorín is being groomed to follow in his father’s footsteps and become the next president of Equatorial Guinea. Teodorín was born on June 25, 1968.
His political career started in the 1990s when he was an adviser to the presidency. He was also the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry for about 15 years. In May 2012, Teodorín became the Second Vice President.
In 2016, after his father was re-elected as president, Teodorín was promoted to First Vice President. Throughout his time in office, Teodorín has faced a lot of criticism.
People often talk about his luxurious lifestyle, which includes owning yachts, private jets, and expensive properties. His wealth, estimated to be around $600 million, has raised questions about possible corruption in a country where many people live in poverty despite its oil wealth.
Teodorín has also had several legal issues. He has been accused of money laundering and embezzlement, and he was involved in a famous case in France where he faced charges of misusing public funds. Though the charges were dismissed, his reputation has still been affected.
Recently, a South African court seized one of his yachts and properties after a lawsuit filed by a businessman who claimed to have been wrongfully imprisoned due to Teodorín. Teodorín is known for being extravagant, and he is sometimes called the “playboy prince.”
