Francisco Macías Nguema facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francisco Macías Nguema
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Macías Nguema in 1968
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| 1st President of Equatorial Guinea | |
| In office 12 October 1968 – 3 August 1979 |
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| Vice President |
See list
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| Preceded by | Office established (Víctor Suances y Díaz del Río as colonial governor) |
| Succeeded by | Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Autonomous Government of Equatorial Guinea | |
| In office 1 January 1964 – 12 October 1968 |
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| Prime Minister | Bonifacio Ondó Edu |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 January 1924 Nfengha, Río Muni Province, Spanish Guinea |
| Died | 29 September 1979 (aged 55) Black Beach Prison, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Equatorial Guinea |
| Resting place | Malabo Cemetery |
| Political party | United National Workers' Party |
| Other political affiliations |
Popular Idea of Equatorial Guinea (until 1970) |
| Children | Monique, Maribel, Paco, and at least one older son |
Francisco Macías Nguema (Africanised to Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong; 1 January 1924 – 29 September 1979), often referred to as Macías, was an Equatoguinean politician who served as the first President of Equatorial Guinea from the country's independence in 1968 until his overthrow in 1979. He is widely remembered as one of the most brutal dictators in history.
A member of the Fang people, Macías held numerous official positions under Spanish colonial rule before being elected the first president of the soon-to-be independent country in 1968. Early in his rule, he consolidated power by establishing an extreme cult of personality, a one-party state ruled by his United National Workers' Party and declaring himself president for life in 1972, which was then ratified by a referendum the following year. Due to his dictatorship's severe human rights abuses and economic mismanagement, tens of thousands of people fled the country to avoid persecution. This led to Equatorial Guinea being internationally nicknamed the "Dachau of Africa". His rule also led to significant brain drain as intellectuals and educated classes were particular targets for his persecution. In 1979, he was overthrown in a coup d'état by his nephew Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and was subsequently tried and executed.
Depending on the source, during his government, anywhere from 50,000 to 80,000 of the 300,000 to 400,000 people living in the country at the time were killed. He has been compared to Pol Pot because of the violent, unpredictable, and anti-intellectual nature of his government.
Images for kids
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Macías Ngema depicted on the 1969 1000 Pesetas banknote.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco Macías Nguema para niños
