Republic of Equatorial Guinea (1968–1979)

Republic of Equatorial Guinea
1968  –1979  
Motto:  

Unidad, Paz, Justicia (Spanish)
"Unity, Peace, Justice"
(1968–1978)

No hay otro Dios que Macías Nguema (Spanish)
"There is no other God than Macías Nguema"
(1978–1979)
Anthem: Caminemos pisando las sendas de nuestra inmensa felicidad (Spanish)
Let Us Tread the Path of Our Immense Happiness
CapitalMalabo 
GovernmentFederal presidential republic under an authoritarian dictatorship
(until 1973)
Unitary one-party presidential republic under a totalitarian dictatorship
(From 1973)
President 
• 1968–1979
Francisco Macías Nguema
History 
12 October 1968
12 October  1968  
29 July 1973
• 1979 Coup
3 August 1979  
CurrencyEquatorial Guinean peseta
  Equatorial Guinean ekwele
ISO 3166 codeGQ
Today part ofEquatorial Guinea

Equatorial Guinea gained independence from Spain on 12 October 1968, with Francisco Macías Nguema becoming the country's first president. His rule, which lasted until 3 August 1979, was marked by increasing totalitarianism, extreme centralization of power, and widespread human rights abuses.