Who Is Francisco Macías Nguema? Age, Biography and Wiki
Francisco Macías Nguema was born on January 1, 1924. As of 2025, he would be 101 years old. Macías became the first President of Equatorial Guinea after its independence from Spain in 1968. His regime was marked by authoritarian rule and a significant degree of oppression. He ruled until his ousting in 1979. Known for his controversial policies and suppression of opposition, Macías remains a pivotal figure in Equatorial Guinea's history.
| Occupation | Politician |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | January 1, 1924 |
| Age | 55 Years |
| Birth Place | Nfengha, Río Muni Province, Spanish Guinea |
| Horoscope | Capricorn |
| Country | Equatorial Guinea |
| Date of death | 29 September, 1979 |
| Died Place | Black Beach Prison, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea |
Popularity
Francisco Macías Nguema's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Details about Francisco Macías Nguema’s physical measurements, including height and weight, are not publicly available or documented in reputable sources. Given the historical context of his life, the focus has largely been on his political career rather than physical attributes.
At the height of his insanity, Macías would engage in monologues and even "dine" with already eliminated adversaries. He even went so far as to make decisions based on his nightmares and night visions.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Francisco Macías Nguema’s personal relationships primarily revolved around his marriage to María de los Ángeles, with whom he shared several children. His relationship status is historically significant as it intersects with his political ambitions and the stability of his regime during his time in power.
His parents had been expelled with the rest of their clan from what is today Woleu-Ntem Province, Gabon, at a time when the Spanish Colonial Guard had not yet exerted control over the jungled area. The family was part of the Esangui clan of the Fang people, Equatorial Guinea's majority ethnic group.
His family settled in Mongomo, where he was raised. Differing accounts exist of Macías Nguema's parentage and childhood, with some alleging that he was the son of a witch doctor who allegedly killed his younger brother as a sacrifice. Other accounts claims that his father was merely a local Fang noble.
According to this version, at age nine, Macías saw his father being fatally beaten by a local colonial administrator, when he tried to use his title to negotiate better wages for his people, Macías being orphaned a week later when his mother committed suicide, leaving him and 10 siblings to fend for themselves.
Net Worth and Salary
Calculating the exact net worth of Francisco Macías Nguema at his peak is complicated due to the political climate and lack of transparency during his rule. However, it is believed that he amassed considerable wealth through national resources, including oil and timber. After his ousting, much of his wealth was seized, making precise figures challenging to determine.
Starting in the early 1970s, Macías Nguema began repressing the non-Fang ethnic groups in the country, such as the Bubi people of Santa Isabel, whom he associated with relative wealth and education, and the Annobónese, due to what he felt was too much affection for Spain.
In the decade preceding independence, Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco had actively promoted Bubi nationalism on Fernando Po in hopes of gaining leverage over mainland Fang leaders, in an unsuccessful bid to extend Spanish rule. During the post-independence years, these tensions did not abate.
Santa Isabel was then militarized, with its inhabitants harassed. Pagalu, part of Annobón, was cut off from aid during a 1973 cholera epidemic, resulting in around 100 deaths. In 1972, mass arrests had taken place on Annobón after a majority of its electorate voted against Macías Nguema in the 1968 elections.
Use of the Fang language was forcibly imposed, with penalties for anyone caught using Spanish or languages belonging to ethnic minorities.
Career, Business and Investments
Macías Nguema's political career is defined by his role as a leader of Equatorial Guinea. Initially hailed as a liberator, his reign soon deteriorated into tyranny characterized by human rights abuses, political repression, and economic decline. His business dealings were often intertwined with state resources, granting him substantial influence over the country's economy. Following his administration, Equatorial Guinea underwent significant changes, but the impacts of his leadership are still felt today.
Even at this early point of his career, Macías Nguema already exhibited erratic tendencies.
In a conference to discuss the future independence of Equatorial Guinea at Madrid, he suddenly began an "incoherent eulogy of the Nazis", claiming that Adolf Hitler had wanted to save Africans from colonialism and only got "confused", causing him to attempt to conquer Europe. At one point he declared himself a "Hitlerian-Marxist".
Social Network
Although he served in a pre-digital era, Nguema's legacy is discussed widely on social media platforms today, including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. These platforms host discussions about his controversial policies and their long-term effects on Equatorial Guinea. Despite being a polarizing figure, he remains a topic of interest and analysis within historical and political science circles.
Education
Information about Francisco Macías Nguema's formal education is sparse. Reports suggest that he had limited formal schooling but was heavily involved in local politics and leadership before becoming president. His time as a schoolteacher provided him with the initial skills necessary for his rise in politics.
Macías Nguema managed to survive several bouts of tuberculosis as a child, which left him with a profound fear of death for the remainder of his life. He was educated at a Catholic school through to primary level.
He changed his name to Francisco Macías Nguema at this time after being baptized by Spanish Catholic missionaries, and would come to learn Spanish in addition to his native Fang.
During his adolescence, he worked as a servant for some wealthy Spanish settlers, being described as helpful and obedient, which earned him ridicule and mistreatment by other non-Christianized Fang, and showed an inferiority complex with respect to the Spaniards.
