1969 Equatorial Guinea coup attempt

Failed overthrow of President Macías May 2026 thumb|Location of Equatorial Guinea in Africa The 1969 Equatorial Guinea coup attempt was an alleged coup attempt carried out in Equatorial Guinea on the night of 4–5 March 1969, with the aim of overthrowing President Francisco Macías Nguema. The leaders of the coup attempt were reportedly Foreign Minister Atanasio Ndongo Miyone and the country's permanent representative to the United Nations, Saturnino Ibongo Iyanga.Rodríguez Jiménez José Luis Universidad Rey Juan Carlos La Independencia de Guinea Ecuatorial (Octubre 1968) y El Rápido Deterioro de Las Relaciones Entre España y La Ex Colonia (Febrero-Marzo 1969). http://historiadelpresente.es/sites/default/files/congresos/pdf/43/joseluisrodriguezjimenez.laindependenciadeguineaecuatorialoctubre1968yelrapidodeteriorodelasrelacionesentreespanaylaexcolonia.pdf 5 June 2026 es The coup allegedly had the support of the Spanish government, and its failure led to the establishment of a dictatorial regime by Macías, which lasted until the 1979 coup d'état. Currently, there are several versions of how the events unfolded, so an official account has not yet been established. Background thumb|A CIA WFB map of Equatorial Guinea During the 1969 diplomatic crisis between Spain and Equatorial Guinea, Ndongo and Ibongo traveled to Madrid to meet with Spanish government and financial figures (including Foreign Minister Fernando María Castiella), as well as Guineans residing in Spain. There are indications that the objective of these meetings was to compile a list of people who could form a government.García Ascanio Paula Guinea Ecuatorial: de colonia a sultanato June 2010 http://www.africafundacion.org/IMG/pdf/Garcia_Ascanio_Guinea_Escuatorial_de_Colonia_Sultanato.pdf 5 June 2026 es 22 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160122150714/http://www.africafundacion.org/IMG/pdf/Garcia_Ascanio_Guinea_Escuatorial_de_Colonia_Sultanato.pdf dead After the meetings in Spain, on 1 March Ndongo and Ibongo flew to Santa Isabel.Burgoa Muñoz Jon La independencia de Guinea Ecuatorial Un proceso de luces y sombras. 2013–2014 https://eciencia.urjc.es/bitstream/handle/10115/12181/TFG_BurgoaMu%C3%B1ozJon_Feberro_13-14.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y 5 June 2026 es Ibongo stayed on Fernando Poo, while Ndongo arrived in Bata on 3 March. Development In the early morning of 4–5 March, Ndongo arrived at the Presidential Palace in Bata along with some trusted military personnel and a group of naval officers from Mbini,Asodegue El golpe del 5 de marzo de 1969. Una versión española. Documental (18 minutos) http://www.asodeguesegundaetapa.org/el-golpe-del-5-de-marzo-de-1969-una-version-espanola-documental-18-minutos/ 30 December 2016 5 June 2026 esOkenve Celestino Atanasio Ndong Miyone recibió dinero para dar el golpe de Estado del 5 de marzo de 1969 http://guinea-ecuatorial.net/ms/main.asp?cd=ni5047 9 December 2006 5 June 2026 es https://web.archive.org/web/20170908020719/http://guinea-ecuatorial.net/ms/main.asp?cd=ni5047 8 September 2017 neutralizing the presidential guard and placing his own guard.Contradicciones en torno al golpe de estado https://sede.diphuelva.es/portalweb/hemeroteca/odiel/1969/ABR/09/0012.pdf 5 June 2026 es Odiel 9 April 1969 https://web.archive.org/web/20170908022137/https://sede.diphuelva.es/portalweb/hemeroteca/odiel/1969/ABR/09/0012.pdf 8 September 2017 Previously, several politicians, officials and soldiers had been taken hostage (among them Esteban Nsue, government delegate in Bata, Pedro Lumu, mayor of Bata; Minister of the Interior Ángel Masié, his brother Miguel Eyegue, governor of Río Muni, and Commander Manuel Tray, then head of the Military House of the Head of State). The hostages were divided into two groups: one group was locked in a room in the palace and the other was transferred to a Maritime Guard barracks. Prior to the coup, the executors took over the city's radio station, whose broadcast silence was the password established so that the supporters of the coup residing on Fernando Poo would know that everything was being carried out successfully. A plane left from Santa Isabel with Ibongo and other coup plotters on board. Ndongo occupied the presidential office and gave the order to assassinate Macías, who was not in the palace, since he had already been warned of a possible coup attempt. Ndongo looked for Macías but when he could not find him, he believed he had escaped.Asodegue Los errores políticos de Atanasio http://www.asodegue.org/hian.htm 5 June 2026 es 2 March 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180302135225/http://www.asodegue.org/hian.htm dead The way in which Macías found out about what was happening varies according to the different versions: one version states that Ndongo went to the Territorial Guard barracks (given that he had little military support)Joaquín Mbomío Bacheng Don Atanasio, héroe y mártir http://ondobacheng.over-blog.com/article-atanasio-ndongo-miyono-heroe-ymartir-124282123.html 2 August 2014 5 June 2026 es and asked the officer Salvador Elá (who would be one of the commanders of the 1979 coup) to put his troops at the disposal of the coup movement. Elá, according to this version, flatly refused and notified Macías, while Ndongo returned to the presidential palace. Another version claims that Elá was part of the group detained by the coup plotters, and that the person who notified Macías was the cook of the presidential palace, who managed to escape from there and notify the President, who was sleeping in his private home. Other stories claim that Macías was already in the palace when Ndongo arrived, or that he knew exactly of his minister's plans and that morning, together with his loyal forces, he waited for the moment to act.Nze Nfumu Agustín Macias, Verdugo O Victima 2006 1411683242 9781411683242 http://es.calameo.com/read/0000169470754d8b13051 5 June 2026 es Upon learning of the plot, Macías rallied Elá's troops and members of the "Youth in March with Macías" and marched to the Presidential Palace. Upon arrival, they disarmed the guard the coup plotters had posted at the gateCómo admirar a la vez a Marx, Lenin, Mao, Hitler y Franco (4) http://historiasdehispania.blogspot.cl/2008_12_07_archive.html 13 December 2008 5 June 2026 es and freed the hostages. Ibongo, who was inside the palace, was then taken prisoner (according to some accounts, killed on the spot).Eburi Palé José Marzo de 1969. Dossier del terror para la ley de la memoria historica http://librodenotas.com/cartasdesdeelexilioguineano/13433/marzo-de-1969-dossier-del-terror-para-la-ley-de-la-memoria-historica 31 March 2008 5 June 2026 es Meanwhile, Macías went up to the presidential office to confront Ndongo, who shortly thereafter fell out of a window of the presidential palace. Some accounts claim he was thrown out by Macías, while others maintain he jumped himself in an attempt to escape.Asodegue Capítulo 5. MACIAS http://www.asodegue.org/hdojmc05.htm 5 June 2026 es 28 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528195948/http://www.asodegue.org/hdojmc05.htm dead Upon landing, he broke his leg. According to some accounts, Ndongo was asleep when Macías entered the office.Lacosta Xavier España – Guinea, 1969: la estrategia de la tensión, parte II (de II), por Xavier Lacosta http://www.cmeyanchama.com/Documents/Guinee/Espana-Guinea1969.pdf 5 June 2026 es Upon entering the office, Macías allegedly shouted at him: "Atanasio, you can't do this to me!". During the following hours, the hostages detained in the Maritime Guard barracks were released and Civil Guard troops appeared at the Presidential Palace to help maintain public order.Javier Nart Guinea: Tres golpes contra Macías Interviú December 1976 http://www.cmeyanchama.com/Documents/Guinee/Tres_golpes_contra_Macias.pdf 5 June 2026 es Ndongo remained on the ground for five hours; during that time he was tortured by the "Youth in March with Macías". Macías took several photographs of Ndongo dying, which he would later show to Newsweek magazine correspondent John Barnes. Later, Macías ordered that Ndongo be taken to the hospital, although the next day he would be transferred to prison. According to some sources, Ndongo died in prison on 26 March. On the morning of 5 March, the version circulating in Bata about the events was that Ndongo had carried out a counter-coup to save Macías from being deposed by another coup. As the hours passed, the facts became clearer.Joaquín Mbomío Bacheng La larga Marcha de Macías http://www.guinea-ecuatorial.net/MS/main.asp?cd=ni2398 13 October 2003 5 June 2026 es There are versions that even deny the existence of the coup d'état, and say that Macías called Ndongo to the palace with the excuse of a council of ministers meeting and then the premeditated murder of Ndongo and the other supposedly involved took place.Eburi Palé José Marzo de 1969. El segundo golpe de estado de Franco. Más apuntes para la ley de la memoria histórica. http://librodenotas.com/cartasdesdeelexilioguineano/12915/marzo-de-1969-el-segundo-golpe-de-estado-de-franco-mas-apuntes-para-la-ley-de-la-memoria-historica 16 January 2008 5 June 2026 Spanish There are those who consider that it would have constituted, as a result, a self-coup.Es el momento de mirar a Guinea Ecuatorial https://www.eldiario.es/tribunaabierta/momento-mirar-Guinea-Ecuatorial_6_930966902.html 5 June 2026 es elDiario.es 17 August 2019 Consequences Break with Spain and the beginning of repression On the morning of 5 March, Macías thanked the Spanish ambassador Juan Luis Pan de Soraluce for Spain's neutrality, hours later accusing this country of having instigated the attempt. Macías described the coup attempt as "imperialist and colonialist"Mansueto Nsí Owono – Okomo El proceso político de Guinea Ecuatorial, desde la independencia hasta la pre-democracia 2014 Universidad de Murcia 978-84-695-9920-4 https://www.casafrica.es/sites/default/files/contents/document/libro_de_mansueto_nsi_owono-okomo._publicacion_on_line-editum_-umu.pdf 5 June 2026 es and as a "combination of loggers and Spanish capitalists", while Spanish ministers Manuel Fraga and Fernando María Castiella flatly denied any type of Spanish intervention. Macías ordered the freezing of all bank accounts of Spaniards residing in the country, and the closure of all Spanish companies in Guinean territory, and announced that "Spanish capitalism has been definitively defeated". On 8 March, Macías announced that he himself would be in charge of the Foreign Affairs portfolio and ordered the Minister of the Interior Ángel Masié to requisition all existing firearms in the country, with which Macías would arm his "Youth". There are debates about Spain's actions: there are historians who defend the country's non-interference,Bardavio Joaquín El reino de Franco: Biografía de un hombre y su época 2015 Penguin 8490690898 9788490690895 https://books.google.cl/books?id=BRT0CAAAQBAJ&pg=PT515&lpg=PT515&dq=golpe+de+estado+atanasio+ndongo&source=bl&ots=X_IKCzrJPD&sig=BfKUQBuMZ-s-kO54L82mZRuCd0o&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDmIqz5__UAhVEg5AKHaXPB9s4ChDoAQgwMAQ#v=onepage&q=golpe%20de%20estado%20atanasio%20ndongo&f=false 5 June 2026 es while others claim that the opposite happened and that Castiella even sent a telegram to Ndongo congratulating him on being the new president.Buale Borikó Emiliano El laberinto guineano 1989 IEPALA Editorial 8485436733 9788485436736 95 https://books.google.cl/books?id=ds1l3XGv1F0C&pg=PA95&lpg=PA95&dq=telegrama+ndongo+castiella&source=bl&ots=6w7PJdVD8R&sig=2UqWowv0gJhrPUaLTm_v9sbMEG0&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjY1PfxgYDVAhVFFJAKHe3HDvwQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=telegrama%20ndongo%20castiella&f=false 5 June 2026 esNkogo Ondó Eugenio La Guinea Ecuatorial – Hofstra University 2009 10 http://www.hofstra.edu/pdf/community/culctr/culctr_guinea040209_ixaondo.pdf 5 June 2026 es There are those who have suggested that this was false, since the telegram sent by Castiella contained a message unrelated to the coup. Another argument in favor of Spain is that if this country had intervened, its military force would have been sufficient to ensure the overwhelming success of the coup. It has been stated that Spanish military instructors participated in the coup plot, that Spain had agreed with Ndongo to send reinforcements,Un despropósito llamado independencia de Guinea Ecuatorial http://ireneu.blogspot.cl/2014/10/un-desproposito-llamado-independencia.html 21 October 2014 5 June 2026 es and that Ndongo received financial support from Spain. Macías himself stated during his trial in 1979 that Ndongo received 50 million US from Castiella to overthrow him.Rafael Fraguas Macías pide clemencia al tribunal https://elpais.com/diario/1979/09/25/internacional/307058404_850215.html 5 June 2026 es El País 25 September 1979 According to some accounts, the Civil Guard refused to intervene since Macías had not been arrested, and the success of the attempt was not assured. More neutral versions indicate that Spain knew of the minister's plans, but simply did not intervene. After the coup, Macías undertook a purge of the entire administrative and political apparatus of the country, beginning a dictatorial regime. A state of emergency was declared and the "Youth in March with Macías" spread terror in the streets of the country.es Macías instaura una verdadera dictadura en Guinea Ecuatorial, diario ABC, 09/03/1969, página 31 y página 32.es Macías asume el poder absoluto en Guinea Ecuatorial, diario ABC, 09/03/1969, página 23. Several politicians, namely Ibongo, Pastor Torao Sikara es, President of the National Assembly (Equatorial Guinea) es Asamblea Nacional (Guinea Ecuatorial) National Assembly, Armando Balboa es, Minister of Information and Tourism, and political opponent Bonifacio Ondó Edú, were immediately arrested and murdered. Other ministers and officials, who were related to the attempted coup, have also been murdered or persecuted in the aftermath, among them Gustavo Watson Bueco es (died in 1972) and Agustín Nve es Agustín Nve Ondo Nchama, deputies in the National Assembly, Enrique Gori es Enrique Gori Molubela (died in 1972),es Un supuesto complot, en 1969, sirvió al dictador para iniciar el exterminio de la oposición, diario El País, 8 de agosto de 1979. President of the Provincial Council of Fernando Poo es Consejo Provincial de Fernando Poo and Federico Ngomo es (died in 1971), President of the Provincial Council of Río Muni es Consejo Provincial de Río Muni. To them should be added many other politicians such as Norberto Balboa, Vicente Ntutumu, Luis Angue Bacale and Santiago Osa.es La guinea de Macías. El despertar del monstruo, por José Eburi Palé, 2008. This was followed by Spain's request to the UN to send observers (who arrive on 10 March to Santa Isabel and on 13 March to Bata) and other diplomatic initiatives, such as negotiations with the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie or an urgent request to the International Red Cross related to the events.Confusa situación en la Guinea Ecuatorial http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1969/03/09/pagina-5/33574482/pdf.html?search=Confusa%20situaci%C3%B3n%20en%20la%20Guinea%20Ecuatorial 5 June 2026 es La Vanguardia 9 March 1969La Cruz Roja Internacional Acepta Enviar a Guinea Un Equipo Medico http://hemeroteca.lavanguardia.com/preview/1969/04/09/pagina-7/33575029/pdf.html?search=clima%20de%20angustia%20en%20guinea%20ecuatorial 5 June 2026 es La Vanguardia 11 March 1969 The failure generated a wave of popular anti-Spanish indignation (stimulated by the government), so the Spanish community felt threatened.Arasa Daniel Historias curiosas del franquismo 2008 Ediciones Robinbook 8479279796 9788479279790 295 https://books.google.cl/books?id=HMFy1QqnmX8C&pg=PA295&lpg=PA295&dq=golpe+de+estado+guinea+1969&source=bl&ots=ZLv-Ld7Eoo&sig=kcjClhsosTc40J8o6L3_CVssnWE&hl=es&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjjmKzVn__UAhVGEpAKHWnmD8U4FBDoAQhQMAk#v=onepage&q=golpe%20de%20estado%20guinea%201969&f=false 5 June 2026 es This entire situation resulted in the worsening of the diplomatic crisis. In a telegram, Francisco Franco announced to Macías that the "crisis suffered in the country produces in Spanish residents the impression that there is a lack of security and guarantee in a hostile environment". The evacuation of the vast majority of the 7,500 Spaniards residing in the country was then ordered (supervised by international observers) and the withdrawal of the Civil Guard troops also assigned there. The UN mission managed to impose a two-month deadline for the withdrawal of Spaniards and troops, which ended on 5 April. Long-term consequences In 1970, with his dictatorship already established, Macías banned all political parties and in their place established the United National Workers' Party (PUNT) as the only political party. The following year Macías personally assumed all the powers of the state, and in 1973 he promulgated a new constitution, which provided legal support to his regime. Macías' dictatorial regime, during which around 50,000 people were murdered and a strongly anti-imperialist sentiment inspired by the rivalry that arose with Spain after the coup, would last until 1979, when he was overthrown by Teodoro Obiang. During the Macías' regime, the date of 5 March acquired great significance, establishing the celebration of "Victory Day".Nerín Gustau Universidad Federal de Integración Latinoamericana Francisco Macías: Nuevo Estado, Nuevo Ritual 2016 http://e-spacio.uned.es/fez/eserv/bibliuned:Endoxa-2016-37-5035/Francisco_Macias_nuevo_estado.pdf 5 June 2026 es In the celebrations, plays were frequently organized that represented the failed coup attempt.Lacosta Xavier Cronología de Guinea Ecuatorial: 1950 / 1979 De la independencia al juicio contra Macías http://www.angelfire.com/sk2/guineaecuatorial/Lacosta2.htm 5 June 2026 Spanish Given the multiplicity of versions that exist about the development of the coup, even today a single and official account of the events has not been established. I haven't yet found, let's say, a logical and acceptable account of the events. Why? Because those events remain confusing and, in my opinion, excessively exaggerated. Although it's logical that they were exaggerated because the result was catastrophic (...). Donato Ndongo-Bidyogo Currently, 5 March is considered by Teodoro Obiang's opponents as the date on which the democratic regime in Equatorial Guinea ended. References 3 Equatorial Guinea Coup attempt Category:1969 conflicts Category:Coups d'état in Equatorial Guinea Category:March 1969 in Africa