On October 12, 1968, the European colonial myth in sub-Saharan Africa came to an end. That day, Equatorial Guinea gained independence, which ceased to be Spanish Guinea.
Portuguese possession until 1778, the insular and continental territories had been formed as a colony during the reign of Alfonso XIII, achieving provincial status during Franco’s dictatorship, divided into Fernando Poo and Río Muni.
Starting in 1963, due to international pressure, it became autonomous with a democratic government.
In 1965 the UN asked Spain to set a date for the independence of this African region.
The government’s desire to avoid an international crisis led to the decision of the Council of Ministers, at the end of 1966, to grant Guinea some form of independence.
In reality, Guinea was a burden on the Spanish treasury, due to investments in construction, health, education and defense.
On July 24, 1968, the Spanish Cortes approved the law authorizing the government to grant independence to Equatorial Guinea. On August 11, a referendum was held in which the Guinean population voted yes or no to the question: Do you approve of Equatorial Guinea being, with your vote, an independent and sovereign, democratic and social State, made up of two autonomous provinces: Fernando Poo and Rio Muni”?
The text was voted favorably by 63% of the voters and immediately afterwards the electoral campaign began for the election of the President of the Republic, the deputies of the Assembly and the provincial councillors.
A United Nations observer mission was present during the campaign and opening of the polls, guaranteeing the honesty of the electoral result.
Several candidates participated in the presidential elections, held on September 22, and Francisco Macías won.
A decree of the Spanish government dated October 9 declared Equatorial Guinea independent as of noon on the 12th of that month, Hispanic Heritage Day and the feast of the Virgin of Pilar.
Manuel Fraga, Minister of Information and Tourism, traveled to Guinea in his capacity as plenipotentiary minister of the Spanish government to sign the independence act.
That same day the independence ceremonies were held and Macías became head of the State of Equatorial Guinea.
Representing the Head of State, Fraga signed the document transferring powers to the president of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea and his people, imposing on the President the Great Collar of the Order of Civil Merit.
A series of protocols would be incorporated into the Independence Act for the transitional period that would end with the establishment of mutual assistance agreements.
In addition to the military force, a Spanish civil colony made up of more than 7,000 people would remain in Guinea.
Spain would also retain public buildings and facilities and control television programming, in addition to administration, security devices and economic activity.
Macías maintained a friendly attitude towards Spain and its political allies but throughout December his attitude changed and during the months of January-February of the following year the relationship between the representatives of Spain and the Guinean government seriously deteriorated.
The crisis ended in April with the departure of almost the entire Spanish population established in the country.
From that moment on, Guinea began a period of political repression and international isolation.
Since August 3, 1979, the dictator Teodoro Obiang Nguema has presided over the Government, which earned him condemnation from organizations such as Amnesty International.
