The 1982

Constitution of Equatorial Guinea The Constitution of Equatorial Guinea () is the basic document of that country. It was approved in 1991 and amended in 1995. In 2011, a referendum was held on a series of constitutional amendment A constitutional amendment (or constitutional al ...

was the country's third constitution. Following the 1979 military coup that removed

Francisco Macías Nguema Francisco Macías Nguema (born Mez-m Ngueme, later Africanisation, Africanised to Masie Nguema Biyogo Ñegue Ndong; 1 January 1924 – 29 September 1979), often referred to as Macías Nguema or simply Macías, was an Equatoguinean politician w ...

from the presidency, a

popular referendum A popular referendum, depending on jurisdiction also known as a citizens' veto, people's veto, veto referendum, citizen referendum, abrogative referendum, rejective referendum, suspensive referendum, and statute referendum,Maija SetäläReferend ...

obtained 95.8% of votes in favor of the new Constitution in August 1982. The Constitution, which the

United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...

helped draft, added provisions for human rights, outlined a new free-market economy for the country, and nominally restored national elections. President

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (; born 5 June 1942) is an Equatoguinean politician, former commissioned officer, military officer and dictator who has served as the second president of Equatorial Guinea since 1982. Previously, he was the Chairm ...

, the leader of the 1979 coup and nephew of Macías, was effectively and officially established as president with the constitutional referendum, which bestowed upon him his first seven-year term in that role, despite leading the country since the coup. Despite the appearance of democracy and respect for human rights in the Constitution, it also granted the president unilateral powers over such things as cabinet positions and the right to

rule by decree Rule by decree is a style of governance allowing quick, unchallenged promulgation of law by a single person or group of people, usually without legislative approval. While intended to allow rapid responses to a crisis, rule by decree is easily ab ...

, all of which has led to Obiang becoming the longest ruling non-royal leader in the world. The Constitution was replaced with the current document in 1991 through another

, which legalized political parties beyond Obiang's

Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea The Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (, abbreviated PDGE) is the ruling political party in Equatorial Guinea. It was established by President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on 11 October 1987. Prior to 1991, the PDGE was the sole legal pol ...

References

{{Reflist Constitutions of Equatorial Guinea

Constitution A constitution is the aggregate of fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a polity, organization or other type of entity, and commonly determines how that entity is to be governed. When these pri ...

See also

References