Part 5/9:
In 1979, a coup led by Macías's nephew, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, ousted Macías from power. Obiang's takeover ushered in a period that, while initially marked by a reduction in violence, ultimately saw the consolidation of power and the establishment of an authoritarian regime that still exists today. Although his rule was not as brutal as his uncle's, it did not escape the realms of human rights violations and political oppression.
The 1990s proved to be a transformative decade for Equatorial Guinea as the discovery of significant oil reserves reinvigorated the economy. With this newfound wealth, the nation experienced an economic boom that brought it to the forefront of African wealth rankings—at one point boasting the highest GDP per capita on the continent.