Fighting between loyalists and rebels continued until Macías Nguema was captured fleeing for Cameroon on August 18.

After Francoist Spain granted Equatorial Guinea independence in 1968, a power struggle between Macías and Atanasio Ndongo Miyone led to the former assuming the presidency.

Macías' reign as dictator was marked by his extensive use of state violence against his political opponents, Nigerian migrant workers, and minority ethnic groups, particularly the Bubi people.

The coup was backed by the nation's military and Macías' Cuban palace guard; several foreign embassies, including those of Spain and the United States, were aware of the plot in advance and provided financial humanitarian aid in its aftermath.

A force led by naval commander Florencio Mayé captured Macías on August 18, and he and six of his allies were executed on September 29.