[8] Those who acquire nationality at birth include: Naturalization can be granted to persons who have resided in the territory for a sufficient period of time to confirm they understand Spanish or another language used in the country, and the customs and traditions of the society.
[14] Seeking to discover trade routes to India, the Portuguese explorer Fernão do Pó, sighted the island of Bioko in 1472.
In October 1777, the two crowns agreed to terms in the Treaty of San Ildefonso, which granted South American Spanish colonies to Portugal and the Portuguese West African coastal territories, including Annobón and Fernando Po, to Spain.
The following year, Maria and Charles signed the Treaty of El Pardo reconfirming Spanish sovereignty over the two islands and the Bight of Biafra between the mouths of the Niger and Ogoue Rivers.
[23] Felipe José de los Santos Toro y Freyre, the Count of Argelejos, was dispatched in 1778 from Montevideo to take possession of and administer the new Spanish territory, but he died within a few days of his arrival.
[25] They were assigned to the administration of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata, based in Buenos Aires, until 1810[26] and then the British were leased the territory in 1817.
[29] The law was passed during the period (1808–1814) when Ferdinand VII of Spain was detained in France and Spanish juntas were organized to govern during his absence.
Ferdinand's return to power and proclamation to reestablish an absolute monarchy led to the Spanish American wars of independence.
[30] In 1814 upon returning to Spain from captivity in France, Ferdinand VII abrogated the constitution and reinstated an absolute monarchy, leading to independence wars throughout Spanish America.
[37] He served until 1858, when he was replaced by a Spaniard, Carlos de Chacón [es], who established Spanish colonial policy in administrating the territory.
[38][39] Though the 1900 Treaty of Paris established boundaries for French and Spanish territories, confusion remained until the Vatican resolved the issue in favor of Spain and appointed a bishop to serve from Santa Isabel.
The constitution called for significant colonial reforms, but before they could be acted upon the Third Carlist War and subsequent restoration of the monarchy ended its authority.
[47] In 1904, Spanish administrators began classifying the native inhabitants as indigenous, meaning unassimilated Africans and not entitled to full rights, and emancipated, referring to Fernandinos, mixed-race, assimilated creoles.
[53][Notes 1] Under regulations passed on 23 December 1944, the General Directorate of Morocco could grant full or limited emancipation based on professional or academic certification.
[56] Legal frameworks which had given different civil status to assimilated and non-assimilated Africans were abandoned and Fernandinos were granted full citizenship in 1959.
[66] On that basis, the United Nations urged Spain to establish a date, no later than July 1968 to transfer power to the Equatoguinean people.
[68] The 1968 Constitution at the independence of Equatorial Guinea specifically provided for the Africans born in the territory to obtain Equatoguinean nationality.