The president of Equatorial Guinea is the head of state of Equatorial Guinea, a country in the Gulf of Guinea. The president has formal presidency over the Council of Ministers and is the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and State Security. Francisco Macías Nguema was the first person to hold the office, taking effect on 12 October 1968. The incumbent is Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, having taken office on 3 August 1979.