Beginning The Monalige was created in the early 1950s, although some sources suggest its creation date was in 1947 or 1948. At that period of time it was named National Crusade for the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea (
Spanish:
Cruzada Nacional de Liberación de Guinea Ecuatorial,
NCLEG). The NCLEG was led by
Acacio Mañé Ela, who at that time developed a wide and profound popularity for his ideas of independence, carried out mainly among the most educated or prosperous social strata and individuals with social influence, such as teachers, administrators, farmers and catechists. Some of his most well-known supporters were Bubi Marcos Ropo Uri, Fang Enrique Now and Francisco Ondo Micha. In 1959, Acacio Mañé Ela was assassinated by the colonial authorities. In the late 1950s (dates vary depending on the source consulted: 1952, 1956 or 1959), the NCLEG changed its name to the National Movement for the Liberation of Equatorial Guinea (
Monalige, initially
Monalige ), at the proposal of
Atanasio Ndongo, who was elected as a secretary general of the party. Other Monalige leaders were Abilio Balboa Arkins, Pastor Torao Sikara, Francisco Dougan Mendo, Felipe Njoli, Agustín Efieso, Esteban Nsue, Ángel Masié and Justino Mbi. Monalige supporters mostly came from the native
bourgeoisie, including small and medium-sized businessmen and professionals. The headquarters of Monalige were in located in
Malabo. Monalige has also maintained ties with the
Popular Idea of Equatorial Guinea (PIEG).
Activities during the colonial period Atanasio Ndongo and other Monalige leaders were persecuted by the Spanish colonial authorities who accused the party of being communist. They were sent into exile in
Gabon. In 1961 the Monalige was recognized by the Gabonese government led by president
Léon M'ba. In 1962,
Leon M'ba demanded the
Equatorial Guinean independence together with the IPGE before the
Special UN Decolonization Committee. After the
Spanish Guinea was granted
autonomy in 1964, many Monalige leaders (already recognized by the colonial authorities, but still viewed with disfavor) returned from exile.
Atanasio Ndongo, however, would not return to his country until 1966. By the time the autonomous government of
Bonifacio Ondó Edu was established, Monalige was already a major movement with a well-established support base among Equatorial Guinea, unlike the
PIEG, which lost thousands of its members. Many members of the PIEG and MUNGE joined the Monalige, including
Francisco Macías Nguema, Vice President of the Autonomous Government. Unlike parties such as MUNGE or IPGE, the MNGLE advocated for immediate independence of Spanish Guinea, but maintained more moderate positions. For the
1968 Equatorial Guinean general election, the party presented
Atanasio Ndongo as its presidential candidate. Ndongo obtained 19.88% of the votes, and the MNGLE obtained 10 seats in the
National Assembly. For the second round, the MNGLE gave its support to the IPGE candidate
Francisco Macías Nguema, who would finally be elected president, defeating the MUNGE candidate
Bonifacio Ondó Edu. After the independence of Equatorial Guinea, several MNGLE politicians assumed positions in the new administration of the country, including
Atanasio Ndongo becoming
minister of foreign affairs and
Ángel Masié becoming
minister of the interior. Pastor Torao was elected as president of the National Assembly. Following the 1969 coup attempt by
Atanasio Ndongo to overthrow President Macias, many MNGLE leaders (including Ndongo himself, Saturnino Ibongo Iyanga, Armando Balboa and Pastor Torao) were arrested and executed. In 1970, MNGLE was outlawed along with the other existing parties after Macias established the
United National Workers' Party (PUNT) as the sole legal party and began a dictatorial regime that would last until 1979. == Electoral history ==