Timeline: Equatorial Guinea

A chronology of key events:

1471 - Portuguese navigator Fernao do Po sights the island of Fernando Poo, which is now called Bioko.

RUTHLESS LEADER Francisco Macias Nguema, pictured hours before his execution, ruled by terror Served from independence in 1968 until his overthrow in 1979 Reputed to have led one of Africa's most brutal regimes Prompted a mass exodus

1777 - Portuguese cedes islands of Annobon and Fernando Poo as well as rights on the mainland coast to Spain, giving it access to a source of slaves.

1844 - Spanish settle in what became the province of Rio Muni - mainland Equatorial Guinea.

1904 - Fernando Poo and Rio Muni become the Western African Territories, later renamed Spanish Guinea.

1968 - Spanish Guinea granted independence and becomes the Republic of Equatorial Guinea with Francisco Macias Nguema as president.

1972 - Nguema becomes president for life.

1979 - Nguema ousted in military coup led by Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

Elections boycott

1993 - First multi-party elections are generally condemned as fraudulent and are boycotted by the opposition.

1996 February - President Obiang Nguema wins 99% of votes in election amid reports of widespread irregularities.

1996 March - Mobil oil corporation announces it has discovered sizeable new oil and gas reserves.

Poor human rights record

1998 January - Amnesty International reports the arrest of scores of people - mostly from the Bubi minority - in the wake of attacks on military posts on Bioko island.

1998 June - Military tribunal sentences 15 people to death for separatist attacks on Bioko island.

1999 March - Ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea wins majority of seats in parliamentary elections condemned as fraudulent. Dozens of members of main opposition Popular Union are arrested.

Oil boost

Not everyone has benefited from oil and gas revenues

2001 - Economy emerges as one of world's fastest-growing because of oil exploitation. Opposition says trickle-down effect of growth is too slow, too small.

2001 March - Eight exiled opposition parties form a coalition in Spain to overhaul politics at home, saying democracy under Obiang is a sham.

2001 July - Exiled politician Florentino Ecomo Nsogo, head of the Party of Reconstruction and Social Well-Being (PRBS), returns home as the first opposition figure to respond to an appeal by President Obiang Nguema, who wants opposition parties to register.

Mass trial

Malabo: Capital lies on the rim of a sunken volcano Population: 60,065 Known as Santa Isabel until 1973

2002 June - Court jails 68 people for up to 20 years for alleged coup plot against President Obiang Nguema. They include main opposition leader Placido Mico Abogo. EU is concerned that confessions were obtained under duress. Amnesty International says many defendants showed signs of torture.

2002 December - President Obiang Nguema re-elected. Authorities say he won 100% of the vote. Opposition leaders had pulled out of the poll, citing fraud and irregularities.

2003 August - Exiled opposition leaders form self-proclaimed government-in-exile in Madrid, Spain.

Opposition leader Placido Mico Abogo and 17 other political prisoners released.

Coup arrests

2004 March - Suspected mercenaries arrested over alleged coup attempt; group is linked to suspected mercenaries detained in Zimbabwe. Crackdown on immigrants ensues; hundreds of foreigners deported.

Nick du Toit - alleged to have led mercenaries in coup plot Timeline: E Guinea 'coup plot' Q&A: Equatorial Guinea 'coup plot'

2004 April - Parliamentary elections: President Obiang's party and its allies take 98 of 100 seats. Foreign observers criticise poll and result.

2004 August-November - Foreigners accused of plotting coup to overthrow President Obiang are tried in Malabo. Their South African leader is sentenced to 34 years in jail.

Simon Mann, the British leader of a group of mercenaries accused of involvement in the alleged coup plot and arrested in Zimbabwe, is tried in Harare and sentenced to seven years in jail there. His sentence is later reduced to four years on appeal.

2005 January - Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former British PM Margaret Thatcher, tells a South African court that he helped to finance the alleged 2004 coup plot, but did so unwittingly.

2005 June - President amnesties six Armenians convicted of taking part in the alleged 2004 coup plot.

2005 July - 55 people killed when passenger aircraft crashes shortly after take-off from Malabo.

OPPOSITION LEADER Severo Moto leads self-proclaimed government in exile Exile wins asylum right Spain jails E Guinean exile

2005 September - Military court jails 23 defendants, most of them military officers, who are accused of plotting a coup in 2004.

2005 December - Spain withdraws the asylum status of exiled opposition leader Severo Moto saying he was involved in several coup attempts.

2006 August - The government resigns en masse. The president had accused it of corruption and poor leadership. Key ministers are reappointed.

2006 October - President Obiang says Equatorial Guinea plans to double its revenue share from oil production contracts.

2007 May - New airline launched to replace the national carrier EGA which was forced to shut over safety concerns.

2007 November - Four Equatorial Guineans sentenced for alleged role in 2004 coup plot.

2008 February - British mercenary Simon Mann is extradited from Zimbabwe to Equatorial Guinea to stand trial for his alleged role in 2004 coup plot.

2008 March - Spain restores exiled opposition leader Severo Moto's asylum status.

2008 April - Spanish police arrest Mr Moto on suspicion of trying to ship weapons to Equatorial Guinea.

2008 July - President Obiang accepts resignation of the entire government, accusing it of corruption and mismanagement; appoints Ignacio Milam Tang as new prime minister.

British mercenary Simon Mann and four South Africans sentenced to 34 years in prison for taking part in 2004 coup plot.

2008 October - Cameroon charges two policemen with kidnapping rebel colonel Cipriano Nguema Mba and returning him to Equatorial Guinea, which denies all knowledge.

2009 February - Fifteen people arrested over armed attack on presidential palace. Government accuses Nigerian rebels, who deny involvement.

2009 November - British mercenary Simon Mann and four South Africans pardoned and released after serving little over a year of their sentences in the 2004 coup case.

Presidential elections. President Obiang wins again, according to officials.