How did the 1982 constitution change Equatorial Guinea’s government?

The 1982 constitution of Equatorial Guinea was instituted following the 1979 coup that brought Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo to power. While it was described as a less authoritarian framework than the previous regime, it was developed with assistance from the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.123

Despite the shift, the 1982 constitution was widely criticized for its concentration of power. Specifically, it granted the president a seven-year term and provided the office with far-reaching authority. Although it represented a move away from the extreme brutality of the preceding era, the document ultimately served to formalize Obiang’s leadership, and his subsequent rule continued to be marked by significant human rights concerns and the suppression of political dissent.213