It replaced the town of Bata as the capital of the country in 1969 . The city was renamed Malabo in 1973 because President Francisco MacÃ as Nguema wanted to replace European place names with `` authentic '' African ones . It was chosen to replace the mainland town of Bata as the capital of the country in 1969 , and was renamed Malabo in 1973 as part of President Francisco MacÃ as Nguema 's campaign to replace European place names with `` authentic '' African ones .