Uncovering the EG coup plot
What does a cannibalistic dictator, the son of one of the most legendary women of our time, a few poor South Africans and a best-selling novelist have in common? Easy, they're all involved in one of the biggest scandals of the year. And no, this time David Beckham has got nothing to do with it…
Everyone's talking about Sir Mark Thatcher’s involvement in an attempt to overthrow Equatorial Guinea's president. But if you haven’t been following the development of the story, chances are you might not get what it’s all about. Why Equatorial Guinea? And what exactly does Mark Thatcher and the seventy men arrested in Zimbabwe have to do with each other? And most importantly why did they want to stage a coup in the tiny African country, as is alleged?
The biggest scandal of the year tells the story of rich upper-class, middle aged men trying to get their greedy hands on the oil riches of Africa. In a plot to overthrow an African dictator, Teodoro Obian Nguema, who’s accused of cannibalistic tendencies, torturing his people and stealing his country’s oil wealth, they planned to gain an advantageous position in Equatorial Guinea’s oil dealings.
What are the details of the coup?
The scam was allegedly cooked up in London more than a year ago by a few prominent English gentlemen. Mark Thatcher, the son of legendary prime minister, Margaret Thatcher; Elie Calil, a rich Lebanese oil kingpin living in London; Lord Archer, best-selling author and Simon Mann, a student from one of Britain’s top private schools and son of a famous English cricketer are only some of the big names involved.
The Evening Standard reported some of Mark’s rich friends, many of whom are the alleged schemers of the coup plot, visited him at his Constantia mansion in December last year. Possibly to scheme some more.
Their plan was to overthrow Teodoro Obian Nguema, the dictator of Equatorial Guinea for more than 25 years, and replace him with someone who would be easier to manipulate, someone who would offer them a favourable position when it comes to oil dealings, someone like Severo Moto.
The story developed from what sounds like the latest script of a Hollywood action film to the harsh reality of a few men caught in a Zimbabwean prison:
On March 7, 64 alleged mercenaries were arrested when they landed at Harare airport to pick up military weapons. Briton Simon Mann, the alleged mastermind of the plot, and two other men who were waiting at the airport were also arrested. According to the men they were on their way to do security work in a diamond mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The next day, another fifteen suspected coup plotters (eight South Africans and six Armenians) were arrested, this time in Equatorial Guinea. They are said to have been waiting for the arrival of the other mercenaries. Among them were South African Nick du Toit alledgedly, a ringleader.
Almost two weeks later, on March 16, the seventy men in Zimbabwe, mostly South Africans, were charged with plotting to kill president Obiang Nguema, breaking immigration laws and attempting to buy firearms.
In April, Simon Mann was caught trying to smuggle a letter out of prison, asking the financiers of the plot, including a Mr. ‘Scratcher’ (who is believed to refer to Mark Thatcher) to pull their weight and help him get out of detention.
On August 23 the trial of Nick du Toit and his fellow arrestees started in Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea. On the same day the fifteenth suspect, a German, died in Malabo's notorious Black Beach prison. Amnesty International alleges he was tortured to death. The prison guards however, say he suffered from cerebral malaria.
In the meantime the sixty-seven mercenaries pleaded guilty to violating Zimbabwe’s immigration and aviation laws, while Simon Mann pleaded guilty to violating security laws.
Two days after the trial began in Malabo, Sir Mark Thatcher is arrested at his mansion in Cape Town for financing the coup plot.
On August 27, a Zimbabwean court finds Simon Mann guilty of attempting to buy firearms, he could be sentenced to jail for fifteen years. The other sixty-six men are pardoned on the same charge.
The next day two of the acquitted men return to South Africa, where they face new charges of contravening our law against mercenary activity. They claim to have been tortured while in prison in Zimbabwe.
Who is Simon Mann?
Simon Mann, the former British commando, businessman and actor, is believed to the mastermind behind the plot to overthrow Obiang Nguema.
Mann, a greying 51-year-old wearing glasses and a beard, is the son of a famous English Captain and heir to a brewing company. He was educated at one of Britain's top private schools, Eton. According to BBC News, he went to Sandhurst, a prestigious military academy after school and from there to the Scots Guards, an army regiment associated with royalty and the upper class of British society.
Mann then joined the SAS military unit (the army's special-forces unit) where he later became a commander. In 1981 he left the military.
During the 80s he sold computer security equipment and ran a business providing bodyguards to wealthy clients.
In the 1990s he started Executive Outcomes, a company that offered advice and armed guards to businesses in conflict zones. Executive outcomes (EO) worked in Asia, Africa and South America, but most of it's personnel were hired from South Africa.
. This company made millions guarding Angolan oil reserves against rebel attacks. His second company, Sandline International, was linked to the civil war in Sierra Leone.
Regarding his character: BBC News reports, “Those who have known Simon Mann describe him as poker-faced, mysterious and secretive.”
According to News24, Mann is a close friend to Mark Thatcher and also his Cape Town neighbour.
Mann is scheduled to receive his sentence on 10 September.
Who is Nick du Toit?
48-year old, Nick du Toit is believed to be the South African associate of Simon Mann and ringleader of the suspected mercenaries.
He’s history with Simon Mann goes back to the 1990s, when Du Toit was a former member of the South African army's elite Special Task Forces unit who worked in Mann’s company, Executive Outcomes. He’s also believed to have strong links with former soldiers and mercenaries active during the apartheid era.
He claims to have been recruited by Simon Mann for logistical reasons. Apparently, his job was only to round up men and vehicles.
Du Toit officially runs an air transport and fishery business, Triple Option Trading, in Equatorial Guinea. Some media has described the company as a front for arms and diamond trafficking. Although Du Toit protests, the company has full legal status "and is registered with the South African Defence Ministry".
According to BBC News he said, "I was promised a large amount of money," when asked why he had agreed to take part in the coup plot.
What's suddenly so hot about Equatorial Guinea?
Oil, of course. EG, with it’s small population of only 500 000 people, discovered oil in the 1990s. Today, it’s considered to be the third largest producer of oil in Africa.
Who is the current president, Teodoro Obian Nguema?
President Obian Nguema has been ruling EG since he seized power from his uncle in a coup, and executed him in 1979. He is notorious for widespread human rights abuses and ruthlessly suppressing political opposition. But most shocking is the allegations of cannibalism against the feared leader.
President Obiang Nguema is also believed to be pocketing large amounts of the oil revenue. BBC News reports the US senate is currently investigating hundreds of millions of dollars in US bank accounts belonging to the family of President Obiang Nguema. (This is also why Obiang Nguema thinks foreign powers and multinationals are backing his removal.) In 2002 when he was confronted about where the oil money is disappearing to he simply answered, “It’s a state secret.”
Severo Moto
Severo Moto is accused by the EG government of being the instigator of the coup plot. Prosecutors say Moto, the country's opposition leader, offered the men $1.8m, together with oil rights, to overthrow the current president.
He is currently living in exile in Spain.
On the eve of the planned coup, Moto was allegedly flown to Mali in preparation of his inauguration as the new leader.
He denies involvement.
What’s Mark Thatcher's involvement?
He was indicated in the plot when a letter written by Mann, asking him for help was confiscated in Chikurubi prison outside Harare. Since, it’s been alleged Thatcher gave funding for a helicopter to be used in the plot.
He was under house arrest in Cape Town and will appear in court on 25 November on charges of contravening the law on mercenary activity. Prosecutors are also on their way to South Africa to question Thatcher, who has agreed to cooperate with them.
His mother, Margaret Thatcher recently posted his bail. According to News24 it cost her £350 000 (R4,2m) to free her son from house arrest. (Mark is alleged to have sponsored $275 000 (R1,8m) to the plot, not nearly as much as Mumsy had to fork out for bail.)
Although it’s never been proven, Thatcher has been involved in a myriad of shady dealings, he’s also accused of making huge profits using the family name and Mummy’s status.
For more on the life and times of Mark Thatcher, click here.
Something to debate:
Yes, mercenary work should be outlawed and stopped, but does a brutal dictator in Africa, who steals and tortures deserve to be in control? Should a higher force be instituted to protect the citizens of countries led by ruthless leaders like we see in Zimbabwe or should countries be left alone? Although this is only one of the issues that comes up in an important case like this, it is an issue worthy of debate.
What’s your opinion on this matter, email chatback@women24.com.
- Women24