WONGA COUP: A Plot by Mercenaries to Seize Oil Billions in Equatorial Guinea
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- Опубліковано 10 лип 2024
- On March 7, 2004, Zimbabwean authorities arrested about seventy men at the Harare International airport for illegal arms trafficking and immigration violations.
It soon came to the surface that these men in question were mercenaries that were on their way to Malabo, the capital of Equatorial Guinea to overthrow the long time leader of the country, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
These mercenaries had been organised by mainly British Financiers including Mark Thatcher, the son of the former UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.
The leader of this group was Simon Mann , a former partner in the defunct private military firm Executive Outcomes. As their cover story, Simon Mann claimed that they were picking up weapons for a security job at a mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A day later, fifteen more men were arrested in Equatorial Guinea and they were linked to the group that had been arrested in Harare, Zimbabwe. After about two weeks, the conspirators in each country signed confessions admitting that they were headed to Equatorial Guinea to stage this infamous coup, known as the Wonga Coup. With Wonga being British slang for money.
In this Episode of African Biographics, we look at the perpetrators of the coup, as well as an account of this audacious, ,yet error-prone 2004 coup attempt against The President of Equatorial Guinea by these mercenaries.
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Sources:
www.amazon.com/Wonga-Coup-Rut...
/ when-margaret-thatcher...
www.csis.org/analysis/wonga-c...
edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/af...
www.theafricareport.com/7355/...
www.csmonitor.com/World/Globa...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2011/1... (video)
military.wikia.org/wiki/Simon...
www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.r...
www.google.com/amp/s/www.alja...
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/359...
www.raceandhistory.com/selfnew...
www.bbc.com/news/world-africa...
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Afristory Productions Video:
• A complex History of E...
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Thank you :)
Hey , it's me Polandball , I had changed my channel look.
As a Zambian, I can confirm that our 'birds' in Ndola can indeed be snitches and spoilers. Another gripping documentary. Bravo.
Africa sounds crazy man
We need a blockbuster movie on this story... 👌🏿
Right. A movie. That's what Africa needs 🙄
Hopefully nollywood would step in.
Netflix miniseries 🙌🏿
The Dogs of War (reboot)
there was a british tv move based on this ..
These guys actually helped protect civilians in Sierra Leone and never got paid for it.
Most of them did fight against Angola,Cuba in the South African Border war and Angolan civil war and when the South African Border war ended they helped Angola reclaim territories taken by Savimbi since 1992.
Simon Mann was never an owner of EO. In fact Eeben Barlow always disliked him
I literally rewatched this 4times and im still paying attention. Beautiful documentary 👏
Very beautiful documentary
Hi
You are not very smart
Well researched documentary i vividly remember the day when the mercenaries were arrested at Robert Mugabe airport it was a news blockbuster 24/7 in Zim
Just watched all your videos and i must say thank you for this great informative content. Finding out that Thatchers son was involved with a failed coup really made my day.
Well done to the Customs officials in Zimbabwe for not accepting bribes and following through on their duties
Yes hats off to them.
Lol, you have never heard about Teodoro,? Come on.
That coup could have given the people of Equatorial Guinea a chance.
@@mrsoshadabaadman Mugabe stopped them in Solidarity with Obiang. U know a dictator would stand with his fellow dictator
@@aarongunnz9513 Yeah how sad. But none the less the Europeans have severly damaged out continent in Africa.
As the only European country who still owns land on Africa, I think this channel is very interesting for Spaniards.
Keep it
I have been very impressed with your videos. Very informative and interesting to watch. You do a good job with your pacing and making sure we understand everything and everyones motivation for why they do what they do. Such epic and interesting history...this could be a great movie!
I can't believe this happened in 2004. It felt more recent.
That's an extremely interesting story I'd probably never have heard of because it happened in an awkward time of my youth and soon enough ago many don't bother to call it history until recently!
Thank you so much for sharing. Would love to see more small interesting political intrigues of the 90's to now!
As always, a great video. This coup attempt was doomed from the beginning. To many people new the details so like they say, loose lips sinks ships.
Yeah, a lone assassin would have had a lot high chance of success. He has houses in Washington D.C. I doubt it would have been hard to get close to him there or poison him.
Why wasn't Simon Mann sent to The Hague for arms smuggling in Sierra Leone? 🤔🤔
Cos he wasnt a black head of state
Thanks you so much
Simon Mann has the complexion for the protection. Europeans get on code for each other when it comes to holding themselves accountable for crimes against Blak ppl.
@@carcher3279 my question was really rhetorical. Racism is the guiding ingredient. May Africa realize its potential and follow it.
@@obynoomere1280 understood, brother. I wish the same.
Training at a farm in South Africa is the least surprising thing in this video 😂
Black Beach Prison sounds harsh.
Excellent series. Very well done.
It will be good to overthrow this government. This country should be a Saudi Arabia in Africa but the president and his family have used the oil resources for their benefit. He should go
It's an African curse. As soon as they get into power they trample their voters !!!!!
Well done. I love your documentaries. Keep them coming. Very informative.
I've read this book 10 times. I encourage everyone to do so.
You are so good at these documentaries!!!!
I love this channel. It is so difficult to get in-depth reporting on Africa in any US media. Since I discovered this channel I have been watching every upload and you have released. It will not be long before nature itself finally takes care of Obiang. I don’t believe his spoiled and idiot son will last very long and maybe - at long last - the country can free itself from this wicked family.
Great work! Love the video, great channel.
Thank you
Awesome narrative Tatenda. I truly enjoyed the unfolding of events
Thanks brother keep it up
Very interesting!
Another great, well-researched presentation.
Maybe it was Murphy's law that caused it to fail
Thank you
There are some rumor that the Frenchman was having second thoughts and probably snitched
Amazing documentary my friend. Thank you!
Thanks for the feedback :)
Wow!!! There so much history lurking in oblivion... Thanks for bringing this to light...I had no idea
What's crazy is there have been 12 real and perceived unsuccessful coup attempts since Obiang took power.
It is a wonderful documentary. It highlights how a united front can stand against anyone coming to steal what's yours.
From stealing what? The oil or the country? The coup could have helped the ppl get their slice of all that oil money Obiang has been hoarding.
That guy in Equatorial Guinea does need to go!
Moral of the story? Loose lips sinks ships.
Good.
Loving your channel!
Thank you :)
One might wonder, do these European countries have not enough wealth? They will not be happy or satisfied until they dried up anything black people can use to have a relief. Oh my God help us!!!!!!!
Excellent, filling in the gaps and mummy was so miffed he got caught..
Very interesting diveo l really enjoy your programmes
Thank you
Well researched and informative well done
I really appreciate the video and I enjoy 😊. On other side, they should say who help to get the independence…
Another great video!
Such a great documentary.
Thank you
Thanks l learned a lot!
Looking forward to the debut!
This historic passage is more intriguing than the attempted coup that took place in Venezuela last year.
If you accept suggestions, it would be interesting to see a video about the period when mercenary Bob Denard was the de facto leader of Comoros.
Thanks for this suggestion :)
@@AfricanBiographics there are a small repeticion with what you are said at 18:10.
Beside that, great video
@@fmac6441 yep :(, thanks for pointing that out.
Interesting story, thanks alot
You are welcome :)
Crazy ,god is good , this is how they put their poppets in power..
Now I understand why Barlow said about Mann that he was an idiot. Only an idiot would work with Thatcher, the guy is clearly roten to the core, yet the men in the ground were the ones to pay. Also in defence of EO probably they were approach to deal with this matter and they refuse, I think this is the most important point on the animosity Barlow showed to Mann. Barlow has spent his entire carrer on the business trying to show everyone that there are other kind of mercs, yet their associates were playing like the good old mercs.
Great channel
Oh snap!
The same exact thing happened to my president a month ago.
#justiceforPresidentJovenelMoise
A film be made in English, french & Spanish language about this incident please
You're going to get English.
You're going to get English.
Great documentary,please do a documentary on Francisco Macias Nguaema
Frederick Forsyth wrote a novel based on the events of the failed coup titled ,'Dogs of War' and was later made into an award-winning movie by the same name.
Frederick Forsyth wrote the novel "Dog's of War" in 1974. And it became a movie in 1980.
That's 30 years before this iincident. No connection whatsoever.
@@CaptAnthonyPowell no connection except for a weird coincidence.
@@CaptAnthonyPowell Forsyth's novel was based on an actual coup plot he took part in (and partially financed with proceeds from previous hit novel Day of the Jackal) to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea and set up a puppet dictator to get at it's mineral resources. The elaborate planning details in the book was how he went about setting it up. The Spanish authorities (EG was a former Spanish colony) got wind of the plot and stopped the ship carrying the mercenaries and weapons at sea (in the Mediterranean l think). Forsyth was an "asset" for Brit intel and was doing it on behalf of Brit government and Brit companies with plausible deniability.
The Thatcher plot followed some of the methods in the book and Brit intel was again involved.
Forsyth also just "happened" to be in Guinea Bisseau in 1997 when the pres and his main political rival the military chief were assassinated. Just coincidence really.
@@simplock Too many European "adventurers" have decided to involve themselves in regime change in Africa. I think they want to be the heroes of their own Boy's Own novel
He who plays with fire....!
I had a big laugh when the narrator said, "Simon Mann has struggled to leave his military past behind." Mann has a extensive and successful history of running private military ops. If you listen any of his interviews, you realize he hasn't struggle anything.
And what about the allegation that British author Frederic Forsyth may have been involved at some point in the coup plan?
Why the use of a sleep lullaby as the background sound for such a video.....😂
Thats why they did not like mugabe since and stepped up sanctions around 2004 and 2005 since Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 showed Them not to take out leases I’m AU. Not a obiang, but his power and policies has kept EG strong with from outside interference in direct policies in the country
So he can keep the money for himself
8:44 "All dictators are ugly"- Norman Mailer
its crazy that the capital of EG is an island off the main country
Audacious Coup Attempt by Simon Mann and his Whites club London Cronies !!!!!! But appreciate the Brazenness !
This is the best example of how not to make a coup. Would have been easier to stage the coup from Nigeria in the Gulf of Guinea through the sea. Less border control. Easier corruption.
I loved the random B-17 that appeared for some reason.
Hahahaha
i know it was wrong but lets look at nguema???
What a story
1:02 masonic gesture with the 2 fingers on chest. He knew he would be just fine.
Get a life
I thought so !!!!!
Simon got off easy, wow
That whole operation was a comedy of foolish errors. Except that people got hurt in the process. I am a new subscriber. Has this channel done anything on Executive Outcomes/Eben Barlow? They actually contributed something positive. Great info. About the last place I have not visited is Africa and I have friends there and its on the list. South Africa has a restaurant called Carnivores and I think Kenya has a branch. A buffet with over 200 kinds of meat. Vegetarian rehab. I have to eat there once in my life! GREAT CONTENT. THANK YOU FOR THE EDUCATION.
Lol, Carnivore Nairobi is legendary
Executive Outcomes and Eeben Barlow had nothing to do with Simon Manns botched coup attempt in 2004. Executive Outcomes had ceased operations some years prior to this coup attempt. Simon Mann was NOT the founder or even a founding member of Executive Outcomes. Executive Outcomes, again under Eeben Barlow, resumed operations again approx two years ago. Eeben Barlow is not impressed with Simon Mann or his lies and misrepresentations. Executive Outcomes have only ever take contracts as Private Military Contractors with recognized and legitimate governments.
We really don't care for white devils coming on this platform talking about security (mercenaries). All they do is find reasons to legitimize ways to destroy African people. Insecurity is their stock in trade. For example, their weapons would be passed on the Congo if they were successful. Again contributing to more destruction and insecurity. African people are not dirt. VALUE OUR HUMANITY
hummm Africa
It is a little hard to celebrate the success of dictators in Zimbabwe and E. Guinea, but God knows what could have been the outcome had this coup succeeded. Glad it's not up to me.
Holly molly , now that's hell of a story . Could the coup actually succed tho ? Pretty sure it could . But if it succed , how would that end up for President Teodore and his country ? Is he a good leader btw ? And why is New Guinea's capital in island , not mainland ?
He is not a good leader. He has been in charge of the Country for almost half a century.
@@thephoenix756 so what,
@@kaulumapaulus9234
A Country is more important than one man and shouldn't have been lorded over by his criminal uncle, him and soon, his son.
It would be one thing if he was like Lee Kuan Yew, but he's the polar opposite.
@@kaulumapaulus9234 what sort of question is that ??
@@thephoenix756 I don't care how long he has been there, how is the economy, how are the people living. Is it a poor nation or not?
Very good documentary. It filled a lot of missing information from how it was narrated in the Zimbabwean media.
Justice has not been properly served despite thecoup was gonna be applauded to ousted obiang
Bad planning. although nobody was going to miss Nguema, the idea was evil
Amateu mercenaries...
Coup ain't for mercenaries it is for sound and brave heart for intelligent people they should have got their intelligence from inside equatorial intelligence
This country is Rich in Oil yet your People are neglected and Poor only those that are in govt.positions are Wealthy and Rich, meaning you are a Corrupt govt.Not helping your pipol elevate and improve their Lives.
These ppl for to long take African for granted.
You were to tell us more about why it was a mistake to replace the pilot
And Eli Callil and Mark Thatcher
Simon was supposed to be a hard ass mercenary, but when he got caught, he snitched on everybody like a punk
Corruption in Sub-Saharan Africa holds the question wether countries like Equatorial Guinea would’ve been better off as a commonwealth nation to their colonial power.
How many countries problems are CAUSED by colonizers?
Simon Mann is Ex SAS AND THE SANDLINE GUY EMPLOYED him in the Angolan civil war as well as Bougainville rebellion in Papua New Guinea
im sure this has nothing to do with sanctions against zim
Mercenaries seem to be very overconfident, throughout the twentieth century they kept trying to stage coups singlehandedly but almost always it ended like this
As much as it hurts me to say this. But this coup could have given the people of Equatorial Guinea a chance for a reset. I appreciate the solidarity from Zimbabwe. But the then government was just trying to squash ideas of insurgents.
We dont if it would reset though, as the coup main plan was to give the coup planner easy acceat to equatorial Guinea oil wealth. So to do that they would put a another corrupt leader in power
Few of the same gang of mercenaries plotted to kidnap President Taylor of Angola but the payment for the delivery did not go through and the plot was abandoned, Retired Col. Bob Kovacic was the head of the team to deliver President Taylor to the principals who conspired the plot.
Angola never had any president called Taylor
even bloody looks like mugabe
I have read about this failed coup long back and wished this one should have succeeded like other coups in Africa as the EG is ruled by corrupt despot for long time with utter disregard for human rights.
wo
Obiang should plot assisanation against them even if they are in England
Africans aren't competent to do that kind of thing
That’s a nice way to get overthrown
10k was clearly too low a bribe.
I want to know did EG every get
thatcher.
Do they have black face on military picture SMH,
10:11 he looks like pure evil.
Central African republic pls
Live Africa alone. Otherwise!!!
I wish that African governments had made a public example of those coup organisers because unless there is a psychological deterrent then others are going to try again there and elsewhere and they may not always be unsuccessful. The continent must show determination to turn the historical corner and press onward.
Otherwise they will pardon you lmao
Why did Obiang pardon the mercenary?
I think it was pressure from the western forces. Because even Mark Thatcher did not serve his full sentence, from the pressure of the British government at the behest of his mother.
Must have bn arm twisted by the west as usual maybe he was threatened they would not buy his oil the countries lifeline
So they where not punished?
Come on Africa stand and fight untill you are completely free.
Free from?
@@AB-xf7li Free from western rules and regulations or policy that benefit only them.
@@AB-xf7li Free from out side power and unnecessarly cruel government
@@tsedalebelete1516
Why are Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, and Singapore so rich?
Why was Hong Kong so rich?
Why are the Arab Gulf states rich?
@@tsedalebelete1516
Always making excuses, never taking responsibility
Sad
A dictator (R.G Mugabe) saved another dictator (T.Obiang) not surprising.
Pan African saved another Pan African, get it right.
@@petestreet100 Exactly! This was not liberation mission of the people of Equatorial Guinea but a mission of greed by westerners wanted to get unfettered access to the oil of the country. Apples and Oranges here.
@@sivuyilemtsi9840 correct. Thatcher should be in jail.
One dictator saved another dictator from being replaced by a aspirant dictator.
Question should be why they were so willing to sell arms to an ex Apertheid mercenary. See how God set it all up😂😂😂. They're all blood thirsty seeds of bloody Cain.
I wish they could have succeed. You cannot have a worse replacement than obiang
Africa must have security