The Wonga Coup

by Adam Roberts

  Mockler, Anthony, The New Mercenaries (Garden City Press, 1985).

  Munnion, Chris, Banana Sunday: Datelines from Africa, (William Waterman, 1993).

  Musah, Abdel-Fatau and J. Kayode Fayemi, eds. Mercenaries, An African Security Dilemma (Pluto Press, 2000).

  Nortje, Piet, 32 Battalion; The Inside Story of South Africa’s Elite Fighting Unit (Zebra Books, 2003).

  Nze Nfumu, Augustin, Macias: Verdugo o Victima? (in Spanish) (self-published, 2004).

  Roberts, J. M., The Penguin History of the World (Penguin Books, 1992).

  Shearer, David, ‘Outsourcing War’, Foreign Policy (Fall 1998).

  Shelley, Toby, Oil, Politics, Poverty and the Planet (Zed Books, 2005).

  Singer, P. W., Corporate Warriors, The Rise of the Privatised Military Industry (Cornell University Press, 2003).

  Singer, P. W., ‘Outsourcing War’, Foreign Affairs (March/April, 2005), pp. 119–32.

  Spicer, Tim, An Unorthodox Soldier: Peace and War and the Sandline Affair (Mainstream Publishing, 1999).

  St Jorre, John de, The Nigerian Civil War (Hodder & Stoughton, 1972).

  Sundiata, Ibrahim K., From Slaving to Neoslavery: The Bight of Biafra and Fernando Po in the Era of Abolition 1827–1930 (University of Wisconsin Press, 1996).

  United States Senate Report on Riggs Bank (2004).

  Van Rensburg, A. P. J., Contemporary Leaders of Africa (HAUM, 1975).

  Venter, Al J., Soldier of Fortune (W. H. Allen, 1980).

  Waugh, Evelyn, Black Mischief (1932) (Penguin Books, 1965).

  Waugh, Evelyn, Scoop (1938) (Penguin Books, 2000).

  Wood, Geoffrey, ‘Business and Politics in a Criminal State: The Case of Equatorial Guinea’, African Affairs 103/413 (2004), pp. 547–67.

  Yergin, Daniel, The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power (Free Press, 1991).

  Television documentaries/productions

  BBC, Coup! (2006): comedy drama written by John Fortune.

  BBC, Review of 2003, Barnaby Phillips on Sao Tome (Christmas, 2003).

  BBC, The Money Programme, interview with Nick du Toit (October 2004).

  BFC Productions, La Nouvelle Fortune des Mercenaires, directed by Patrice Dutertre (2005).

  Carte Blanche, ETV, South Africa (29 May 2005).

  Channel 4 documentary, My Friend the Mercenary, directed by James Brabazon (March 2005).

  Channel 4 News, interview with Crause Steyl (January 2005).

  SABC Special Assignment, ‘Anatomy of a Coup’, 8 February 2005.

  60 Minutes (Sunday, 1 June 1997).

  Selected newspapers and other media

  Many newspapers proved useful. In South Africa: This Day, The Star, Business Day, Sunday Times, Sunday Independent, Noseweek, Financial Mail, Mail and Guardian. In Zimbabwe: Zimonline, Herald. In Britain: newspapers: Observer, Sunday Times, Independent on Sunday, Guardian, Independent, Daily Mail, Financial Times, Sunday Telegraph, Telegraph, The Times, Evening Standard; magazines: New African, Africa Confidential, Private Eye, Spectator, the Economist. In the United States: Baltimore Sun, Washington Post, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Time, Newsweek, Newsday, Vanity Fair, as well as National Public Radio, MotherJones.com. In France: Jeune Afrique. In Spain: El Pais and El Mundo.

  There are many informative websites, but two particularly useful ones are: www.afrol.com (news from Equatorial Guinea) and www.guinea-ecuatorial.org (Moto’s website).

  Index

  A

  AAA Aviation 122, 123

  Abacha, Sani 58

  Abayak 229

  Africa:

  colonial history 19, 62, 82

  oil, gas and mineral resources 49–50, 226–7, 230–31, 262–3, 274

  see also Equatorial Guinea

  Wonga Coup’s lessons for 262–3, 275

  Africa Confidential 59, 171, 172

  African National Congress (ANC) 249

  African Union 86

  AIDS see HIV/AIDS

  Alaska 274

  Albatross 25, 26–30, 31

  Allan, George 26–8

  Allerson, Georges 73, 91, 173, 193, 239

  Ambush and Counter Ambush 98

  Amerada Hess 229, 263

  Amnesty International 42, 195, 197, 199, 236, 240, 272, 283

  ANC see African National Congress

  Ancient Order of Froth Blowers 8

  Ancram, Michael 59

  Angola 61–2, 105, 263, 293

  civil war 6–11, 262–3

  diamond industry 13, 69

  and Executive Outcomes 9–10, 85–6, 262–3

  and mercenaries 7, 8, 9–10, 59, 85–6, 110, 262–3

  and Moto 62

  oil industry 6–11, 51

  and Wonga Coup plot 173, 194, 205, 275

  Annobon 45, 129, 142

  Archer, Jeffrey 170–71, 296

  biography xii, 170

  and Calil 58, 170–71, 203–4

  ‘The Coup’ (short story) 157, 170

  and ‘J. H. Archer’ payment xii, 169–71, 215, 246

  Thatcher and 120–21, 170

  and Wonga Coup attempt 170–71

  Archer, Raymond 179, 218, 257

  Armenian air crew 107, 128, 159, 160, 193, 195, 239, 259

  arms trade 33, 61–2, 69–70, 102, 113, 127, 146–7, 152

  Asia, demand for oil 226

  Asian Trading and Investment Group SAL 106, 159

  Augusto, Abel 71, 193–4, 239, 240

  Aznar, Jose Maria 62, 88, 139–40, 143, 204, 264, 266

  B

  Babangida, Ibrahim 58

  Bamako 186

  Barbour Griffith and Rogers 270

  Bata 107

  Bayley, David 112

  BBC 237

  Benin 7, 101

  see also Bight of Benin

  Bennet, John 45

  BG (company) 53

  Biafra 26, 30, 32, 35

  Bight of Benin, in old rhyme 75, 78

  Bight of Benin Company see Wales, Greg

  Bikomo, Santos Pascal 45

  Bioko (Fernando Po) 19, 27–8, 33

  Bird, Martin 150, 162

  Biyogo 184

  Black Beach (Playa Negra) prison 21, 40, 41, 43, 193–6, 237, 239–41, 259–60, 261, 280, 283

  Black September organisation 27

  Blair, Tony 148

  Bloody Sunday 15

  see also Northern Ireland

  Bond, Alan 161

  Bongo, Omar 57

  Boonazier, Marthinus (Bones) x, 193, 194, 239, 259–60

  Botswana 262

  Bourthoumieux, Lucie 71, 141, 236, 280

  Brabazon, James 135, 164

  Branch Energy 12

  Bravo, Lopez 27

  Brazzaville 160–61

  Britain:

  arms sales 113

  colonial history see Africa

  and 1973 coup attempt (Equatorial Guinea) 28–30

  court cases against Wonga Coup plotters 215–16, 237, 252, 267–8, 273

  and Wonga Coup plot 92, 136, 139, 175, 247, 264, 268

  British South Africa Company 82

  British Virgin Islands 105

  Bubis 22, 43, 44

  Buckingham, Tony 6–11, 13–14, 59, 77, 203, 267

  see also Executive Outcomes

  Buffalo Soldiers xvi, 72, 73, 90, 131, 256

  Bujumbura 148

  Burrows, Charles 203

  see also Wales, Greg

  Burton, Sir Richard (traveller) 24

  Bush, George, Senior 247

  Bush, George W. 269

  Buxton, Thomas Fowell 19

  Bwiti cult 23

  Byron, George Gordon, Lord 124

  C

  Calil, Ely (Khalil, Smelly):

  and Archer 58, 170–71, 203–4

  biography xii, 57–9

  Mann and 57–60, 134, 207–8, 287–8

  and Thatcher 120, 242

  and Wonga Coup plot 85–6, 104, 106, 121, 129, 135, 171, 203, 204, 207–8, 215, 254, 271, 273, 285, 286, 2
96

  Cameroon 160, 192, 263, 293

  Canada 99–100

  Canary Islands 27, 29, 34, 94, 106, 135, 159, 173–4, 183–5, 190–91

  cannibalism 23–4, 45–6, 60, 88

  Cape Verde 27, 29

  Capricorn Systems 166

  Cardoso, Sergio x, 69

  and Wonga Coup plot 71, 73, 126–7, 173, 193, 196, 197, 239

  Carlse, Harry (Jacobus Hermanus Albertus Carlse; The Enforcer) ix, 143–4

  and Wonga Coup plot 95, 131, 138, 143–4, 145–6, 157, 169, 179, 181–2, 187

  aftermath 202, 206, 233, 257

  Cassidy and Associates 270

  Central Asian Logistics GmbH 127–8

  Central Intelligence Organisation (Zimbabwe) 148, 182, 255

  Chad 52, 228, 274

  Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs) 136, 266

  ChevronTexaco 228

  Chikurubi prison 201, 212, 216–19, 221, 233, 255–6

  HIV/AIDS and sex in 219, 275

  China 127, 274

  and Equatorial Guinea 41, 52

  Chipika, Learnfirst 219

  Cicogma, Gianfranco 210–11

  Clark, Margaret Marshall see Mann, Margaret Marshall

  Clinton, Bill 85, 127

  CMS (oil company) 228

  Coetzee, Dries 209–10

  Cogito 68, 92, 111, 242

  Collier, 290

  Comoros 7, 76, 101

  Company of Adventurers of London (Guinea Company) 82

  Congo, Democratic Republic of (DRC) 7, 68, 70–71, 103–4, 125, 131, 133, 134, 142, 147, 150, 203, 227

  Congo, Republic of 160–61

  Congolese rebels 70–71, 150–52, 153, 157–8, 160, 165

  Costa, Alercio 72–3

  Côte d’Ivoire 142, 147

  coup attempts:

  history, requirements and future of 98–104, 275, 276

  see also Equatorial Guinea; Wonga Coup

  Cranbrook Academy of Art 51

  Croatia 271

  Cuba 41, 60

  Cyprus 142, 147

  D

  Dean, Peter 26

  Democratic Republic of Congo see Congo, Democratic Republic of

  Denard, Bob 7, 9, 15, 35, 76, 100–101, 103, 275

  Denley, Tommy Lynn 98–9

  Diamond Works 13

  diamonds 13, 69, 70, 262

  Dodson, Robert, Sr 166

  Dodson Aviation Inc. 166–7, 174, 175

  Dogs of War, The see Forsyth, Frederick

  Domingo, Captain J. P. 91

  Domingos, Jose 173, 193, 239

  Dominica 99–100, 101

  Douala 160

  Dracula, Victor ix, 68–9

  and Wonga Coup plot 126–7, 257

  Drake, Sir Francis 103, 164

  DRC see Congo, Democratic Republic of

  drugs (illegal) 11, 45, 193

  du Prez see Prez, Louis du

  du Toit see Toit, Nicolaas du

  Dube, Colonel Tshinga 148, 151, 187, 265

  E

  Eastern Europe 33, 147, 159, 237

  Ebano 192

  Economist 279

  EG see Equatorial Guinea

  Eleanor Fishing CC 91

  Elf-Acquitaine 58

  see also Total

  Elizabeth I, Queen 103

  Ely see Calil, Ely Emergency Networks 113

  Enforcer, The see Carlse, Harry Equatorial Guinea:

  1973 coup attempt 28–31, 192

  2004 uprising and second coup plot 161–2, 272–3

  agriculture 19–20, 89–90, 91

  and author 293–4

  and Britain 247, 293–4

  corruption 51, 52, 95, 221, 224–31, 272

  economy 19–20, 50–51, 226–31, 272

  executions 17, 21

  exiles 20, 88–9

  fishing industry 89, 91, 106–7

  foreign workers in 21, 192–3, 226–7, 240

  health, education and public services 19, 21, 42, 52, 223, 228, 272

  history 18–20

  human rights and democracy 19, 20–22, 42, 61, 223, 240, 272

  life expectancy 42, 227

  oil and gas industry 46, 49–51, 52–4, 95–6, 178, 221, 223, 224–31, 263

  and Mark Thatcher 246–7, 273

  TV and radio stations 44

  under Macias 20–24, 37–9, 60

  under Obiang 39–46, 50, 60, 62, 63, 71, 88, 91, 95–7, 109, 140, 169, 172–3, 205, 221–2, 224–6, 259–61, 263, 269–73

  and white South Africans 67, 89–90, 192

  and Wonga Coup plot 163, 172–3, 178, 192–200, 215–16, 221–2, 237, 246–7, 275

  trials and releases 235–9, 247, 259, 279

  Erdos, Alfred 17–18

  Europe:

  and Equatorial Guinea 52

  and oil and gas 49, 53, 62, 274

  see also Britain; Eastern Europe; France; Spain etc.

  Evening Standard 246

  Everett, Simon 117–18

  Executive Outcomes 59, 69, 77, 110, 266, 267

  formation, decline and closure 9–14, 47, 59, 66, 262

  veterans 69, 73, 78, 92, 94, 95, 129, 131, 144, 167

  Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative 274

  Exxon/ExxonMobil 46, 54, 228–30, 263

  Eyi, Diosdado Nguema 172

  F

  F, Captain xiv–xv

  see also Mann, Simon

  Fallaha, Karim 106, 135, 159, 161, 171, 173–4, 183–4, 190, 204, 254

  Fang (people) 20, 23, 24, 40, 43, 95

  FBI 99

  Fegley, Randall 30

  Fernando, Augusto 133

  Fernando, Christina 133

  Fernando Po see Bioko

  Financial Times 230

  Fisher, Scott 81

  Foreign Military Assistance (Regulation of) Act (South Africa) 14, 208, 251, 258

  see also South Africa (anti-mercenary law)

  Forsyth, Frederick xii, 30, 41, 275

  and the author 296

  and 1973 coup plot 30–36, 37, 49, 100, 101, 276

  The Dogs of War 25, 31, 34, 35, 37, 102, 112, 206, 276

  France:

  and Benin coup plotters 100–102

  colonial history/colonialism 19, 62, 141

  and oil 62

  Wonga Coup plotters and 86

  Franco, General 19

  Frynas, Jedrzej George 227

  G

  Gabon 57, 62, 82, 141, 192, 227

  gas, natural 49

  see also Africa; oil companies

  Gaskin, Rebecca 120, 203, 207–8

  Gay, Alexander Ramsay (‘Harry Greaves’) 26–8, 30–32, 35

  Germany 19, 199–200

  Ghana 192

  Gibraltar 25–6, 34

  Greaves, Harry see Gay, Alexander Ramsay

  Greene, Graham 19, 68

  Greengrass, Paul 15

  Griebenow, Alwyn 138, 207–8, 210

  Guantanamo Bay 236

  Guardian 293

  Guernsey 13, 105

  Guinea Bissau 117

  Guinea Company see Company of Adventurers of London

  Guinea Republic 105

  Gulf War, first 6

  Gutsire, Faith 181

  Guyana 15

  H

  Halloran, Paul, and Mark Hollingsworth 112, 113

  Hamilton, Knowle 34

  Hamman, Hendrick 168, 218, 234, 259

  Hansard Trust Company 169

  Harare 157, 159, 160, 162, 174, 180–81, 187–9

  see also Zimbabwe

  Harris, Errol 145, 217, 257

  Hart, David 120–21, 208

  Heritage (oil company) 6

  Hersham, Gary 57, 171

  Hispanoil 62

  HIV/AIDS:

  in Equatorial Guinea 21

  in Zimbabwe 219, 275

  Hoare, Mike 7–8, 9, 15, 35, 101, 103, 149, 275–6

  Hoenmans, Paul 50

  Hollingsworth, Mark see

  Halloran, Paul, and Mark />
  Hollingsworth

  ‘Holmes’ 139

  Hopkin, Mary 17

  Horn, Lourens Jacobus (Loutjkie, Hecky) 143–4

  and Wonga Coup plot 131, 143–4, 169, 175–6, 179, 181–2, 187, 202, 233, 257

  Howe, Herb 81

  Human Rights Watch 42

  I

  Ibis Air 22

  Idi Amin 22

  Igbo people 32

  IMF see International Monetary Fund

  Imperial British East Africa Company 82

  India 274

  International Bar Association 42

  International Monetary Fund 51, 226, 227

  Iran 27, 127

  Iraq 88, 95, 129, 132, 144, 177, 252, 258, 276

  Isiro 150

  J

  Javier, Antonio 89, 196

  Jones, Barbara 196

  K

  Kabila, Joseph 151, 175–6, 264

  Kareri, Nene Fall 225

  Kareri, Simon xii, 223, 225

  Karpetyan, Ashot 159

  Katanga region 150, 153

  Kenya 148, 263

  Kerman, Anthony 211, 248, 260, 268, 279, 295

  Kershaw, James (JK) x, 69, 92, 121

  and Wonga Coup plot 92–3, 103, 126, 130, 134, 144–5, 152, 164, 174, 179–80, 186, 191, 202, 204, 207, 210–11, 238, 243–4, 265

  Khalil see Calil, Ely

  Kingsley, Mary 24

  Kinshasa 175, 176, 264

  Klitgaard, Robert 52, 109

  Kobrossi, Karim 203

  Koevoet 9

  Kolwezi 153, 157, 160–61

  L

  Leahy, Donald 17

  Lebanon 106, 216, 237, 267

  Leopold II, King of the Belgians 103–4

  Levin, Carl 224

  Liberia 70, 105

  Linde (pilot) 134

  Liniger-Goumaz, Max 23

  Llambias 25–6, 27, 28–9, 31

  Logo Logistics Limited 105, 121, 123, 128, 130, 134, 159, 169, 171, 175, 203, 211, 215, 246

  Lonely Planet guide (Equatorial Guinea) 21

  Los Angeles Times 222

  Lotz, Leon 169, 179

  Luanda 61–2

  Lubumbashi 160–61

  Lugard, Frederick 82

  Luitingh, Lafras 267

  M

  Macias see Nguema, Macias

  Madagascar 49

  Madrid bombings 204

  Malabo 17–18, 22, 71, 108, 128, 145–6, 235, 282

  Malaysia 274

  Mali 159, 186–7, 190

  Malta 147, 190

  Malya, Dr V. J. 167

  Mandela, President Nelson 14

  Mandelson, Peter 58–9

  Mann, Amanda 15, 64, 158, 163, 203, 207–8, 234, 277, 281

  Mann, Francis Thomas 3

  Mann, Major George 3–4, 15

  Mann, Margaret Marshall 4

  Mann, Simon (Captain F):

  and the author 294

  biography and character ix, 4–16, 47–9, 78, 163–5, 260–61, 266–7, 269, 275–6