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Last Updated: Tuesday, 26 October, 2004, 13:33 GMT 14:33 UK

Q&A: Equatorial Guinea ‘coup plot’

Lawyers for Sir Mark Thatcher are arguing in a South African court against
an order for him to answer questions about claims he helped finance an
alleged coup plot in Equatorial Guinea.
Meanwhile, another 14 men are awaiting the resumption of their trial in the
Equatorial Guinean capital, Malabo, in connection with the suspected plot.

How was the suspected plot discovered?

In March, Zimbabwean police in Harare impounded a plane which flew in from
South Africa with 64 alleged mercenaries on board.

Simon Mann (second right) was jailed in Zimbabwe
The group said they were providing security for a mine in Democratic
Republic of Congo, but a couple of days later an Equatorial Guinean minister
said they had detained 15 more men who were the advance party for the group
captured in Zimbabwe.

Nick du Toit, the leader of the group of South Africans and Armenians in
Equatorial Guinea, said at his trial in Equatorial Guinea that he was
playing a limited role in a coup bid.

He told the court he was recruited by Simon Mann, the alleged leader of the
group held in Zimbabwe, and that he was helping with recruitment, acquiring
weapons and logistics for the attempt. He says he was told they were trying
to install an exiled opposition politician, Severo Moto, as head.

In September, Mann was sentenced to seven years in jail in Zimbabwe after
being convicted of illegally trying to buy weapons. Others arrested with him
were acquitted of any links to a suspected coup attempt after magistrates
said prosecutors had failed to prove their case.

Why organise a coup attempt?

Equatorial Guinea, a former Spanish colony, has been ruled by President
Obiang since he seized power from his uncle in a coup in 1979. His
government has been accused of widespread human rights abuses and of
ruthlessly suppressing political opposition.

Yet the discovery of oil several years ago has meant huge wealth and massive
investment flowing into this poor country of just 500,000 people.

Not much of this has trickled down to ordinary people. The United States
Senate is currently investigating the discovery of hundreds of millions of
dollars in US bank accounts belonging to the family of President Obiang.

And it is these massive oil revenues which could lend some credence to
President Obiang’s accusation that multinationals and foreign powers were
involved in a plot to overthrow him.

Both Mann’s trial in Zimbabwe and the Equatorial Guinea trial began amid
complaints of abuse and unfair treatment from relatives of those being held.

One suspect, a German, died in prison in Equatorial Guinea after what
Amnesty International claimed was torture.

So who was behind the apparent plot?

So far it remains unclear who was backing any plot, although the list of
suspects is growing.

Sir Mark Thatcher has denied any involvement
Mann, the old Etonian and founder of the mercenary firm Executive Outcomes,
has not been talking, although President Obiang has.

He has accused the Spanish government and the son of the former UK prime
minister, Sir Mark Thatcher, amongst others, of being behind the plot.

The South African authorities have arrested Sir Mark and charged him with
contravening two sections of South Africa’s Foreign Military Assistance Act,
which bans residents from taking part in any foreign military activity.

Sir Mark is being held in South Africa on suspicion of providing financing
for a helicopter linked to the coup plot. He denies the charges.

What is known is that Sir Mark has admitted to being good friends with Mann.

Others President Obiang alleges are involved are a former British cabinet
minister, whom he refuses to name, an oil tycoon, Eli Calil, and the exiled
politician Severo Moto, who lives in Spain. Both named men have strongly
denied involvement.

The BBC’s Newsnight television programme saw the financial records of Mann’s
companies showing large payments to Nick du Toit and also some $2m coming in
– though the source of this funding they say is largely untraceable.

What is South Africa’s role?

Mercenary activities were banned in South Africa several years ago after
complaints about security organisations like Executive Outcomes, in which
Mann was involved.

The majority of those alleged to have been the mercenaries planning to carry
out the coup are based in South Africa, with many being former members of
the apartheid-era security forces.

South Africa will be determined to be seen to be acting tough against any
attempt to destabilise another country.

However, it also will want to protect its nationals, and has vowed to
intervene if any of the alleged mercenaries are sentenced to death.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress