The Wonga Coup: Guns, Thugs, and a Ruthless Determination to Create Mayhem in an Oil-Rich Corner of Africa

Returned from business trip to Malabo July 2010 and found the area better than represented in the book. Books like this serve a purpose, not the least of which is to discourage mercenary coups, but one needs to put them in context. I'm not qualified to judge whether it's spin is too little or too much, but Malabo in 2010 was different in a few meaningful ways (and the same in others - indicating the need for continual improvement). It is still in need of sustainable development and I'm sure that more of the country's wealth should trickle down, but there was a bustling restaurant and bar district with lots of music, laughing, and conversation. Several local restaurants were mentioned as "good" but my colleagues were keen to show me their favorites - and they're more "down to Earth" kind of folks that don't usually wear jackets to dinner. We had a good meal at The Bantu and a couple of cold refreshments at The Fang and The China Sisters. The malaria eradication program seems to have been successful but is a continuing battle - I took daily malerone. Malabo is definitely an Africa city, and you don't want to get cross-threaded with the authorities, but it has things to commend it (in a developing country sense) - not the least of which are the hospitable local entrepreneurs. I encourage those there with political influence to do all they can to help small businesses.

This is a fun book about aging white mercenaries who plotted to overthrow the dictator of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. The conspiracy was hatched by one Simon Mann, a bored alumnus of Executive Outcomes, who had visions of getting rich from oil concessions and government contracts after the coup. Alas, Mann had trouble raising money and buying arms. Even worse, the out-of-work apartheid-era veterans he recruited as gunmen leaked like sieves (and couldn't hold their liquor). Inevitably, the plot came to the attention of South African intelligence, which arranged for Mann and his troublemakers to be arrested in Zimbabwe en route to Equatorial Guinea.The author had access to insiders and confidential documents, and he writes knowingly about the seamy side of African business and politics. However, he has a weakness for conspiracy theories, and seriously entertains rumors that the U.S. and Spain were behind Mann's plot. In fact, no government installed by white mercenaries could survive in today's Africa, and the U.S. knows that. Our government seems reasonably content with Equatorial Guinea's dictator, who locks up opposition politicians but enables U.S. oil companies to make mountains of money. Condie Rice has publicly called him a friend. Sometimes the truth, however banal, is sleazier than speculation.

An account of military adventurism that most people have not heard of. If you like reading about African "brush wars", mercenaries and military coups, this one will be remembered long after it has been finished. 20th century Military History, African Studies, mercenaries, special ops, UK celebs, this has it all. Would recommend purchase.

I was halfway through this book, when some of the names and people being mentioned, and some of th events sounded very familiar. I discovered that this was not a work of fiction, but the true story of an ill-fated coup attempt to overthrow a brutal African dictator, by a band of white Soldiers of Fortune, (who had an agenda of their own). I thought the book got bogged down in a few places, but I did manage to finish it, and I am glad I did.

I just finished reading this book a few moments ago. This book is well detailed and covers all of the players involved both fairly and accurately.However, my gripe with this book is really with its style. The book seems so BLAND for a book with as interesting a subtitle as this one has. The story is told in fashion that is seemingly uninspired and didn't keep my attention for very long.Again, I reiterate, that the basic story of the coup and it's major players are covered and presented fairly, But, again, this story, to me at least, should have been a much better read...

This reminds me of those great movies with old English actors who want to help out in the war and get the gang together to go on one last caper.I believe this was an extension of a magazine article and it does read like one. Do not expect great prose. It is the story of some mercenaries who were going to overthrow the dictator government in Equatorial Guinea and install their own government so they could loot the oil reserves.The cast of characters is a lot of fun. The plot fails for the most basic of reasons: human nature.This is a good vacation or beach read.

Although generally quite enjoyable, the book has distracting repetitions and irrelevancies. We'll often get the same, not-particularly-important quote twice. The tail number of a plane is mentioned at least 3 times, as if its identity would somehow be thrown in doubt or it would be modified but... nope. It reads as if the final editing pass was skipped in order to get the thing into print.

Quite a story of intrigue and the failed coup of Equatorial Guinea.

But I don't feel great about spending over $20 on a book from the Frederick County Public Library.

Magnífico reportaje periodístico en forma de novela sobre el mundo de los mercenarios en África. El libro está muy bien documentado y el estilo es fresco y rápido. Se lee de un tirón.

The real story.