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last mo.

Simon Mann, Mercenary Behind Failed 2004 Equatorial Guinea Coup, Dies at 72

The ex-SAS officer, known for leading the notorious 'Wonga Coup,' died this week while exercising, concluding a life marked by military service, international intrigue, and imprisonment.

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Mann, left, at a maximum security prison in Harare, Zimbabwe, after his arrest in 2004
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Overview

  • Simon Mann, a former SAS officer and co-founder of the private military company Sandline, passed away at age 72 while exercising in a gym.
  • Mann led the 2004 'Wonga Coup,' a failed attempt to overthrow Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang, resulting in his arrest in Zimbabwe and eventual extradition to Equatorial Guinea.
  • The coup, backed by financiers like Ely Calil and involving Sir Mark Thatcher, aimed to exploit the oil wealth of Equatorial Guinea but was thwarted when a plane carrying arms and mercenaries was intercepted in Harare.
  • Mann served over five years in harsh prisons in Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea before being pardoned in 2009 by President Obiang, the leader he sought to depose.
  • His complex legacy includes a distinguished military career, controversial mercenary operations, and personal struggles, including a recent divorce and business ventures.