Equatorial Guinea — The West African state of Equatorial Guinea said on Wednesday that it had thwarted "a coup" in late December, mounted by mercenaries who sought to attack President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Africa’s longest-serving leader. In a statement read on public radio, security minister Nicolas Obama Nchama said: "Mercenaries ... were recruited by Equatorial Guinean militants from certain radical opposition parties with the support of certain powers." The plot had been prevented thanks to an operation carried out "in collaboration with the Cameroon security services". The announcement came after Cameroon arrested 38 heavily armed men on the border with the tiny state on December 27. Two days later, Equatorial Guinea’s ambassador to France, Miguel Oyono Ndong Mifumu, referred to the incident as an "invasion and destabilisation attempt".
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.