Much attention went to the novel like qualities of the trial against British mercenary Simon Mann. He allegedly tried to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea in 2004. The coup plot - in which the son of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was also involved - looked a lot like that of a thriller Frederick Forsyth wrote in 1974. The striking analogy with this book, Dogs of War, was broadly portrayed in the media. But why did we hear so little about the regime in the small African country on the Atlantic Ocean? Canadian colleague Dan Gardner poses this question in his column in The Ottawa Citizen. Torture, arbitrary arrest and a corrupt judicial system makes this regime one of the most oppressive ones on earth. But still president Obiang Nguema - in power since 1979 when he toppled his lunatic predecessor who was also his uncle - can act quite undisturbedly because he has good relations with most major nations. The country also happens to be one of Sub-Saharan Africa's biggest oil producers.
That is a long time ago indeed. Actually, I am planning to come to Uganda some time in February. Is that soon enough for you? ;o) I will be staying in Jinja for at least a month, working on my next book. But I’m sure I’ll visit Kampala as well, even if it is just for a weekend. Send me your e-mail address again and I’ll keep you posted!