Mozambique: Reminds me of Equatorial Guinea in the bad old days. LNG coming. Money flowing. Contracts being signed. Expats opening offshore accounts and choosing beach wear but visas for journos and expats expensive and tightening up. Welcome to Zangaro? clubofmozambique.com/news/no-more-d…
The #DogsofWar was written by Biafran-era journo Freddy Forsythe. He met a number of mercenaries who he later consorted with to plot a coup against dirt poor Ferdinand Po. He flew out of the island into Biafra with the relief pilots and thought he had a great idea for a book. 
Alexander Ramsey Gay, a bank clerk, turned mercenary, hired a ship, hired mercs, bought weapons but were busted before they could take over the island. He recycled the plot into the book and later movie with a gritty mastery of detail. independent.co.uk/news/world/afr…
Simon Mann and some South African folks I knew took another shot at it. Mann had never visited the island and the men on the ground realized it was not going to work. The idea of fabulous wealth appealed to the middle aged men and they went ahead anyway. theguardian.com/world/2010/jun…
I spent a couple of years meeting with the President Obiang trying to get Nick Du Toit out of jail but Nick refused to leave saying he was innocent. I was in EG having a drink with the head of intel at his hotel when Simon Mann showed up delivered by Zim soldiers in chains.
I marveled at how many of the foreign security people were former American and South African mercenaries. Humorously, a security plan to protect the island had been used in part to plan the coup. Mann talked his way out of prison and worked with Obiang to help him with security.
So when I read about Mozambique, the massive LNG income expected, the stripped infrastructure and frail security, I wonder if its better to hire the people who will overthrow you than to guard against them.ft.com/content/520604…
If you want to explore this idea based on my 4yrs of ground, it is all in my book #LicensedToKill. And if anyone is commissioning stories or docs I have a unique front row seat to Mozambique, the rebels, who is backing them and the mercenaries. Hit me up and lets make history.
I am thinking print and video something along the lines of #SavingSouthSudan that I did for Vice.
vice.com/en_us/page/sav…
Documentary with Tim Freccia (yes I will drag Tim along again, war and Africa are his bread and butter)
vice.com/en_us/page/sav…
Documentary with Tim Freccia (yes I will drag Tim along again, war and Africa are his bread and butter)
