2004 Equatorial Guinea coup d'état attempt five calls to Sir Mark Thatcher in the days after the failed coup. On 13 January 2005, Mark Thatcher, in a South African court, pleaded guilty to helping finance a coup plot in Equatorial Guinea. South African police were able to prove that Mr Thatcher had transferred about US$285,000 to the mercenaries that were to execute the operation and had met and talked frequently to them prior to the coup attempt. After pleading guilty, he was given a four-year suspended sentence and a fine of about US$560,000. Simon Mann paid $500,000 (£281,000) towards the plot, according to a list of
Elections in Equatorial Guinea of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) is "de facto" allowed to hold effective power. Although minor parties are allowed, they are "de facto" required to accept the leadership of the dominant party. In the May 2008 parliamentary election, the PDGE won 99 seats and the opposition Convergence for Social Democracy won one seat. The next presidential election was scheduled for 2010. Elections in Equatorial Guinea Elections in Equatorial Guinea gives information on election and election results in Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guinea elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a