Who was Simon Mann and what was his role in the 2004 Equatorial Guinea coup plot?

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Simon Mann was a British mercenary involved in a 2004 plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea and replace President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo with the exiled opposition leader Severo Moto.12

In July 2008, a court in Malabo sentenced Mann to 34 years in prison for his role in the failed coup attempt, which had utilized foreign mercenaries. However, he was later pardoned by President Obiang in November 2009.12