LAGOS, Nigeria, June 22 (UPI) -- Amid growing unrest around the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Nigerian security authorities have seized a Ukrainian cargo aircraft loaded with 18 crates of weapons and ammunition bound for Equatorial Guinea, the third-largest oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, July 8 (UPI) -- British mercenary Simon Mann began serving a 34-year sentence Tuesday for plotting in 2004 to overthrow the president of Equatorial Guinea.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, June 20 (UPI) -- British mercenary Simon Mann, who took part in a failed coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea, finished his testimony and cross-examination, officials say.

MALABO, Equatorial Guinea, June 18 (UPI) -- British mercenary Simon Mann alleged in court that Sir Mark Thatcher belonged to the "management team" that planned a 2004 coup attempt in Equatorial Guinea.

WASHINGTON, March 21 (UPI) -- Contrary to popular wisdom, "private military contractor" is not a euphemism for mercenary. But the connections between today's security industry and the infamous freebooters of yesteryear like "Mad" Mike Hoare and Col. Bob Denard -- whose antics inspired and were immortalized by the 1978 movie, "The Wild Geese" -- are clear, especially when one considers the recent case of a real mercenary.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 10 (UPI) -- A court in Zimbabwe has ordered the extradition of a British man accused of plotting to overthrow the president of Equatorial Guinea.

PRETORIA, South Africa, Feb. 23 (UPI) -- A South African court has dismissed charges against eight mercenaries accused of planning a 2004 coup against the government of Equatorial Guinea. In acquitting the men, the judge ruled the state failed to prove its case, the BBC reports.

OXFORDSHIRE, England, July 23 (UPI) -- Britain's Prince William and Prince Harry missed their cousin's extravagant 18h birthday celebration to party with the son of a jailed mercenary, a report says.

HARARE, Zimbabwe, May 15 (UPI) -- Zimbabwe has released 62 South Africans accused of involvement in a plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea, the BBC reported.