Seychelles Affair

by Mike Hoare

The "Seychelles Affair" is one of the most infamous episodes in the tangled history of mercenary warfare in Africa. The story of the ill-fated coup begins in 1978 when representatives of the exiled Seychelles president approached legendary mercenary commander Mike Hoare - who had successfully led the uprisings in the Congo in the early 1960s - to overthrow the Marxist regime then in power.Hoare's story of the attempted coup reads like a thriller, detailing all the drama of the backroom scheming, the tense action at the airport on Mahé, the forced landing of the Air India Boeing and the ensuing escape of Hoare's band of mercenaries. Equally fascinating is the author's description of his dealings with South African intelligence agencies, the subsequent prosecution by those who had helped them prepare for the coup, his attempts to organize a proper defense and obtain a fair trial for himself and his 30 men, and what it was like to spend 33 months in a South African prison.In the exclusive new foreword to this Paladin reprint, Colonel Hoare sheds new light on the events leading up to the failed coup, discusses the lingering ramifications of the failure on the nation of Seychelles and relates how his conviction affected his life after he got out of prison.Don't miss this opportunity to read Hoare's wonderfully wry and insightful account of how one little mistake can unravel even the best-laid plans.

Genres: History, Africa, Nonfiction, War, Military Fiction, Politics, Adventure

259 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Thomas Michael Hoare was born in 1920 in Kolkata (Calcutta),India to Irish parents. He spent his early days in Ireland and was educated in England. He served in North Africa as an Armour officer in the British Army during World War II, and achieved the rank of Captain. In 1948, he emigrated to Durban, Natal Province, Union of South Africa, where he ran safaris and became a soldier-for-hire in various African countries.

His most well known exploits are when he served as the commander of 5 Commando in the Congo from 1964-1965 and commanded the failed coup d'état in the Seychelles in November 1981; for which he served thirty-three months in prison. Hoare also served as the technical adviser on the 1978 film "The Wild Geese" based on the novel by the same name.

Hoare married Elizabeth Stott in New Delhi in 1945 and together they had three children, Chris, Tim and Geraldine.

After divorcing in 1960, he married Phyllis Sims in 1961 and they had two children, Michael Jeremy and Simon.

Hoare died of natural causes on 2 February 2020 in a care facility in Durban, South Africa at the age of 100.

Reviews

[AJ Payne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was probably much longer and more detailed than it needed to be. But nevertheless, I still found myself very interested in hearing the author's perspective on all the events. I'm still not sure how balanced or honest it is, because it does of course make the author out to be a legitimate figure in an international crime and a victim of the South African prison system. Either way, I did find his writing to be interesting with some good anecdotes and thoughts mixed in.

What I was expecting to be a memoir of the attempted coup in 1981 in Seychelles turned out to be that for only about half of the book. The rest was about the author's time in prison, which he served for hijacking in the aftermath of the coup attempt. So it's really two books in essence. A detailed how-to guide of how to conduct a mercenary coup (or rather, how to bungle one) and then a detailed overview of the conditions of Pretoria central prison in the mid-80s. Both portions were interesting to me, though, again, probably far more detailed than they needed to be.

I also found it hilarious to see echoes of this in the memes of the Air India jet just flying over Ukraine last week in the midst of a war, oblivious to it all. The same thing happened here - an Air India jet haplessly landed on the tarmac of the Victoria airport and interrupted the ongoing coup. Ah, Air India, haplessly getting yourself into international incidents for decades.

Anyway, there is probably a lot not to like about this book, but against my better judgment I did find myself enjoying it quite a lot.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was living on Mahe' Island, Seychelles at the time of the attempted coup. This book is an excellent and truthful accounting, from Mike Hoare's view of the situation, prior, during and after the attempted coup. I am sorry he was unsuccessful. His incarceration by the So African gov't was a betrayal.

[Patrick Neylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly well written and surprisungly liberal, cultured and humane. More than half the book covers the primitive barbarity of the South African penal system.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first of Colonel "Mad Mike" Hoares books that i have read. In this book he describes his involvement in a plot to over throw the communist dictator of the Seychelles. A small island nation of no more than 60,000 people. A virtual backwater until the country's duly elected president was overthrown by his own Prime minister.

Colonel Hoare having been approached by former president Manchams people toys around with the idea for several years. Conducting reconnaissance until finally the funds for a cut price coup courtesy of the South African intelligence services comes through. He describes being delivered weapons by the south African defence forces to his cellar for the coup. Lacking the $5 million for a suitable coup he elects to do it on a few hundred thousand dollars with a force of 30 men.

Posing as beer drinking gentleman's club on a weekend tour they fly from Lesotho on a charter flight they were promised was empty with AK47's hidden in their baggage. Most of them having passed through security without incident are scuppered by one of the other members of the flight having fruit in his luggage. Condemning the last of Hoare's motley band of mercenaries to a search which would have lead to their discovery. Drawing their weapons they seize the airport and start to move up to the local military base.

They come up against APC's and mortar fire before settling in for the night. By some miracle an Air India flight is forced to land. Hoare bargains with Seychelles president for the planes release and by some miracle manage to escape after being invited on board by the captain. The local soldiers shot at a passenger plane with over 100 foreign tourists!

They fly to Durban, South Africa and after some confusion over what to do are arrested for kidnapping. Released on bail. And then re-arrested and charged with hijacking (despite being invited on the plane by the captain). He recounts the trial he receives in the Transvaal and his time in Soondwater prison and eventual release after serving 1/3 of his sentence. That he was imprisoned at all, even after doing the South African governments dirty work is insane.

A fascinating read.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Hoare describes his (failed) counter-coup effort in the Seychelles, then an extensive period in South African prisons. The Seychelles affair isn't as widely known other failed coups (like Equatorial Guinea...), but was basically an anti-Marxist action. An Air India jet landed during the coup and was used to escape, and the South African government chose to prosecute Hoare and his compatriots as air hijackers.

The book teaches the very straightforward lesson: don't try to do a coup on the cheap.

[Erick Njenga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great account of the attempted coup and the aftermath.

[Dudley Namoins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hero. Savage. Foam-blower. Long may his memory live.

[Douglas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting for its firsthand perspective, made more pointed as the audiobook is read by the author, but (not surprisingly, considering they attempted a coup) heavily self-justifying description of what was, in apparent contrast to earlier books by the same author, a deeply foolish operation.

Interesting as well as its second half is the author's experience in the South African judicial system and its prisons. This, not the coup, justifies spending time with the book.

[Dylan Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly powerful account of the attempted coupe on the Seychelles. The conditions Mike suffered in prison, the forces against him and the bravery, courage and humanity that shines through make for a powerful read. Big reccomend .

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Play stupid games - win stupid prizes. Yet I still have sympathy for him and I'm sorry he was betrayed by SA regardless of how predictable that must have been.

[Bobby Daugherty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The infamous Seychelles Affair that landed Mike Hoare in an African prison. Chuck Norris has nothing on this man.