Nigel Morgan

Nigel Jeremy Morgan (25 September 1954, in Woking, Surrey – 17 November 2018, in Harrismith, South Africa) was a British-South African security consultant. A former British Army officer with close ties to South African intelligence, he was credited with exposing an attempted coup against the government of Equatorial Guinea in 2004.

Personal Morgan was the son of Ronan 'Bowlegs' Morgan, an Irish publisher who was a regular at El Vino on Fleet Street, and Pamela (nee Martin) from the prominent Irish family of Richard Martin. He was the nephew of rugby player Cliff Morgan.

Education After attending Cranleigh until he was 18, Morgan was trained at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1974 and joined the Irish Guards.

Per the conditions of the bursary, Morgan was required to complete a minimum period of service with the British Army after finishing his degree.

Wonga coup

In 2004 he was named in connection with the so-called 'Wonga plot', a coup attempt against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the dictator of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. The case received international attention when Constantia resident Mark Thatcher was named as one of the financiers. Morgan was close friends with both Thatcher and Special Air Service officer turned mercenary Simon Mann.

Morgan explained his actions by arguing that Mann's plot was amoral and he had told him not to go ahead with it.

Later Years & Wildlife Conservation Morgan set up two political intelligence and security companies. The first was called 'Rhula Intelligent Solutions' and the second, 'Focus Africa'. He split his time between his rural home in the Drakensberg, South Africa and other African countries, most especially Maputo in Mozambique.

In addition to his work in political risk and security, Morgan became active in wildlife preservation with the non-profit Focus Africa Foundation. In 2013, as spokesman for the Joaquin Chissano Foundation, he announced plans to set up an armed unit to prevent Rhino poaching.

Death As a lifeline bon viveur and excellent host, Morgan came to rely on alcohol more after relationships fell apart at Focus Africa. After a successful stint in residential rehab in 2017, he began drinking again in 2018 and died of the accumulated damage to his liver later that year surrounded by his family and friends.