The Island of Sao Diogo - FDS Base

Sao Diogo lies off the west coast of Angola. It’s a small and naturally beautiful island with a golden shoreline and coral reefs that create several ideal harbors sheltered from the crashing waves and tempestuous storms of the Atlantic.

Previously a Portuguese colony, the 10,000-strong nation was granted independence in 1965, and is now one of the smallest independent states in the world.

The country seldom sees tourists but once had a thriving economy built on mining diamonds. But when reserves dried up, what was once one of the richest little countries per capita in the world, plunged toward bankruptcy. Combined with a shortage of fresh water – the island and its people essentially began dying.

Enter Jacques Sauvage, Hunter McBride and Rafiq Zayed with a proposition — to establish a full-time private military services combat company on the island, essentially breathing new life and economy into Sao Diogo.

And so the Force du Sable was born with the freedom of the traditional oversight that so often dogs mercenary outfits. Contracts were signed with the Sao Diogo government and eventually a 500-strong base was established on the island complete with offshoot industries. Soldiers brought wives, families. Schools were established, a hospital funded, and Sao Diogo natives contracted to administrative and other FDS base positions.

The FDS ships in food and water, and exploratory wells yielded further aquifers which helped establish small farms. The FDS also agreed to serve as the Sao Diogo nation’s official army if needed in any capacity. For other FDS military contracts, the PMC draws on a roster of contract personnel that range from biological warfare experts, technological gurus, intelligence experts, and ground combat troops. The PMC is also moving more and more into the intelligence-gathering field, and also offers close protection and other “analytical” and “training” services.

They will accept no mission that contravenes an iron-strict code of ethics.

The PMC has earned a formidable reputation, and often contracts to quiet arms of the Pentagon, CIA, or the other clandestine organizations of the world’s super powers. A credit system has been set up to help smaller nations hire the FDS to defend themselves against coups or other hostile threats.

A foreign office has been established in Brussels. Another is planned for New York. The FDS are considered the warfare experts on the African continent – a region few other military organizations, apart from the French Foreign Legion can come to grasps with. Powerful allegiances and operating contracts have been signed with key African countries. Work and meetings are often conducted in such places, with Empangeni Game Reserve being a favorite. The private reserve on the African mainland is used in the way the US president would use Camp David — to relax, entertain high-profile leaders, and to talk business in a casual environment on neutral turf.

Ready for a delegate meeting, and another potential contract.

In essence, the men — and women — of the FDS, have become highly sought-after and highly discreet global-cops-for-hire in a new world order, and they are looking for official sanction from the United Nations in order to fully legitimize the time-old, and once-honorable “mercenary” profession.

The FDS base above – a working hub of industry.

And a place for the soldiers to relax with loved ones and family. It’s home.