On 8 March 1988, members of the FRNSTP-R landed in São Tomé with an invasion force of 44 men and attempted to overthrow the government of President Manuel Pinto da Costa. The invaders, who came in canoes from Cameroon and were poorly armed, were easily overwhelmed by the security forces and detained. In August 1989, the invaders were tried by the local court and sentenced to custodial sentences ranging from 2 to 22 years.