By January 1979, Emperor Bokassa had become a widely resented autocrat. His fall was precipitated by a decree that all high school students must buy uniforms from a business owned by one of his wives. This led to protests by students in Bangui and rocks thrown at the Emperor's car. In April 1979, Bokassa called in the Central African Armed Forces to put down the agitation and arrest the teenage students. In the following two days, about 100 children were brutally killed and the incident became known as the "children's massacre at Bangui."
A panel of judges convened and proposed to arrest and try Bokassa for the massacre. Bokassa then fled to Libya, seeking Muammar Gaddafi's assistance. The French reacted and soon launched Operation Barracuda to overthrow Bokassa and install David Dacko, who was then in exile in Europe. French troops arrived from Gabon and Chad, and the coup was successful, restoring Dacko to the presidency after a 13-year absence, and restored the Central African Republic (CAR). Bokassa was given refuge in France.[1]
Bokassa eventually returned to the CAR in 1987, where he was immediately arrested and sentenced to death, commuted to life in prison a year later. As one of his last acts in office in 1993, President André Kolingba granted a general amnesty for all prisoners, including Bokassa, who died three years later.[1]
The coup was known as Operation Caban, while the movement of four French paratroopertroupes de marine and four helicopters was Operation Barracuda. The coup was completed on 21 September 1979 in just a few hours. The affair did not bring accolades to France: while many in CAR supported the coup, many in France including President Giscard-d'Estaing were criticised for their handling of the situation.[2][4]
Footnotes
^ abcMatt Doeden (2009). Central African Republic in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. pp. 29–. ISBN9781575059525. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
^ ab. France's Relations With Africa. The Bradshaw's Archives: Ono.com. 4 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
^Bokassa,Jean-Barthélémy (2009). Saga Bokassa (in French). SODEPAR SAS. pp. 145–. ISBN9782358080712. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
^Alain Rouvez (1 January 1994). Disconsolate Empires: French, British and Belgian Military Involvement in Post-Colonial Sub-Saharan Africa. University Press of America. pp. 172–174. ISBN9780819196439. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
January 07, 2023
operation, caban, bloodless, military, operation, france, september, 1979, depose, emperor, bokassa, reinstate, exiled, former, president, david, dacko, rename, central, african, empire, back, central, african, republic, 1979, central, african, coup, étatdate2. Operation Caban was a bloodless military operation by France in September 1979 to depose Emperor Bokassa I reinstate the exiled former president David Dacko and rename the Central African Empire back to Central African Republic 1 2 3 1979 Central African coup d etatDate21 September 1979LocationCentral African Empire now Central African Republic ResultCoup attempt succeeds Bokassa I is exiled The Central African Republic is restored BelligerentsHouse of Bokassa Armed Forces loyalistsArmed Forces rebels FranceCommanders and leadersBokassa IDavid Dacko Valery Giscard d EstaingHistory EditBy January 1979 Emperor Bokassa had become a widely resented autocrat His fall was precipitated by a decree that all high school students must buy uniforms from a business owned by one of his wives This led to protests by students in Bangui and rocks thrown at the Emperor s car In April 1979 Bokassa called in the Central African Armed Forces to put down the agitation and arrest the teenage students In the following two days about 100 children were brutally killed and the incident became known as the children s massacre at Bangui A panel of judges convened and proposed to arrest and try Bokassa for the massacre Bokassa then fled to Libya seeking Muammar Gaddafi s assistance The French reacted and soon launched Operation Barracuda to overthrow Bokassa and install David Dacko who was then in exile in Europe French troops arrived from Gabon and Chad and the coup was successful restoring Dacko to the presidency after a 13 year absence and restored the Central African Republic CAR Bokassa was given refuge in France 1 Bokassa eventually returned to the CAR in 1987 where he was immediately arrested and sentenced to death commuted to life in prison a year later As one of his last acts in office in 1993 President Andre Kolingba granted a general amnesty for all prisoners including Bokassa who died three years later 1 The coup was known as Operation Caban while the movement of four French paratrooper troupes de marine and four helicopters was Operation Barracuda The coup was completed on 21 September 1979 in just a few hours The affair did not bring accolades to France while many in CAR supported the coup many in France including President Giscard d Estaing were criticised for their handling of the situation 2 4 Footnotes Edit a b c Matt Doeden 2009 Central African Republic in Pictures Twenty First Century Books pp 29 ISBN 9781575059525 Retrieved 25 July 2013 a b The Bradshaw s Archives Central African Republic Ubangi Shari France s Relations With Africa The Bradshaw s Archives Ono com 4 April 2010 Archived from the original on 3 March 2016 Retrieved 25 July 2013 Bokassa Jean Barthelemy 2009 Saga Bokassa in French SODEPAR SAS pp 145 ISBN 9782358080712 Retrieved 25 July 2013 Alain Rouvez 1 January 1994 Disconsolate Empires French British and Belgian Military Involvement in Post Colonial Sub Saharan Africa University Press of America pp 172 174 ISBN 9780819196439 Retrieved 25 July 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Operation Caban amp oldid 1124135467, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
