Jean-Bédel Bokassa: Difference between revisions

==Early years of regime==

In the early days of his regime, Bokassa engaged in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-promotion self-promotion] before the local media, showing his countrymen his French army medals, and displaying his strength, fearlessness and masculinity. He formed a new government called the Revolutionary Council, invalidated the constitution and dissolved the National Assembly.<span style="line-height:0px;"> </span>He called it "a lifeless organ no longer representing the people". In his address to the nation, Bokassa claimed that the government would hold elections in the future, a new assembly would be formed, and a new constitution would be written. He also told his countrymen that he would give up his power after the communist threat had been eliminated, the economy stabilized, and corruption rooted out. President Bokassa allowed MESAN to continue functioning, but barred all other political organizations from the country. In the coming months, Bokassa imposed a number of new rules and regulations: men and women between the ages of 18 and 55 had to provide proof that they had jobs, or else they would be fined or imprisoned; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging begging] was banned; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom-tom_drum tom-tom] playing was allowed only during the nights and weekends; and a "morality brigade" was formed in the capital to monitor bars and dance halls. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy Polygamy], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry dowries] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_cutting female circumcision] were all abolished. Bokassa also opened a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_transport public transport] system in Bangui made up of three interconnected bus lines through the capital city as well as a ferry service on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ubangi_river Ubangi river], and subsidized the creation of two national [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra orchestras].

Despite the positive changes in the country, Bokassa had difficulty obtaining international recognition for his new government. He tried to justify the coup by explaining that Izamo and communist Chinese agents were trying to take over the government and that he had to intervene to save the CAR from the influence of communism. He alleged that Chinese agents in the countryside had been training and arming locals to start a revolution, and on 6 January 1966, he dismissed the communist agents from the country and cut off diplomatic relations with China. Bokassa also believed that the coup was necessary in order to prevent further corruption in the government.