Jean-Bédel Bokassa: Difference between revisions
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|origin = Central African Republic | |origin = Central African Republic | ||
|type of villain = Power hungry dictator | |type of villain = Power hungry dictator | ||
|crimes = Embezzlement | |crimes = Embezzlement<br>[[Cannibalism]]<br>Abuse of power<br>Mass [[murder]]<br>Human rights violations | ||
|goals = Conquer all of Central Africa (failed) | |goals = Conquer all of Central Africa (failed) | ||
|hobby = N/A}} | |hobby = N/A}} | ||
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'''Jean-Bedel Bokasa''' (February 22, 1921 - November 3, 1996) was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state head of state] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Republic Central African Republic] and its successor state, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Empire Central African Empire], from his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat coup d'état] on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979. Of this period, he served almost eleven years (1 January 1966 – 4 December 1976) as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President president] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_for_life president for life] in 1972–1976), and for almost three years he reigned as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Central_Africa emperor] (4 December 1976 – 20 September 1979). Following his overthrow, the Central African Republic was restored. Although Bokassa was formally crowned in December 1977, his imperial title did not achieve worldwide diplomatic recognition. | '''Jean-Bedel Bokasa''' (February 22, 1921 - November 3, 1996) was the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Head_of_state head of state] of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Republic Central African Republic] and its successor state, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Empire Central African Empire], from his [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27%C3%A9tat coup d'état] on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979. Of this period, he served almost eleven years (1 January 1966 – 4 December 1976) as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President president] ([http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_for_life president for life] in 1972–1976), and for almost three years he reigned as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_of_Central_Africa emperor] (4 December 1976 – 20 September 1979). Following his overthrow, the Central African Republic was restored. Although Bokassa was formally crowned in December 1977, his imperial title did not achieve worldwide diplomatic recognition. | ||
Born in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africa French Equatorial Africa], the son of a village chief, Jean-Bedel Bokassa was orphaned at age 12. Educated in mission schools, he joined the French colonial army in 1939 as a private. He distinguished himself in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Indochina_War war in Indochina], winning medals and rising to the rank of captain. When French Equatorial Africa gained its independence as the Central African Republic in 1960, the new president [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dacko David Dacko] invited Bokassa to head the armed forces. In 1966, Bokassa used his position to oust Dacko and declared himself president. He then began a reign of terror, taking all important government posts for himself.He personally supervised judicial beatings and introduced a rule that thieves would have an ear cut off for the first two offenses and a hand for the third. In 1977, in emulation of his hero [ | Born in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africa French Equatorial Africa], the son of a village chief, Jean-Bedel Bokassa was orphaned at age 12. Educated in mission schools, he joined the French colonial army in 1939 as a private. He distinguished himself in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Indochina_War war in Indochina], winning medals and rising to the rank of captain. When French Equatorial Africa gained its independence as the Central African Republic in 1960, the new president [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Dacko David Dacko] invited Bokassa to head the armed forces. In 1966, Bokassa used his position to oust Dacko and declared himself president. He then began a reign of terror, taking all important government posts for himself.He personally supervised judicial beatings and introduced a rule that thieves would have an ear cut off for the first two offenses and a hand for the third. In 1977, in emulation of his hero [[Napoleon Bonaparte]], he crowned himself emperor of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Empire Central African Empire] in a ceremony costing $20 million, practically bankrupting the country. His diamond-encrusted crown alone cost $5 million. In 1979 he had hundreds of schoolchildren arrested for refusing to wear uniforms made in a factory he owned, and personally supervised the massacre of 100 of the schoolchildren by his Imperial Guard. | ||
On 20 September 1979, French paratroopers deposed him and re-installed Dacko as president. Bokassa went into exile in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France] where he had chateaux and other property bought with the money he had embezzled. After his overthrow in 1979, Central Africa reverted to its former name and status as the ''Central African Republic''. In his absence, he was tried and sentenced to death. He returned to the Central African Republic in 1986 and was put on trial for treason and murder. In 1987, he was cleared of charges of [ | On 20 September 1979, French paratroopers deposed him and re-installed Dacko as president. Bokassa went into exile in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France] where he had chateaux and other property bought with the money he had embezzled. After his overthrow in 1979, Central Africa reverted to its former name and status as the ''Central African Republic''. In his absence, he was tried and sentenced to death. He returned to the Central African Republic in 1986 and was put on trial for treason and [[murder]]. In 1987, he was cleared of charges of [[cannibalism]], but found guilty of the murder of schoolchildren and other crimes. The death sentence was later commuted to life in solitary confinement, but just six years later, in 1993, he was freed. He lived a private life in his former capital, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui Bangui], and died in November 1996. | ||
==Early life== | ==Early life== | ||
Bokassa was born on 22 February 1921 as one of 12 children to Mindogon Mgboundoulou, a village chief, and his wife Marie Yokowo in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobangui Bobangui], a large [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%27Baka M'Baka] village in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobaye Lobaye] basin located at the edge of the equatorial forest, then a part of colonial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africa French Equatorial Africa], some 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui Bangui].<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Mgboundoulou was forced to organise the rosters of his village people to work for the French Forestière company. After hearing about the efforts of a prophet named Karnu to resist French rule and forced labour, Mgboundoulou decided that he would no longer follow French orders. He released some of his fellow villagers who were being held hostage by the Forestière. The company considered this to be a rebellious act, so they detained Mgboundoulou, and took him away bound in chains to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mba%C3%AFki Mbaïki]. On 13 November 1927, he was beaten to death in the town square just outside the prefecture office. A week later, Bokassa's mother, Marie Yokowo, unable to bear the grief of losing her husband, committed suicide. | Bokassa was born on 22 February 1921 as one of 12 children to Mindogon Mgboundoulou, a village chief, and his wife Marie Yokowo in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobangui Bobangui], a large [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%27Baka M'Baka] village in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobaye Lobaye] basin located at the edge of the equatorial forest, then a part of colonial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Equatorial_Africa French Equatorial Africa], some 80 kilometres (50 mi) southwest of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui Bangui].<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Mgboundoulou was forced to organise the rosters of his village people to work for the French Forestière company. After hearing about the efforts of a prophet named Karnu to resist French rule and forced labour, Mgboundoulou decided that he would no longer follow French orders. He released some of his fellow villagers who were being held hostage by the Forestière. The company considered this to be a rebellious act, so they detained Mgboundoulou, and took him away bound in chains to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mba%C3%AFki Mbaïki]. On 13 November 1927, he was beaten to death in the town square just outside the prefecture office. A week later, Bokassa's mother, Marie Yokowo, unable to bear the grief of losing her husband, committed suicide. | ||
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Bokassa sought recognition for his status as leader of the army. He frequently appeared in public wearing all his military decorations, and in ceremonies, he often sat next to President Dacko to display his importance in the government. Bokassa frequently got into heated arguments with Jean-Paul Douate, the government's chief of protocol, who admonished him for not following the correct order of seating at presidential tables. At first, Dacko found his cousin's antics amusing.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Despite the number of recent military coups in Africa, Dacko publicly dismissed the likelihood that Bokassa would try to take control of the country. At an official dinner, he said, "Colonel Bokassa only wants to collect medals and he is too stupid to pull off a coup d'état".<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Other members of Dacko's cabinet believed that Bokassa was a genuine threat to the regime. Jean-Arthur Bandio, the minister of interior, suggested Dacko name Bokassa to the Cabinet, which he hoped would both break the colonel's close connections with the CAR army and satisfy the colonel's desire for recognition. To combat the chance that Bokassa would stage a coup, Dacko created the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie gendarmerie], an armed police force of 500 and a 120-member presidential security guard, led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Izamo Jean Izamo] and Prosper Mounoumbaye, respectively. | Bokassa sought recognition for his status as leader of the army. He frequently appeared in public wearing all his military decorations, and in ceremonies, he often sat next to President Dacko to display his importance in the government. Bokassa frequently got into heated arguments with Jean-Paul Douate, the government's chief of protocol, who admonished him for not following the correct order of seating at presidential tables. At first, Dacko found his cousin's antics amusing.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Despite the number of recent military coups in Africa, Dacko publicly dismissed the likelihood that Bokassa would try to take control of the country. At an official dinner, he said, "Colonel Bokassa only wants to collect medals and he is too stupid to pull off a coup d'état".<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Other members of Dacko's cabinet believed that Bokassa was a genuine threat to the regime. Jean-Arthur Bandio, the minister of interior, suggested Dacko name Bokassa to the Cabinet, which he hoped would both break the colonel's close connections with the CAR army and satisfy the colonel's desire for recognition. To combat the chance that Bokassa would stage a coup, Dacko created the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gendarmerie gendarmerie], an armed police force of 500 and a 120-member presidential security guard, led by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Izamo Jean Izamo] and Prosper Mounoumbaye, respectively. | ||
==Tensions rise between Dacko and Bokassa== | ==Tensions rise between Dacko and Bokassa== | ||
Dacko's government faced a number of problems during 1964 and 1965: the economy experienced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_stagnation stagnation], the bureaucracy started to fall apart, and the country's boundaries were constantly breached by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Lumumba Lumumbists] from the south and the rebel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan_People%27s_Liberation_Army Sudan People's Liberation Army] from the east. Under pressure from political radicals in the ''Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire'' (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESAN MESAN]) and in an attempt to cultivate alternative sources of support and display his ability to make foreign policy without the help of the French government, Dacko established diplomatic relations with [ | Dacko's government faced a number of problems during 1964 and 1965: the economy experienced [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_stagnation stagnation], the bureaucracy started to fall apart, and the country's boundaries were constantly breached by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrice_Lumumba Lumumbists] from the south and the rebel [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan_People%27s_Liberation_Army Sudan People's Liberation Army] from the east. Under pressure from political radicals in the ''Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire'' (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESAN MESAN]) and in an attempt to cultivate alternative sources of support and display his ability to make foreign policy without the help of the French government, Dacko established diplomatic relations with [[Mao Zedong]]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China People's Republic of China] (PRC) in September 1964. A delegation led by Meng Yieng and agents of the Chinese government toured the country, showing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China communist propaganda films]. Soon after, the PRC gave the CAR an interest-free loan of one billion [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CFA_franc CFA francs] (20 million [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_franc French francs]); however, the aid failed to subdue the prospect of a financial collapse for the country. Widespread [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_corruption corruption] by government officials and politicians added to the country's list of problems. Bokassa felt that he needed to take over the CAR government to solve all the country's problems—most importantly, to rid the country from the influence of communism. According to Samuel Decalo, a scholar on African government, Bokassa's personal ambitions played the most important role in his decision to launch a coup against Dacko. | ||
Dacko sent Bokassa to Paris as part of the country's delegation for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day Bastille Day] celebrations in July 1965. After attending the celebrations and a 23 July ceremony to mark the closing of a military officer training school he had attended decades earlier, Bokassa decided to return to the CAR. However, Dacko forbade his return, and the infuriated Bokassa spent the next few months trying to obtain supporters from the French and Central African armed forces, who he hoped would force Dacko to reconsider his decision. Dacko eventually yielded to pressure and allowed Bokassa back in October 1965. Bokassa claimed that Dacko finally gave up after French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_French_Republic President] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle Charles de Gaulle] had personally told Dacko that "Bokassa must be immediately returned to his post. I cannot tolerate the mistreatment of my companion-in-arms". | Dacko sent Bokassa to Paris as part of the country's delegation for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastille_Day Bastille Day] celebrations in July 1965. After attending the celebrations and a 23 July ceremony to mark the closing of a military officer training school he had attended decades earlier, Bokassa decided to return to the CAR. However, Dacko forbade his return, and the infuriated Bokassa spent the next few months trying to obtain supporters from the French and Central African armed forces, who he hoped would force Dacko to reconsider his decision. Dacko eventually yielded to pressure and allowed Bokassa back in October 1965. Bokassa claimed that Dacko finally gave up after French [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Presidents_of_the_French_Republic President] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_de_Gaulle Charles de Gaulle] had personally told Dacko that "Bokassa must be immediately returned to his post. I cannot tolerate the mistreatment of my companion-in-arms". | ||
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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]. | 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. | 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. | ||
Bokassa first secured diplomatic recognition from President [ | Bokassa first secured diplomatic recognition from President [[Francois Tombalbaye]] of neighboring [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad Chad], whom he met in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bouca Bouca], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ouham Ouham]. After Bokassa reciprocated by meeting Tombalbaye on 2 April 1966 along the southern border of Chad at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarh Fort Archambault], the two decided to help one another if either was in danger of losing power.<span style="line-height:0px;"> </span>Soon after, other African countries began to diplomatically recognize the new government. At first, the French government was reluctant to support the Bokassa regime, so Banza went to Paris to meet with French officials to convince them that the coup was necessary to save the country from turmoil. Bokassa met with Prime Minister [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Pompidou Georges Pompidou] on 7 July 1966, but the French remained noncommittal in offering their support. After Bokassa threatened to withdraw from the franc monetary zone, President Charles de Gaulle decided to make an official visit to the CAR on 17 November 1966. To the Bokassa regime, this visit meant that the French had finally accepted the new changes in the country. | ||
===Threat to power=== | ===Threat to power=== | ||
Bokassa and Banza had a major argument over the country's budget, as Banza adamantly opposed the president's extravagant spending. Bokassa moved to Camp de Roux, where he felt he could safely run the government without having to worry about Banza's thirst for power. In the meantime, Banza tried to obtain a support base within the army, spending much of his time in the company of soldiers. Bokassa recognized what his minister was doing, so he sent military units most sympathetic to Banza to the country's border and brought his own army supporters as close to the capital as possible. In September 1967, he took a special trip to Paris, where he asked for protection from French troops. Two months later, the government deployed 80 paratroopers to Bangui. | Bokassa and Banza had a major argument over the country's budget, as Banza adamantly opposed the president's extravagant spending. Bokassa moved to Camp de Roux, where he felt he could safely run the government without having to worry about Banza's thirst for power. In the meantime, Banza tried to obtain a support base within the army, spending much of his time in the company of soldiers. Bokassa recognized what his minister was doing, so he sent military units most sympathetic to Banza to the country's border and brought his own army supporters as close to the capital as possible. In September 1967, he took a special trip to Paris, where he asked for protection from French troops. Two months later, the government deployed 80 paratroopers to Bangui. | ||
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In 1971, Bokassa promoted himself to full general, and on 4 March 1972 declared himself [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_for_life president for life]. He survived another coup attempt in December 1974. The following month, on 2 January, he relinquished the position of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_minister prime minister] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Domitien Elisabeth Domitien]. His domestic and foreign policies became increasingly unpredictable, leading to another assassination attempt at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_M%27Poko_International_Airport Bangui M'Poko International Airport] in February 1976. | In 1971, Bokassa promoted himself to full general, and on 4 March 1972 declared himself [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_for_life president for life]. He survived another coup attempt in December 1974. The following month, on 2 January, he relinquished the position of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_minister prime minister] to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elisabeth_Domitien Elisabeth Domitien]. His domestic and foreign policies became increasingly unpredictable, leading to another assassination attempt at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui_M%27Poko_International_Airport Bangui M'Poko International Airport] in February 1976. | ||
===Foreign support=== | ===Foreign support=== | ||
[ | [[Muammar Gaddafi]] aided Bokassa.<span style="line-height:0px;"> </span>France also supported Bokassa. In 1975, the French president [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val%C3%A9ry_Giscard_d%27Estaing Valéry Giscard d'Estaing] declared himself a "friend and family member" of Bokassa. By that time France supplied its former colony's regime with financial and military backing. In exchange, Bokassa frequently took d'Estaing on hunting trips in Central Africa and supplied France with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium uranium], which was vital for France's nuclear energy and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction weapons] program in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War Cold War] era. | ||
The "friendly and fraternal" cooperation with France—according to Bokassa's own terms—reached its peak with the imperial coronation ceremony of Bokassa I on 4 December 1977. The French Defence Minister sent a battalion to secure the ceremony; he also lent 17 aircraft to the new Central African Empire's government, and even assigned French Navy personnel to support the orchestra. The coronation ceremony lasted for two days and cost 10 million [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBP GBP], more than the annual budget of the Central African Republic. The ceremony was organized by French artist Jean-Pierre Dupont. Parisian jeweller Claude Bertrand made his crown, which included diamonds. Bokassa sat on a two-ton throne modeled in the shape of a large eagle made from solid gold. | The "friendly and fraternal" cooperation with France—according to Bokassa's own terms—reached its peak with the imperial coronation ceremony of Bokassa I on 4 December 1977. The French Defence Minister sent a battalion to secure the ceremony; he also lent 17 aircraft to the new Central African Empire's government, and even assigned French Navy personnel to support the orchestra. The coronation ceremony lasted for two days and cost 10 million [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBP GBP], more than the annual budget of the Central African Republic. The ceremony was organized by French artist Jean-Pierre Dupont. Parisian jeweller Claude Bertrand made his crown, which included diamonds. Bokassa sat on a two-ton throne modeled in the shape of a large eagle made from solid gold. | ||
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After a meeting with Gaddafi in September 1976, Bokassa converted to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam] and changed his name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa, but in December 1976 he converted back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism Catholicism]. It is presumed that his conversion to Islam was a ploy calculated to ensure ongoing Libyan financial aid. When no funds promised by Gaddafi were forthcoming, Bokassa abandoned his new faith—which was also incompatible with his plans to be crowned emperor in the Catholic cathedral in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui Bangui]. | After a meeting with Gaddafi in September 1976, Bokassa converted to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam Islam] and changed his name to Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa, but in December 1976 he converted back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholicism Catholicism]. It is presumed that his conversion to Islam was a ploy calculated to ensure ongoing Libyan financial aid. When no funds promised by Gaddafi were forthcoming, Bokassa abandoned his new faith—which was also incompatible with his plans to be crowned emperor in the Catholic cathedral in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangui Bangui]. | ||
===Proclamation of the Empire=== | ===Proclamation of the Empire=== | ||
In September 1976, Bokassa dissolved the government and replaced it with the ''Conseil de la Révolution Centrafricaine'' (Central African Revolutionary Council). On 4 December 1976, at the MESAN congress, Bokassa instituted a new constitution and declared the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic republic] a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchy], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Empire Central African Empire]. The following year, he issued an imperial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution constitution], announced his conversion back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church Catholicism] and had himself crowned "S.M.I. Bokassa 1<sup>er</sup> ", with S.M.I. standing for ''Sa Majesté Impériale'': "His Imperial Majesty", in a formal coronation ceremony on 4 December 1977. Bokassa's full title was ''Empereur de Centrafrique par la volonté du peuple Centrafricain, uni au sein du parti politique national, le [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESAN MESAN]'' ("Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN"). His [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regalia regalia], lavish [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation coronation] ceremony and regime of the newly formed Central African Empire were largely inspired by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France Napoleon I], who had converted the French Revolutionary Republic of which he was First Consul into the First French Empire. The coronation ceremony was estimated to cost his country roughly 20 million US dollars. Bokassa attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect. The 1977 coronation ceremony consumed one third of the CAE's (Central African Empire) annual budget and all of France's aid money for that year, but despite generous invitations, no foreign leaders attended the event. By this time, many people in the CAE and in the rest of the world thought Bokassa was insane, and the Western press, mostly in France, the UK, and USA, often compared his eccentric behavior and egotistical extravagance with that of Africa's other well-known eccentric dictator, [ | In September 1976, Bokassa dissolved the government and replaced it with the ''Conseil de la Révolution Centrafricaine'' (Central African Revolutionary Council). On 4 December 1976, at the MESAN congress, Bokassa instituted a new constitution and declared the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic republic] a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monarchy monarchy], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Empire Central African Empire]. The following year, he issued an imperial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution constitution], announced his conversion back to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Church Catholicism] and had himself crowned "S.M.I. Bokassa 1<sup>er</sup> ", with S.M.I. standing for ''Sa Majesté Impériale'': "His Imperial Majesty", in a formal coronation ceremony on 4 December 1977. Bokassa's full title was ''Empereur de Centrafrique par la volonté du peuple Centrafricain, uni au sein du parti politique national, le [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MESAN MESAN]'' ("Emperor of Central Africa by the will of the Central African people, united within the national political party, the MESAN"). His [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regalia regalia], lavish [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronation coronation] ceremony and regime of the newly formed Central African Empire were largely inspired by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_I_of_France Napoleon I], who had converted the French Revolutionary Republic of which he was First Consul into the First French Empire. The coronation ceremony was estimated to cost his country roughly 20 million US dollars. Bokassa attempted to justify his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect. The 1977 coronation ceremony consumed one third of the CAE's (Central African Empire) annual budget and all of France's aid money for that year, but despite generous invitations, no foreign leaders attended the event. By this time, many people in the CAE and in the rest of the world thought Bokassa was insane, and the Western press, mostly in France, the UK, and USA, often compared his eccentric behavior and egotistical extravagance with that of Africa's other well-known eccentric dictator, [[Idi Amin]] of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda Uganda]. Tenacious rumors that he occasionally [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannibalism consumed human flesh] were found unproven during his eventual trial. | ||
Although Bokassa claimed that the new empire would be a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy constitutional monarchy], no significant democratic reforms were made, and suppression of dissenters remained widespread. Torture was said to be especially rampant, with allegations that even Bokassa himself occasionally participated in beatings and executions. | Although Bokassa claimed that the new empire would be a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy constitutional monarchy], no significant democratic reforms were made, and suppression of dissenters remained widespread. Torture was said to be especially rampant, with allegations that even Bokassa himself occasionally participated in beatings and executions. | ||
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[[Category:War Criminal]] | [[Category:War Criminal]] | ||
[[Category:African Villains]] | [[Category:African Villains]] | ||
[[Category:Islam]] | |||