Submit Article

If you would like to submit an article, click the button below.

Navigation

<-- Back to Current Category

Jean Bedel Bokassa - President of Central African Republic

By: Vassil, Fri Dec 9th, 2005 08:09:07 PM

Born in French Equatorial Africa, the son of a village chief, Jean Bedel Bokassa was orphaned at the age of 12. Educated in mission schools, he joined the French colonial army in 1939 as a private. He distinguished himself in the 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 David Dacko invited Bokassa to head the armed forces. In 1966, Bokassa used his position to oust Dacko and declared himself president.

He began a reign of terror, taking all important government posts to himself. He personally supervised judicial beatings and introduced his own version of the 'three-strikes-and-you're-out rule' - thieves would have an ear cut off for the first two offences and a hand for the third. In 1977, in emulation of his hero Napoleon, he crowned himself emperor of the Central African Empire in a ceremony costing $200 million, practically bankrupting the country. His diamond-encrusted crown alone cost $5 million.

Source and more info: Jea n Bedel Bokassa.

About the author: My profile is available here: http://www.informbank.com/profiles.php?u=5

Sign In