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Jean-Bédel Bokassa

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Jean-Bédel Bokassa
human
Ein sex anaa gendermale Edit
Ein country of citizenshipFrance, Central African Republic, Central African Empire Edit
AllegianceCentral African Republic, Central African Empire Edit
Name in native languageJean-Bedel Bokassa Edit
Name wey dem give amJean-Bedel Edit
Family nameBokassa Edit
Nicknameogre of berengo Edit
Ein date of birth22 February 1921 Edit
Place dem born amBobangui Edit
Date wey edie3 November 1996 Edit
Place wey edieBangui Edit
Manner of deathnatural causes Edit
Cause of deathmyocardial infarction Edit
Place wey dem bury amBerengo's Palace Edit
RelativeJean-Barthélémy Bokassa Edit
FamilyHouse of Bokassa Edit
Languages edey speak, rep anaa signFrench, Sango Edit
Convicted ofmurder, treason, embezzlement Edit
Ein occupationpolitician, military officer, criminal, sovereign Edit
Position eholdPresident of the Central African Republic, Emperor of Central Africa Edit
Political party ein memberMovement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa Edit
Religion anaa worldviewCatholic Church, Islam Edit
Military, police or special rankcolonel Edit
Participated in conflictWorld War II, First Indochina War Edit
Military branchCentral African Armed Forces Edit

Jean-Bédel Bokassa (22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996) be one big man wey dey run things for Central Africa. E come be second president of Central African Republic (CAR) after e take power for Saint-Sylvestre coup wey happen for 1 January 1966. Later, e build Central African Empire (CAE) wey e dey call himsef emperor, dey rule as Bokassa I till dem comot am for 1979 coup.

For this time, Bokassa be president for like eleven years plus him even claim say him be Emperor of Central Africa for three years, but de country still dey under military dictatorship. Him so-called 'imperial' reign start from 4 December 1976 go reach 21 September 1979. After dem throw am down, dem bring back de country under him predecessor, David Dacko. Bokassa wey claim him imperial title no get any global recognition.

For him trial wey e no show, Bokassa dey try plus dem sentence am to death. E come back come CAR for 1986, dem put am on trial again for treason and murder. For 1987, di jury no go fit decide for di cannibalism matter because of some general amnesty, but dem find am guilty for di murder of schoolchildren plus other crimes. Di death sentence later turn to life imprisonment, but dem free am insyde 1993. After dat, Bokassa dey live quiet life for Bangui, plus e die insyde November 1996.

Bokassa dem clear am after him die by President François Bozizé for 2010, e make people sabi am more, even though everybody sabi the bad things wey him do plus him extravagance lifestyle.

Ein Early life

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Bokassa born on 22 February 1921, him be one of twelve pikin wey Mindogon Mufasa, wey be village chief, and him wife Marie Yokowo get for Bobangui, big Mbaka village for Lobaye area wey dey near equatorial forest, den na part of colonial French Equatorial Africa, around 80 kilometers (50 mi) southwest of Bangui.[1] Mindogon dey organize wetin dem go do for him village people make dem work for French Forestière company. After e hear say one prophet wey dem call Karnu dey push back against French rule den forced labour,[2] Mindogon don decide say e no go fit follow French orders again, plus e don free some of im villagers wey dem dey hold hostage by de Forestière.Di company see dis one as rebellious action, so dem carry Mindogon go hold him den take am away tie for chain go Mbaïki.[1] On 13 November 1927, dem beat am die for town square wey be outsyde di prefecture office. One week later, Bokassa mama wey no fit carry di sorrow of losing her husband, take her own life.[1][3] Dis one make Bokassa be orphan for age 6.

Bokassa family gree say e go better if dem fit put am for French school wey be École Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc, na Christian mission school for Mbaïki.[4] When he dey small, dem dey always mock am for school sey him no get papa or mama. E short but strong no be small. For school, Bokassa love one French grammar book wey dis guy named Jean Bédel write. Him teachers see sey e like am well, so dem start dey call am 'Jean-Bédel.'[4]

For him teenage time, Bokassa dey study for École Saint-Louis for Bangui, under Father Grüner. Grüner wan make am priest, but e come see say him no get de brain or de holy vibe wey fit carry dis kind occupation. E then go Father Compte school for Brazzaville, where e sabi cook well well. After e graduate for 1939, Bokassa follow wetin him grandpapa, M'Balanga, plus Father Grüner talk, join Troupes coloniales (French colonial troops) as tirailleur on 19 May 1939.[4]

Military career

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Bokassa for 1939 (age 18)

Di Second World War start for September 1939 when e join military. While e dey serve for di second bataillon de marche, Bokassa rise up to corporal for July 1940, and later become sergeant major for November 1941.[5] After German dem take over France, he dey serve with African unit for Free French Forces, and e join for dem capture Vichy government capital wey dey Brazzaville. On 15 August 1944, he join Allied forces wey land for Provence, France, as part of Operation Dragoon, plus e dey fight for southern France plus Germany early 1945, before Nazi Germany collapse. E still dey for French Army after di war, dey study radio transmissions for one army camp for di French beach town wey dem call Fréjus.[5]

After, Bokassa go officer training school for Saint-Louis, Senegal. For 7 September 1950, e carry contract go French Indochina as transmission expert for de battalion wey dey for Saigon-Cholon.[2] Bokassa see some fight during First Indochina War before him tour of duty finish for March 1953. For him fight well for war, dem gree am join Legion of Honour, plus dem give am Croix de guerre.[6] Wen he dey for Indochina, he marry one 17-year-old Vietnamese babe wey dem call Nguyễn Thị Huệ. After Huệ born am pikin, Bokassa carry go register de pikin as French national. Bokassa comot for Indochina without him wife den pikin, as he believe say e go come back for another work soon.[7]

As he come back France, Bokassa dey for Fréjus, where he teach radio transmissions for African guys. For 1956, dem promote am to second lieutenant, den two years later, he become lieutenant.[8] Bokassa later dey as military technical assistant for December 1958 for Brazzaville, den insyde 1959 after twenty years wey he no dey home, dem carry am go him place for Bangui. Dem promote am to captain for 1 July 1961.[8] De French colony wey dem call Ubangi-Shari, part of French Equatorial Africa, don turn semi-autonomous area for de French Community insyde 1958, den later, na independent country wey dem name Central African Republic (CAR) on 13 August 1960.

For 1 January 1962, Bokassa come out from French Army, wey he join Central African Armed Forces as battalion commandant under di commander-in-chief Mgboundoulou.[9] As im dey related to Central African President David Dacko plus him dey be nephew to Dacko’s former boss, Barthélémy Boganda, dem give Bokassa di work to build di new country military. After more than one year, Bokassa become di commander-in-chief for di 500 soldiers wey dey army. Because of im connection to Dacko plus en experience for French military, e fit rise fast for di ranks, becoming di first colonel on 1 December 1964.[10]

Bokassa dey look for respect as di army leader. E dey waka come outside plenty times wey e wear im military medals, and for ceremonies, e go always dey sit near President Dacko, make people sabi im importance for di government. Bokassa dey always dey argue with Jean-Paul Douate, wey be di chief protocol for government, wey dey hala am say e no dey follow di right order for presidential tables. At dis time, Mgboundoulou no dey support Bokassa as di army leader again. At di beginning, Dacko dey find im cousin antics amusing.[11] Even with all di military coups wey don happen for Africa lately, e no fit believe say Bokassa go try to take over di country. For one official dinner, e talk say, "Colonel Bokassa just dey collect medals plus e too dull to fit carry out coup d'état."[12]

Other members wey dey Dacko cabinet dey reason say Bokassa be real threat to de government. Jean-Arthur Bandio, wey be interior minister, suggest make Dacko put Bokassa for cabinet, him dey hope say e go fit break de colonel connections with army plus satisfy wetin de colonel dey find wey be recognition.[11] To fight make sure say Bokassa no go try coup, Dacko create 500-member gendarmerie plus 120-member presidential security guard, wey Jean Izamo plus Prosper Mounoumbaye dey lead respectively.[11]

Rising tensions

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Dacko government dey face plenty wahala for 1964 and 1965: economy dey slow down, bureaucracy dey scatter, plus Lumumbists from south plus de rebel Anyanya from east dey always break country boundaries.[13] As pressure dey come from political radicals insyde di Mouvement pour l'évolution sociale de l'Afrique noire (MESAN) plus for an attempt to show say e fit gather support from other places, plus show say e fit run foreign policy without French government help, Dacko begin get diplomatic relations with de People's Republic of China (PRC) for September 1964.[13]

Delegation wey Meng Yieng lead plus some agents from Chinese government come tour CAR, dey show communist propaganda films. After small time, PRC come give CAR one interest-free loan of one billion CFA francs (20 million French francs[14]). But de aid no help to stop financial wahala wey dey show for de country.[13] Plenty political corruption join de country list of wahala too.[15] Bokassa talk say e need to take over government make e fix the issues—especially to clear CAR from communist influence. According to Samuel Decalo, wey be scholar for African government, na Bokassa own personal ambitions show wetin make am decide to launch coup against Dacko.[16]

Dacko carry Bokassa go Paris for CAR delegation to celebrate Bastille Day wey dey happen for July 1965. After he enjoy de celebration plus dem do ceremony for 23 July to mark closing of military training school wey he don attend long time ago, Bokassa decide say he go return back to CAR. But Dacko no gree make am come back,[13] plus dis one vex Bokassa so him spend months dey try to look for support from French den Central African army, wey he hope go make Dacko change him mind. Eventually, Dacko don give up under pressure den allow Bokassa come back for October 1965. Bokassa talk say Dacko finally gree after French President Charles de Gaulle don talk to am say, 'Bokassa must come back to him position sharp- sharp. I no fit watch my brother-in-arms dey suffer like dis.'[17]

Dacko plus Bokassa wahala dey grow for months wey dey come. For December, Dacko gree make dem increase budget for Izamo gendarmerie, but he no gree Bokassa army budget wey him propose.[18] At this time, Bokassa dey tell him padi dem say him dey vex say Dacko dey treat am bad, plus him dey plan ‘coup d'état’.[12] Dacko wan swap Bokassa with Izamo as him own military adviser, make him promote army officers wey loyal to government, while him dey demote Bokassa plus him close boys.[18]

Dacko no dey hide him plans. E drop small hints give di elders for Bobangui village, den dem go tell Bokassa about di matter. Bokassa quickly sabi say e need act sharp, e dey fret say him 500-man army no fit match di gendarmerie plus di presidential guard.[18] Him dey also worry say di French go fit come help Dacko after di coup, like wetin happen for Gabon when dem take out President Léon M'ba for February 1964; after dem hear di coup from di vice president, Paris officials rush send paratroopers go Gabon in few hours den M'Ba come quickly regain him power.[18]

Bokassa dey get strong support from him co-conspirator, Captain Alexandre Banza, wey dey run Camp Kassaï military base for north Bangui plus, just like Bokassa, him don serve for French Army too. Banza be sharp, get ambition plus sabi how e go make plans well, him play big role for de coup.[18] By December, plenty people don start guess say wahala go soon burst for de CAR. Dacko's advisers don tell am say Bokassa dey show sign say him mind no dey alright plus make dem arrest am before him go try mash up government; but Dacko no take dem warning serious.[18]

Coup d'état

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For early evening of 31 December 1965, Dacko waka comot from Renaissance Palace go see wetin dey happen for one of him minister plantation wey dey southwest Bangui.[18] One den half hour before midnight, Banza don give him boys order make dem start coup.[19] Bokassa call Izamo for him headquarters, tell am make e come Camp de Roux come sign some documents wey need him quick attention. Izamo, wey dey jolly with him friends for New Year Eve celebration, no too happy but e gree waka go camp. As e reach, Banza den Bokassa don catch am, come tell am say coup dey happen. After Izamo talk say e no support coup, dem carry am go underground cellar.[19]

Around midnight, Bokassa, Banza, plus dem people wey dey follow dem pack dem load for Camp de Roux to go take Bangui.[19] After dem don seize de capital insyde matter of just few hours, Bokassa den Banza rush go Renaissance Palace to go arrest Dacko, but Dacko no dey anywhere. Bokassa dey vex, him dey think say president don hear say dem wan do coup before time, so him quickly tell him soldiers make dem search for Dacko for village plus anywhere till dem see am.[19]

Dacko wey soldiers military dey patrol for Pétévo Junction, wey dey for western border of Bangui, catch am. Dem carry am go back to palace, where Bokassa hug de president den tell am, "I try warn you — but now e don too late."[20] Dacko go Ngaragba Prison around 02:00 WAT (01:00 UTC). To make people like am better, Bokassa order prison director Otto Šacher make dem free all prisoners for de jail. After that, Bokassa carry Dacko go Camp Kassaï, where e force de president to resign.[20]

For morning time, Bokassa talk to people through Radio Bangui: "Na Colonel Bokassa dey talk to you. For 3:00 a.m. this morning, your army don take over government. Dacko government don resign. Justice time don land. Bourgeoisie don finish. New era of equality don start for everybody. Central Africans, wherever you dey, no fear, army go protect you den your property ... Long live Central African Republic![20]

Early years of de regime

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Bokassa on a postage stamp from 1967

For di early days of im rule, Bokassa dey show off for local media, dey flaunt im French army medals, and dey flex im strength, bravery, den manness.[21] E come form new government wey dem call di Revolutionary Council, scatter di constitution plus dissolve di National Assembly,[22] wey him call "lifeless organ wey no dey represent di people again".[21]

For him speech wey him give di country, Bokassa talk say di government go run elections later, dem go form new assembly, plus dem go write new constitution. E still tell him paddy dem say e go no dey hold power again after dem don clear di communist wahala, di economy don balance, plus dem don chop di corruption finish.[23] Bokassa allow MESAN make e dey work, but all other political groups wey dey try, dem no fit enter di CAR.[24]

For di coming months, Bokassa come bring plenty new rules den regulations: men den women wey dey between 18 and 55 go fit show proof sey dem get job, if not dem go fine you or send you go jail.[24] No more begging o. Tom-tom music fit play only for night den weekend. Dem even form 'morality brigade' for di capital to dey watch bars den dance halls. Polygamy, dowries, plus female circumcision no dey again. Bokassa also open public transport system for Bangui wey get three bus lines wey connect for di city parlor, plus ferry service for Ubangi River, plus help create two national orchestras.[24]

Even with the way things dey change for di country, Bokassa dey struggle to make dem accept im new government for international side. Him dey try to justify de coup by de explain say Izamo plus de PRC agents wan take over, so him gats to intervene to save di country from de influence of communism.[25] Him talk say PRC agents dey train plus arm people for di countryside to start revolution, plus on 6 January 1966, him sack all di communist agents plus cut diplomatic ties with PRC. Bokassa self believe say di coup dey necessary to stop more corruption for di government.[25]

Bokassa first get diplomatic recognition from President François Tombalbaye wey dey Chad, him meet am for Bouca, Ouham. After Bokassa show him respect by meeting Tombalbaye for 2 April 1966, for southern border of Chad for Fort Archambault, dem two agree say dem go help each other if one dey shake for power.[26] Not long after, other African nations start to dey recognize di new government, small-small. At first, di French government no too wan support di Bokassa regime, so Banza waka go Paris go meet French officials make e fit convince dem say di coup be necessary to save di country from wahala. Bokassa meet Prime Minister Georges Pompidou on 7 July 1966, but di French still no gree to confirm dem support.[26] After Bokassa talk say e go pull out from CFA franc money zone, President de Gaulle carry imsef go official visit for CAR on 17 November 1966. For Bokassa regime, this visit mean say French don finally accept de new changes wey dey happen for de country.[26]

Threat to power

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Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu visits Central African Republic plus meets with Bokassa, 1970

Bokassa and Banza start strong gree-gree for di country budget, as Banza no gree for di new president money matter wey dey blow too much. Bokassa move go Camp de Roux, where e dey feel say e fit run di government safe, no be say e go dey worry about Banza wey dey craze for power.[27] for de meantime, Banza de try obtain support base within de army, spending much of him time insyde de company of soldiers. Bokassa sabi wetin him minister dey do, so e carry military wey dey feel Banza go border plus carry him own boys close to de capital as e fit. For September 1967, e carry special waka go Paris, wey e go beg French soldiers make dem protect am. Two months later, French government send 80 paratroopers go Bangui.[27] Charles de Gaulle no dey trust Banza, him sabi say Banza get connection with CIA. For late 1967, when him dey meet Jacques Foccart, de Gaulle talk sey make Bokassa just take Banza out instead of trying to make peace with am.[28]

For 13 April 1968, as Bokassa dey do him usual cabinet shake, e push Banza go health minister, but make am still dey be minister of state.Banza sabi wetin the president wan do, e increase im shout for di political gist wey no sweet.[29] One year later, as Banza dey talk plenty bad things about Bokassa plus how e dey manage de economy, de president, see say him dey feel threat to him power, come reduce am from him minister of state position.[29] Banza talk say he wan carry out coup for Lieutenant Jean-Claude Mandaba, wey be the boss for Camp Kassaï, wey him dey look up to for help. Mandaba gree follow de plan, but him loyalty still dey for Bokassa.[29]

When Banza reach out to dem wey dey plan with am on 8 April 1969, tell dem say dem go carry out coup de next day, Mandaba sharp-sharp call Bokassa come tell am de gist. As Banza enter Camp Kassaï on 9 April, Mandaba plus im soldiers ambush am. Dem gats break Banza arm before dem fit hold am well den throw am insyde trunk of Mercedes to carry directly go to Bokassa.[29] For im house for Berengo, Bokassa nearly beat Banza to death before Mandaba talk say make dem put Banza for trial just to show face.[30]

For 12 April, Banza show him case for military tribunal wey dey Camp de Roux, wey he talk say e get plan, but he no plan to kill Bokassa.[31] Dem sentence am to die by firing squad, carry am go open field behind Camp Kassaï, execute am, den bury am for ground wey no get mark.[30]

People talk say how Banza die no clear. Time wey be American newsmagazine talk say Banza “dem carry am go Cabinet meeting, wey Bokassa use razor slash am.” Dem guards come beat Banza till him back break, drag am waka for streets of Bangui, then finally shoot am.[32] De French daily evening newspaper Le Monde report say Banza don die under condition wey dey make body dey shiver till now.

Two stories for how him die dey different small small. E be true say Bokassa tie am for pillar before e slice am with knife wey e don use before to stir him coffee for de gold-and-midnight blue Sèvres coffee set, or na other people help am do de murder for cabinet table? Later that afternoon, soldiers carry one body wey still fit recognize, spinal column don break, from barrack to barrack to show people as example. [33]

Rule for de time de 1970s

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Bokassa plus Giuseppe Saragat for 1971

For 1971, Bokassa promote himself to full general, and for 4 March 1972, he declare himself president for life.[34] He survive another coup try for December 1974. De next month, for 2 January, he fit give prime minister position to Elisabeth Domitien, wey be di first woman wey go hold di position.[35] Earlier, he don appoint di first female government minister for CAR, Marie-Josèphe Franck, for February 1970.[36] As time go, Bokassa domestic plus foreign policies dey more unpredictable, wey cause another assassination attempt for Bangui M'Poko International Airport for February 1976.[35]

Foreign support

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Libya leader Muammar Gaddafi help Bokassa small.[37] France sef support am; for 1975, French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing talk say him be 'friend den family member' for Bokassa side. By dat time, France dey give him former colony money plus military backup. In return, Bokassa dey carry Giscard go hunt for CAR plus dey give France uranium wey dey important for their nuclear energy plus weapons during de Cold War time. Bokassa dey rekindle relationship with PRC plus visit China for 1976.[38][39]

Ceaușescu den Bokassa for 1972

Di 'friendly and fraternal' cooperation with France—wetin Bokassa talk himself—peak wen dem coronate Bokassa I for 4 December 1977.[40] Di French Defence Minister send battalion make e secure di ceremony; him still give Bokassa seventeen aircraft, plus him even send French Navy people make dem help di orchestra. Di coronation ceremony last two days plus e cost 10 million GBP, pass di annual budget of CAR.[41] Di ceremony na French artist Jean-Pierre Dupont organize am, plus Bokassa big crown wey Paris jeweller Claude Bertrand make. Bokassa dey sit for big throne wey look like eagle, e dey heavy like two tons, plus dem make am with gold-plated bronze.[42][43]

For 10 October 1979, di French satirical newspaper Canard Enchaîné talk say Bokassa don give di Minister of Finance Giscard two diamonds for 1973.[44][45] Dis matter turn big political wahala wey dem dey call di Diamonds Affair, wey help Giscard lose im reelection for 1981. Di relationship wey dey between France den Central Africa change well-well when France Renseignements Généraux intelligence service hear say Bokassa wan join Gaddafi for partnership.

After Bokassa meet Gaddafi for September 1976, e switch come Islam, now dem dey call am Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa. People talk say dat conversion na plan wey e use want make sure say Libyan financial aid go dey come.[46] Wahala show when e no see any funds wey Gaddafi promise am. Plus, dis conversion no gree with Bokassa plans to take wear emperor crown for Catholic church insyde Bangui.

Proclamation of de Empire

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Imperial standard

For September 1976, Bokassa scatter de government, put the Conseil de la Révolution Centrafricaine (Central African Revolutionary Council) instead. For 4 December, during de MESAN congress, he come back as Catholic plus bring new constitution wey change the republic to Central African Empire (CAE), him call himself "His Imperial Majesty" Bokassa I. Him official coronation happen for 4 December 1977[35] around 10:43 a.m.

Dem say di coronation go cost him country about $US20 million – na one third of di CAE budget for di whole year, plus all di money wey France go give dem for dat year. Him regalia, di big coronation, and all di ceremonies wey di new CAE form na mostly from Napoleon, wey change di French First Republic to di First French Empire. Bokassa full title na "Emperor of Central Africa by di will of di Central African people, wey dey united for di national political party, di MESAN".[35]

Bokassa try explain wetin e dey do by talk say if dem fit create king position, e go make Central Africa stand out small from di rest of Africa and people go respect dem. Even though dem invite plenty foreign leaders, nobody show face for di event. By this time, plenty people for insyde den outside CAE dey think say Bokassa don craze. Di Western press, especially for France, UK den US, dey laugh am, plus dey always dey compare im odd behavior with dat one wey dem know well, Idi Amin from Uganda.

Wahala rumors dey fly say Bokassa dey chop human flesh small small, and plenty people talk am during him trial. Even im former chef talk say he don cook human body wey dey for palace freezer plenty times for Bokassa.[47] Plus, during him coronation, dem say Bokassa tell di French ambassador say him don chop human meat without sabi.[48] But e no really change anything for Bokassa matter, because under CAR law, to chop human body be just small crime, plus all di small crimes wey him don do don dey forgive since dem declare general amnesty for 1981.[47]

Bokassa talk say di new empire go be constitutional monarchy. But e no be so as e still dey keep di same dictatorial power wey e get as President Bokassa for di past ten years, plus di country still dey be military dictatorship. Dem dey suppress anybody wey no gree, plus torture dey happen plenty. People dey talk say Bokassa sef dey join for beatings and executions sometimes.

Overthrow

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Repression

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By January 1979, French people don dey slack support for Bokassa well well after food wahala for Bangui cause people wey no go fit run come out.[49] E be last straw when Bokassa wan force all students for di country, from primary to university,[50] make dem wear uniform wey one of your wives own company dey make. As students see this matter, dem start dey protest against Bokassa and by April 1979, di students and police dey like say dem dey fight war.[51] Plenty students dem dey shoot during di protest by police.[50]

For 19 April 1979, dem arrest plenty students, carry dem go Ngaragba Prison, where de guards beat about 100 students wey dem die.[51] Dem talk say Bokassa dey involved for di massacre.[52][53] But him no gree say all dem things wey dem talk be true.[54] After di massacre, foreign countries condemn Bokassa den international bodies don cut off aid.[55]

French overthrow of de empire

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Di French intelligence service SDECE run Operation Caban for 19–20 September 1979 be di first step to take over Bokassa. Dem send undercover commando squad from SDECE, plus di 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment, go secure Bangui M'Poko International Airport with small wahala.

As two extra French military planes land with over 300 French soldiers, Colonel Brancion-Rouge quickly send message to Colonel Degenne make him start second phase wey dem dey call Operation Barracuda. E go need come with helicopter plus other planes. Dem planes take off from N'Djamena military airport for Chad to enter de capital city make peace no scatter.[56]

By 00:30 for 21 September 1979, de pro-French ex-president Dacko don talk say CAE don fall plus him go restore CAR under him rule. Dacko go dey as president till 1981 wey André Kolingba waka come remove am for power. Bokassa wey dey Libya for state visit at dat time, run go Ivory Coast wey e spend four years for Abidjan. After dat, him move go France, wey dem allow am settle for him Chateau d'Hardricourt wey dey Paris suburb. France give am political asylum because him serve for French military well well.[35]

For dem seven years wey Bokassa dey exile, him write him memoirs after him complain say him French military pension no reach. But one French court say make dem destroy all de 8,000 copies of the book because inside, Bokassa talk say he dey share women with French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, wey dey come visit CAR plenty. Bokassa dey France make many government ministers wey support am for him rule dey feel shame.[57]

Bokassa get the Château du Grand Chavanon, one old chateau for Neuvy-sur-Barangeon, from 1970s go 1995.[58] E dey rent am to Cercle national des combattants, one non-profit group wey National Front politician Roger Holeindre dey run from 1986 to 1995, when Cercle buy am from Bokassa.[58]

Later life

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Exile den return

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Bokassa don dey try and dem don sentence am to death insyde absentia for December 1980 because he kill plenty political enemies.[59] He come back from exile on 24 October 1986 den as soon as him step out of the plane for Bangui, Central African authorities catch am straight. Dem try am for fourteen different charges, like treason, murder, cannibalism, illegal use of property, assault den battery, plus embezzlement. Now weh Bokassa dey chop up for CAR government hand, dem suppose follow law try am in person, give am chance make him get lawyer. For Bokassa court matter, dem throw away di 1980 verdict wey dem give am when e no dey. Dem say make dem try am again. Bokassa talk say e no guilty for all di charges wey dem against am for.[60]

Trial

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Bokassa trial start for 15 December 1986, happen for Palace of Justice for Bangui. Bokassa carry two French lawyers, Francis Szpiner plus François Gibault, wey dey face panel wey be like French legal system, get six jurors plus three judges, wey High Court Judge Edouard Franck dey lead.[61] Dem don try former head of state for court wit jury, e no be something wey don happen before for post-colonial Africa, wey dem dey take former dictators go court finish, then dem go execute dem after dem show trial.[60] For di other region, dem allow public enter di trial; e mean say di courtroom dey always full with pipo wey no get seat. Radio Bangui dey do live French broadcast plus local TV crews dey show am everywhere for di country plus di French-speaking countries wey dey near. Plenty people for CAR plus dem neighbors wey fit hear radio or watch TV dey follow di trial well well.[60]

Gabriel-Faustin M'Boudou, di Chief Prosecutor for di CAR, call plenty witnesses make dem testify against Bokassa. Di things wey dem talk help document victims wey go from political enemies to one newborn pikin wey palace guard commander born, dem don kill am because him try waka kill Bokassa for 1978; one nurse for hospital talk say Bokassa order make dem poison di newborn pikin to death.[61]

Among di witnesses, e get twenty-seven teenagers plus young pipo wey talk say dem be di only survivors of di 180 children wey dem arrest for April 1979. Dem catch dem after children throw stone for Bokassa Rolls-Royce wey dey pass during protest wey go against di expensive school uniform wey dem force dem buy from one factory (wey dem say na one of Bokassa wives own). Plenty of dem talk say as dem first night for jail, Bokassa come visit and dey shout for the pikin dem for their disrespect. Dem say e even tell the prison guards make dem use club mash the pikin dem to death; Bokassa sef don participate for am dey say, dem smash at least five pikin head with im ebony walking stick.[61]

Throughout di trial, Bokassa no agree to all di wahala wey dem talk say e do. E try shift di blame from him to some bad boys for him old cabinet plus di army for any nonsense wey fit don happen when e dey rule as both president den emperor. When e come testify for him own defence, Bokassa talk say: "I no be saint. I be just man like everybody else." Ehn, plenty times e don blow up with anger, one time e even vex go attack di chief prosecutor M'Boudou: "Di wahala wey dey vex me be say na all dis Bokassa, Bokassa, Bokassa! I don get enough crime wey dem wan put for my head, no be me go carry all di murders wey don happen for twenty-one years!"[61]

One of di yawa talk wey dey follow Bokassa na say him dey chop human flesh. Dem call former President Dacko make him come talk say e don see pictures of bodies wey dem butcher dey hang for cold room insyde Bokassa palace immediately after di 1979 coup.[47] Dem get pictures wey show fridge for palace wey dey keep bodies of schoolchildren, dem publish am for Paris Match magazine.[62] When di defence talk say dem get doubt when dem dey cross-examine Dacko, wey he no fit sure if di photos wey he see be dead bodies wey dem go chop, Bokassa old chef come testify say e don cook human meat wey dem keep for di walk-in freezers plus serve am to Bokassa sometimes. Di prosecution no check di talk say Bokassa give some of di meat of him victims to foreign big men wey dey visit.[63]

For 12 June 1987, dem find Bokassa guilty for at least twenty murder cases, and dem sentence am to death. Dem no add di cannibalism matter for di final verdict, 'cause according to CAR law, eat human body dey be small-small crime. Plus, when President Kolingba take power from Dacko for 1981, he don declare amnesty for all di small-small crimes wey happen before him reign start.[47]

Szpiner and Gibault try appeal say CAR constitution fit allow former head wey be president make dem charge am only for treason, but CAR Supreme Court no gree am.[63]

Imprisonment, release plus death

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For 29 February 1988, Kolingba show say e no gree capital punishment as e cancel death penalty wey dem put on Bokassa plus change am to life wey dem go lock am insyde one room. De next year, e reduce de sentence to twenty years.[64][65] When democracy come back for CAR insyde 1993, Kolingba talk say make dem give all prisoners amnesty as one of de last things wey e go do as president, plus Bokassa come free on 1 August 1993.

Bokassa no go anywhere again, e stay for CAR till e die. For 1996, as e health de decline, e call himself de Thirteenth Apostle, talk say e dey chop secret meetings with Pope John Paul II.[66] Bokassa run come off this world for heart attack on 3 November 1996 insyde im house for Bangui, wey e be 75 years old. E get seventeen wives, one na Marie-Reine Hassen, plus dem say e get fifty pikins, including Jean-Serge Bokassa, Jean-Bédel Bokassa Jr. plus Kiki Bokassa.

Legacy

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For 2010, President François Bozizé bring out one decree wey go help Bokassa come back, talk say him be 'son of de nation wey everybody sabi as big builder'.[67] Di decree come talk say 'Dis rehabilitation go clear all di wahala wey him get, like fines plus all di legal cost, plus e go stop any future wahala wey fit come from di matter'. [67]As dem dey prepare to rehabilitate am, di CAR politicians dey praise Bokassa for him love for di country plus di time wey e bring stability come to de country.[67][68]

Titles, styles plus honours

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Style

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Him Imperial Majesty Bokassa di First, Apostle of Peace plus Servant for Jesus Christ, Emperor den Marshal for Central Africa[66]

National honours

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  • Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of de Imperial Order of Bokassa
  • Sovereign Knight Grand Cordon of de Imperial Order of Central African Merit
  • Sovereign Knight Commander of de Imperial Order of Agricultural Merit, 1st Class
  • Sovereign Knight of de Imperial Decoration of Recognition, 1st Class

Foreign honours

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  • Cameroon: Grand Cross of the Order of Valour
  • Chad: Grand Cross of the National Order of Chad
  • Congo: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
  • Egypt: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Nile
  • France:
    • Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
    • Military Medal
    • Croix de guerre 1939–1945
    • Croix de guerre des théâtres d'opérations extérieures
    • Volunteer Combatant Cross Medal of 1939–1945
    • Volunteer Combatant Resistance Cross Medal
    • Overseas Medal
    • Free France Voluntary Service Commemorative Medal
    • 1939–1945 Commemorative War Medal
    • Indochina Campaign Commemorative Medal
  • Gabon: Grand Cross of de Order of the Equatorial Star
  • Ivory Coast: Grand Cross of de National Order of the Ivory Coast
  • Libya: Grand Cross of de Order of the Republic
  • Madagascar: Grand Cross of de Order of the Republic
  • Morocco: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Ouissam Alaouite
  • North Korea: First Class of de Order of the National Flag[69]
  • Senegal: Grand Cross of de National Order of the Lion
  • Sudan: Grand Cross of de Order of the Two Niles
  • Taiwan: Grand Cordon of the Order of Brilliant Jade[70]
  • Togo: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
  • Tunisia: Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Independence
  • Yugoslavia: Great Star of de Order of the Yugoslav Star
  • Zaire: Grand Cross of de National Order of the Leopard

 References

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  1. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 7.
  2. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 6.
  3. ↑ Appiah, Gates, p. 278.
  4. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 8.
  5. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 9.
  6. ↑ Lloyd Garrison (7 January 1966). "Coups, Dahomey Style". New York Times. p. 2.
  7. ↑ Titley, 1997, pp. 9–10.
  8. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 10.
  9. ↑ Titley, 1997, p. 23, a rank equivalent to major.
  10. ↑ Bokassa, 1985, p. 21.
  11. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 24.
  12. 1 2 Péan 1977, p. 15.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Titley 1997, p. 25.
  14. ↑ van de Walle, Nicholas (July 1991), "The Decline of the Franc Zone: Monetary Politics in Francophone Africa", African Affairs, 90 (360), Oxford University Press: 383–405, doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a098439, JSTOR 722938
  15. ↑ Lee 1969, p. 100.
  16. ↑ Decalo 1973, p. 220.
  17. ↑ Bokassa, 1985, p. 24.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Titley 1997, p. 26.
  19. 1 2 3 4 Titley 1997, p. 27.
  20. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 28.
  21. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 33.
  22. ↑ "Army Chief of Staff Seizes Power in Upper Volta. Deposed President Asserts He 'Rejoices' at Coup Curfew Is Continued". Associated Press in the New York Times. 5 January 1966. p. 6. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 23 July 2018. The army Chief of Staff, Lieut. Col. Sangoule Lamizana, seized control of Upper Volta today in the fourth military take-over among the central African countries in the last two months.
  23. ↑ Titley 1997, p. 34.
  24. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 35.
  25. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 29.
  26. 1 2 3 Titley 1997, p. 30.
  27. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 41.
  28. ↑ Deltombe, Thomas (2023). "« Foutez-moi la paix avec vos nègres ! » Quand de Gaulle se lâche sur les présidents africains". In Borrel, Thomas; Boukari-Yabara, Amzat; Collombat, Benoît; Deltombe, Thomas (eds.). Une histoire de la Françafrique: L'empire qui ne veut pas mourir. Seuil. pp. 376–377. ISBN 9782757897751.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Titley 1997, p. 42.
  30. 1 2 Titley 1997, p. 43.
  31. ↑ "Central Africans Execute Official. Republic's Health Minister Accused of Plotting Coup". The New York Times. 14 April 1969. p. 20. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2008. The Bangui radio announced today that Health Minister Alexandre Banza, 36 years old, had been executed for having plotted to assassinate the President, Col. Jean Bédel Bokassa.
  32. ↑ "Lord High Everything". Time. 4 May 1974. Archived from the original on 22 December 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
  33. ↑ Powers, J. (2001), Like Water on Stone: The Story of Amnesty International, Boston: Northeastern University Press, p. 88, ISBN 1-55553-487-2, OCLC 45845483
  34. ↑ Kalck 2005, p. xxxiii.
  35. 1 2 3 4 5 Lentz 1994.
  36. ↑ Appiah & Gates 1999, p. 226.
  37. ↑ Brian Lee Davis (1990), Qaddafi, terrorism, and the origins of the U.S. attack on Libya, p. 16
  38. ↑ "In Central Africa the Sun Sets on a Republic and Comes Up on an Empire". The New York Times. 5 December 1976. Archived from the original on 8 July 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  39. ↑ "1976年11月15日 华国锋到机场欢迎中非总统博卡萨 – 华国锋时政活动年谱（1976年） – 华国锋纪念网". Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. ↑ Kalck 2005, p. xxxv.
  41. ↑ Shaw 2004, p. 55.
  42. ↑ SOFREP (2022-04-09). "The Coronation of Bokassa I That Spent a Huge Chunk of Central Africa's Annual Budget". SOFREP (in English). Archived from the original on 19 August 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
  43. ↑ Shaw 2004, p. 50.
  44. ↑ Hoyle, Russ (30 March 1981), "A Campaign Catches Fire", Time, archived from the original on 21 September 2007, retrieved 10 March 2008
  45. ↑ Fuller, Thomas (28 February 2002). "But ex-president's past looms large: Giscard's new role at heart of Europe". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  46. ↑ Titley 1997, p. 79.
  47. 1 2 3 4 Knappman 1997, pp. 439–440.
  48. ↑ "L’empereur cannibale de Bangui et le conflit oublié de l’Afrique" by Brian Klass, vice.com, 29 September 2014; English translation "The cannibal emperor of Bangui and Africa's forgotten conflict" Archived 12 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine; both retrieved 12 August 2023
  49. ↑ Martin Meredith, The Fate of Africa, p. 230.
  50. 1 2 Dash, Leon (1979-10-01). "Nightmares From Bokassa's Empire". Washington Post (in American English). ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  51. 1 2 "SURVIVORS DESCRIBE MASSACRE IN BANGUI". The New York Times (in American English). 1979-09-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  52. ↑ "SURVIVORS DESCRIBE MASSACRE IN BANGUI". The New York Times (in American English). 1979-09-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  53. ↑ "Bokassa Successor Says Dictator Killed Children in April Massacre". The New York Times (in American English). 1979-09-24. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  54. ↑ "Former Central African Republic ruler Jean-Bedel Bokassa denied today..." UPI Archives (in English). Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  55. ↑ "Jean-Bédel Bokassa (1921–1996)" (in American English). 2010-01-07. Archived from the original on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-15.
  56. ↑ Les diamants de la trahison, Jean-Barthélémy Bokassa, Pharos/Laffont, 2006
  57. ↑ Knappman 1997, p. 438.
  58. 1 2 "Jean-Bedel Bokassa vend son château à des proches du FN". Libération. 22 November 1995. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  59. ↑ "Jean-Bédel Bokassa (president of Central African Republic) – Encyclopædia Britannica". Britannica.com. 27 September 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  60. 1 2 3 "Trying the Butcher of Bangui", Newsweek (29 December 1986): p. 27.
  61. 1 2 3 4 Knappman 1997, p. 439.
  62. ↑ Smith, David (3 December 2010). "'Cannibal' dictator Bokassa given posthumous pardon". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 1 March 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  63. 1 2 Knappman 1997, p. 440.
  64. ↑ Christenson, 1991, p. 37.
  65. ↑ "Built For Designers & Developers". Americancivilrightsreview.com. Archived from the original on 22 April 2009. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  66. 1 2 Orizio, Riccardo (26 September 2002). "Dear Tyrant". Granta. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2019.
  67. 1 2 3 "Ex-President Jean-Bedel Bokassa rehabilitated by CAR". BBC News (in British English). 1 December 2010. Archived from the original on 3 August 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  68. ↑ Lazareva, Inna (25 August 2016). "Nostalgia for a nightmare". The Economist. Archived from the original on 30 September 2023. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  69. ↑ "Summary of World Broadcasts: Far East, Part 3". Monitoring Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. 1978. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  70. ↑ "Friend from central Africa". Taiwan Today. 1970-11-01. Retrieved 23 December 2024.

Sources

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Dem retrieve am from "https://gpe.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jean-Bédel_Bokassa&oldid=80060"