Bokassa's Coup in Central Africa

Date: December 31, 1965 • Location: Rome, Italy

This milestone marked the outbreak and beginning of this historic period, which spanned 1965–1979.

Central African military officers led by Jean-Bédel Bokassa began a coup d'état against the government of President David Dacko.

Jean-Bédel Bokassa was a Central African politician and military officer who served as the second president of the Central African Republic (CAR) and Emperor of the Central African Empire (CAE) as Bokassa I, ruling these two states from 1966 to 1979.