Coup d'état in Central African Republic

Date: December 31, 1965 • Location: Ippy, Central African Republic

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

Jean-Bédel Bokassa, leader of the Central African Republic army, and his military officers begin 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.