“I tried to warn you — but now it”
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Jean-Bedel Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa was a Central African politician and military officer who served as the second president of the Central African Republic (CAR), after seizing power in the Saint-Sylvestre coup d'état on 1 January 1966. He later established the Central African Empire (CAE) with himself as emperor, reigning as Bokassa I until his overthrow in a 1979 coup.
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politics · Leader of Central Africa from 1966 to 1979 · politician · military officer · criminal · sovereign · also Jean-Bedel Bokassa, Jean-Bédel Bokassa, Bokassa I of Central Africa, Salah Eddine Ahmed Bokassa, Bokassa
Born 22 February 1921 · Died 3 November 1996 · Q162708
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2026· 2 entries
Public attention spiked: 2,655 Wikipedia readers in one day, 4.7× the usual 568, with 0 article edits.
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2022· 1 entry
Le Figaro: Jean-Bedel Bokassa
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2010· 3 entries
RTL: Centrafrique: Jean-Bedel Bokassa officiellement réhabilité
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President François Bozizé issued a decree rehabilitating Bokassa and calling him "a son of the nation recognised by all as a great builder"
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Leading to an upsurge in his popularity, despite his well-known crimes and extravagances
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1996· 3 entries
Died 1996-11-03.
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“Opis: komentarz lewicowego tygodnika „Jeune Afrique” („Młoda Afryka”).”
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As his health declined, he proclaimed himself the Thirteenth Apostle and claimed to have secret meetings with Pope John Paul II
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1993· 1 entry
Kolingba declared a general amnesty for all prisoners as one of his final acts as president, and Bokassa was released on 1 August 1993
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1987· 1 entry
The jury did not decide on the charges of cannibalism because of a general amnesty, but found him guilty of the murder of schoolchildren and other crimes
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1986· 1 entry
And was put on trial for treason and murder
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1981· 1 entry
President Kolingba had declared an amnesty for all misdemeanours committed before the start of his rule
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1976· 1 entry
Career landmark: Emperor of Central Africa (1976–1979).
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1975· 1 entry
French President Valéry Giscard d'Estaing declared himself a "friend and family member" of Bokassa
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1971· 1 entry
Bokassa promoted himself to full general, and on 4 March 1972 declared himself president for life
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1966· 1 entry
Career landmark: President of the Central African Republic (1966–1976).
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1959· 1 entry
After a twenty-year absence he was posted back to his homeland in Bangui
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1958· 1 entry
And then an independent nation as the Central African Republic (CAR) on 13 August 1960
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1956· 1 entry
Was promoted to second lieutenant, and two years later to lieutenant
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1939· 1 entry
Bokassa took the advice offered to him by his grandfather, M'Balanga, and Father Grüner, by joining the Troupes coloniales (French colonial troops) as a tirailleur on 19 May 1939
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1921· 1 entry
Born 1921-02-22.
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