7-639: Coup succeeds. Operation Barracuda was a military operation by France during 1979-1981, to return to power the former President of the Central African Republic, David Dacko. It followed up Operation Caban of 21 September 1979, a bloodless military operation in which Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire was overthrown by French paratrooper troupes . Barracuda was led by French Colonel Bernard Degenne, based in N'Djamena (the capital of Chad ), who gave
14-689: The Emperor's car. In April 1979, Bokassa called in the Central African Armed Forces to put down the agitation and arrest the teenage students. In the following two days, about 100 children were brutally killed and the incident became known as the "children's massacre at Bangui." A panel of judges convened and proposed to arrest and try Bokassa for the massacre. Bokassa then fled to Libya, seeking Muammar Gaddafi 's assistance. The French reacted and soon launched Operation Barracuda to overthrow Bokassa and install David Dacko , who
21-512: The code name Barracuda to four Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopters and four Transall C-160 transport aircraft, which carried elements of the 8th Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment to the Central African capital of Bangui . At noon, a company of the 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment from Libreville (the capital of Gabon ), was also transported to Bangui. Until November 1979, Barracuda aimed to protect French citizens in
28-550: The country and the Dacko government, in addition to supporting the Central African Armed Forces (FACA) in maintaining order. Afterwards, it aimed to rebuild and instruct FACA to ensure the stability of the country. Barracuda ended in June 1981 and was replaced by the "French Elements of Operational Assistance" which remained in the Central African Republic until 1998. Operation Caban Coup attempt succeeds. Operation Caban
35-604: Was a bloodless military operation by France in September 1979 to depose Emperor Bokassa I , reinstate the exiled former president David Dacko , and rename the Central African Empire back to Central African Republic . By January 1979, Emperor Bokassa had become a widely resented autocrat. His fall was precipitated by a decree that all high school students must buy uniforms from a business owned by one of his wives. This led to protests by students in Bangui and rocks thrown at
42-418: Was commuted to life in prison a year later. As one of his last acts in office in 1993, President André Kolingba granted a general amnesty for all prisoners, including Bokassa, who died three years later. The coup was known as Operation Caban, while the movement of four French paratrooper troupes de marine and four helicopters was Operation Barracuda . The coup was completed on 21 September 1979 in just
49-686: Was then in exile in Europe. French troops arrived from Gabon and Chad , and the coup was successful, restoring Dacko to the presidency after a 13-year absence, and restoring the Central African Republic (CAR). Bokassa, who was overthrown by the French, was given refuge in France. Bokassa eventually returned to the CAR in 1987, where he was immediately arrested and sentenced to death, which
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