The changing pattern of military takeovers in Sub-Saharan Africa

Armed Forces and Society

Volumn 23, Issue 2, 1996, Pages 235-248

  Gershoni, Yekutiel ^a  

^a TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY   (Israel)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 0030327319     PISSN: 0095327X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0095327X9602300206     Document Type: Article

References (65)

1. "Liberia: Failed Coup," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9557. "Liberia: Rebel Invasion Fails," SWB B.B.C. Monitoring Summary of World Broadcasts 4 (B) Africa (11 January 1990).
2. "Liberia: Failed Coup," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9557. "Liberia: Rebel Invasion Fails," SWB B.B.C. Monitoring Summary of World Broadcasts 4 (B) Africa (11 January 1990).
3. "Charles Taylor: Small Soldier," West Africa, 6-12 August 1990, 2231.
4. "Democracy Not Dictatorship," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9557.
5. Ibid., 9560.
6. Kenneth B. Noble, "Liberia's Government Plans to Hold Peace Talks," New York Times International, 10 June 1990, 16.
7. Elizabeth Levy, "Liberia des larmes, des mots et des armes," Jeune Afrique, 1550, 12-18 September 1990, 28. Le Monde, 2 June 1990, 1. Le Monde, 6 June 1990, 5.
8. Elizabeth Levy, "Liberia des larmes, des mots et des armes," Jeune Afrique, 1550, 12-18 September 1990, 28. Le Monde, 2 June 1990, 1. Le Monde, 6 June 1990, 5.
9. Elizabeth Levy, "Liberia des larmes, des mots et des armes," Jeune Afrique, 1550, 12-18 September 1990, 28. Le Monde, 2 June 1990, 1. Le Monde, 6 June 1990, 5.
10. "NPFL Radio," B.B.C., 4 (B), Africa, 4 August 1990.
11. Weekend News 1, 36 (31 May 1980): 1, 4.
12. Monrovia Home Service, B.B.C., Part 4, Africa, 25 November 1983. Monrovia Home Service, idem 29 November 1983.
13. Monrovia Home Service, B.B.C., Part 4, Africa, 25 November 1983. Monrovia Home Service, idem 29 November 1983.
14. Paris Radio, AFP, 1610, 13 November 1985, Daily Report 5, 220, 14 November 1985.
15. Pat McGowan and Thomas H. Johnson, "African Military Coup d'Etat and Underdevelopment: a Quantitative Historical Analysis," Journal of Modern African Studies 22, 4 (1984): 633. McGowan and Johnson named 56 coups and 65 attempted coups that took place from General Ibrahim Abboud's coup in 1958 up to the end of April 1984, a total of 121. To that number, 6 coups and 16 attempted coups, which took place from 1 March 1984-1987, were added. That brings the total number to 143. Information on the coups and attempted coups was gathered from independent sources such as Africa Research Bulletin, West Africa, and Africa Report.
16. Forrest D. Colburn, The Vogue of Revolution in Poor Countries (Princeton: Princeton University Press. 1994), 42.
17. Eric A. Nordlinger, Soldiers in Politics: Military Coups and Governments (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1977), 100. Colburn, The Vogue of Revolution in Poor Countries, 40.
18. Eric A. Nordlinger, Soldiers in Politics: Military Coups and Governments (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1977), 100. Colburn, The Vogue of Revolution in Poor Countries, 40.
19. Nordlinger, Soldiers in Politics, 99. The following successful coups against civilian regimes between 1980 and 1986 all followed this pattern: Mauritania, 4 January 1980; Liberia, 12 April 1980; Guinea-Bisau, 14 November 1980; Burkina Faso, 25 November 1980; Central African Republic, 1 September 1981; Ghana, 31 December 198 1; Nigeria, 31 December 1983; Guinea, 3 April 1984; Uganda, 27 July 1985; and Lesotho, 19 January 1986.
20. Haggai Erlich, Ethiopia and the Middle East (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1994), 155-56.
21. "Eritrean Victory Claim," Africa Research Bulletin 25, 3 (15 April 1988): 8815.
22. "Counter-Offensive Launched," Africa Research Bulletin 25, 5 (15 June 1988): 8885-86. "Tigre Falls to Rebels," idem 26, 3 (15 April 1989): 9222-23.
23. "Counter-Offensive Launched," Africa Research Bulletin 25, 5 (15 June 1988): 8885-86. "Tigre Falls to Rebels," idem 26, 3 (15 April 1989): 9222-23.
24. "Eritrean Partition Plan," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 1 (15 February 1989): 9147.
25. "Talks Offer to Rebels," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 6 (15 June 1989): 9319-20.
26. "Attempted Coup Foiled," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 5 (15 June 1989): 9287.
27. Idi Amin's regime in Uganda provides the paradigm Samuel Decalo stated that, for Amin, "loyal military commanders were more precious . . . than administrators." During his eight years in power, Amin never controlled the periphery. "The writ of the civil service probably did not extend more than 50 miles from the Kampala-Entebbe corridor." Samuel Decalo, "African Personal Dictatorships," The Journal of Modern African Studies 23, 2 (1985): 228.
28. "OAU Troops Deployed," Africa Research Bulletin 18 , 12 (15 January 1982): 6276. "Problems Multiply as Rebels Gain Ground," idem 19, 1 (February 1982): 6302. "Habre Comes Back," idem 19, 6 (15 July 1982): 6489.
29. "OAU Troops Deployed," Africa Research Bulletin 18 , 12 (15 January 1982): 6276. "Problems Multiply as Rebels Gain Ground," idem 19, 1 (February 1982): 6302. "Habre Comes Back," idem 19, 6 (15 July 1982): 6489.
30. "OAU Troops Deployed," Africa Research Bulletin 18 , 12 (15 January 1982): 6276. "Problems Multiply as Rebels Gain Ground," idem 19, 1 (February 1982): 6302. "Habre Comes Back," idem 19, 6 (15 July 1982): 6489.
31. "Coup Attempt Crushed," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 4 (15 May 1989): 9255.
32. Franziska James, "Habre's Push North," Africa Report 32, 2 (March-April 1987): 42.
33. "Pursuit to Sudan," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 4 (15 May 1989): 9255.
34. "Coup Link?" Africa Research Bulletin 26, 11 (15 December 1989): 9487-88.
35. "Spate of Defections," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 11 (1 December 1989): 9396-97.
36. "Somalia: The End in Sight for Siad," Africa Confidential 30, 18 (8 September 1989): 5-6.
37. J. Gus Liebenow, Liberia: The Quest for Democracy, (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1987), 302-3.
38. The retaliatory actions against the Gio were not confined only to Nimba. Hundreds were killed in Monrovia. The account of casualties during the attempted coup and during retaliatory actions in the capital varied from 600 dead, according to official Liberian sources, to 1,500, according to foreign sources. Monrovia Radio, ELWA, 14 November 1985, FBIS Daily Report 5, 221 (15 November 1985) T3. Libreville, Africa, 1, 15 January 1986; idem 5, 012 (15 January 1986) T6.
39. In November 1986, the U.S.-based Lawyers Committee for Human Rights found evidence that Krahn soldiers had detained, beaten, tortured, and killed members of the Gio and Mano ethnic groups after Quiwonkpa's failed coup attempt. Esther L. Guluma, "The Trouble with Liberia," UFSI Field Staff Reports, Africa/Middle East, 4 (1990-91): 5.
40. Frederick Belle Torimiro, "Chad: The Apparent Permanence of Ethno-Regional Conflict," in Prolonged Wars: A Post - Nuclear Challenge, eds. Karl P. Magyar and Constantine P. Danopoulous (Maxwell Air Force Base: Air University Press, 1994), 169-170.
41. Gordon C. Thomasson, "Liberian Disaster: Made in U.S.A.," New York Times International, 14 July 1990, 21.
42. "Liberia: The Nimba County War," Africa Confidential 31, 8 (20 April 1990): 5.
43. "Federal Solution?" Africa Research Bulletin 26, 3 (15 April 1989): 9223. "Government Under Pressure," idem 26, 6 (15 June 1989): 9320.
44. "Federal Solution?" Africa Research Bulletin 26, 3 (15 April 1989): 9223. "Government Under Pressure," idem 26, 6 (15 June 1989): 9320.
45. "Rebel Groups Co-operating," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 2 (15 March 1989): 9190-91.
46. "Talks Offer to Rebels," Africa Research Bulletin 26, 6 (15 June 1989): 9319-20.
47. Richard Greenfield, "Barre's Unholy Alliances," Africa Report 34, 2 (March-April 1989): 66.
48. Ibid., 67.
49. "Liberia," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 5 (15 June 1990): 9697-98.
50. "President Visits Togo Nigeria," B.B.C., 5 4 (B) Africa, 9 May 1990. "Liberia: Arms Deal with Nigeria Denied," idem, 10 May 1990.
51. "President Visits Togo Nigeria," B.B.C., 5 4 (B) Africa, 9 May 1990. "Liberia: Arms Deal with Nigeria Denied," idem, 10 May 1990.
52. "Doe Prepared to Resign," B.B.C., 4 (B) Africa, 12 July 1990.
53. "Liberia," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9559. "Liberia Training in Libya," B.B.C., 4 (B) Africa, 12 January 1990. "Radio ELWA," idem, 11 May 1990.
54. "Liberia," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9559. "Liberia Training in Libya," B.B.C., 4 (B) Africa, 12 January 1990. "Radio ELWA," idem, 11 May 1990.
55. "Liberia," Africa Research Bulletin 27, 1 (15 February 1990): 9559. "Liberia Training in Libya," B.B.C., 4 (B) Africa, 12 January 1990. "Radio ELWA," idem, 11 May 1990.
56. "Border Towns Invaded," Africa Research Bulletin 28, 4 (1-30 April 1991): 10072. "Fighting for Diamonds," West Africa (24-30 June 1991): 1034.
57. "Border Towns Invaded," Africa Research Bulletin 28, 4 (1-30 April 1991): 10072. "Fighting for Diamonds," West Africa (24-30 June 1991): 1034.
58. Foreign military intervention was also present in the Rwandan conflict. France, the only western power that continued to be actively involved in African affairs after the withdrawal of the superpowers, became the main supporter of the Rwandan government from 1990, when Belgium cut off all military aid. In February 1993, French troops temporarily stopped the advance of the FPR which had come as close as 30 km from the capital, Kigali. "Rwanda: Easy Arms," Africa Research Bulletin 31, 6 (25 July 1994): 11482. "France in Africa," idem: 11484. "Rwanda: FPR Victory," idem, 7 (21 August 1994): 11497.
59. Foreign military intervention was also present in the Rwandan conflict. France, the only western power that continued to be actively involved in African affairs after the withdrawal of the superpowers, became the main supporter of the Rwandan government from 1990, when Belgium cut off all military aid. In February 1993, French troops temporarily stopped the advance of the FPR which had come as close as 30 km from the capital, Kigali. "Rwanda: Easy Arms," Africa Research Bulletin 31, 6 (25 July 1994): 11482. "France in Africa," idem: 11484. "Rwanda: FPR Victory," idem, 7 (21 August 1994): 11497.
60. Foreign military intervention was also present in the Rwandan conflict. France, the only western power that continued to be actively involved in African affairs after the withdrawal of the superpowers, became the main supporter of the Rwandan government from 1990, when Belgium cut off all military aid. In February 1993, French troops temporarily stopped the advance of the FPR which had come as close as 30 km from the capital, Kigali. "Rwanda: Easy Arms," Africa Research Bulletin 31, 6 (25 July 1994): 11482. "France in Africa," idem: 11484. "Rwanda: FPR Victory," idem, 7 (21 August 1994): 11497.
61. The five successful coups in the period 1988-1995 were carried out in the Comoros, 26 November 1989; Mali, 26 March 1991; Sierra Leone, 29 April 1992; Gambia, 23 July 1994; and Sao Tome E Principe, 15 August 1995. Information on the coups and attempted coups was gathered from independent sources such as Africa Research Bulletin, West Africa, and Africa Report.
62. "Sierra Leone: Junior Officers Jump the Gun," Africa Confidential 33, 9 (8 May 1992): 3. "Gambia: Soldiers Seize Power," Africa Research Bulletin 31, 7 (21 August 1994): 11518.
63. "Sierra Leone: Junior Officers Jump the Gun," Africa Confidential 33, 9 (8 May 1992): 3. "Gambia: Soldiers Seize Power," Africa Research Bulletin 31, 7 (21 August 1994): 11518.
64. Ibid.
65. Associated Press, 27 January 1996, "Military Coup in Niger," Alpha Koroma, Liberian Studies Association-List.