Coups detat in africa, 19462004 country month day year success leaders deaths mauritania 6 8 2003 2 maj. Unfortunately the military struck in january 16 1966 and ruled the country for over 30 years. Also, 3 soldiers were kidnapped in the course of the coup. Military had emphasized on the need for a reorientation of the people for the pursuit of positive values which are aimed at producing a decent, humane, disciplined and selfreliant nation. Buhari justified his coup and subsequent actions by citing the troubles of the second republic and the declining economy. The person in power at that time was president nnamdi azikiwe, while. A military coup is the violent or nonviolent overthrow of an existing political regime by the military. Taking stock of good coups in africa the washington post.
Nigerian army, economic development, civil war introduction in 1960 when nigeria attained political independence. Apr 11, 2008 the june 12 crisis radically changed the nigerian populaces relationship with the military and a military coup in modern nigeria would be met with massive civil opposition and sanctions from the international community. Its southern coast is on the gulf of guinea in the atlantic ocean. The final step determined the future path of nigeria and its army after the birth of nigeria s third republic. Military coup news latest breaking stories and top. April 1990 coup detat speech on nigerias social and. Understanding the root causes of military coups and. Nigeria s military is the largest in west africa, but is significantly less capable than its size and equipment inventory would indicate. The world factbook countrylocation locator map modal. The role of the military 76 he states further, that the characteristics of military law includes the following. In years past, groups achieved power through military coups. Rumours of coups have followed the buhari administration since he was sworn in on 29 may 2015.
When the wai was extended to journalists and others not responsible for the social. Introduction the military is a peculiar organization in several respects. From the time of the egyptian revolution in 1950s, africa has experienced over ninety military coups, though a number of them have been unsuccessful. In fact, competing factions of the nigerian military have ruled the country for most of its postindependence history. Between 1966 and 1999 the army held power in nigeria without interruption apart from a shortlived return to democracy between 19791983. Apr 17, 2012 a tolerance of military coups today, ghanaian writer elizabeth ohene tackles the issue of military coups for the bbc and says ecowas, a west african regional group that works toward civility.
To commemorate this anniversary i have reproduced the full text of the famous radio broadcast made by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing the coup in nigerias northern region. It would take civilian misrule of cataclysmic proportions for nigerians to tolerate military rule ever again. T he inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966, this will forever be remembered in nigeria because it was the first time that the nigerian military ever thought of taking power which led to a series of dark moments in the countrys history.
However the actions and motivation of the principal actors has been the subject of misintepretation over the years. Why nigeria has not experienced military coup since 1999. Footage of generals gowon, muhammed, and obasanjo, and coverage of. Apr 27, 20 one enduring myth is that nigerias first military coup was carried out by five igbo majors. Johnson theaugust i 983 overthrow of major jeanbaptiste ouedraogo by captain thomas sankara in upper volta now burkina faso, the new years eve abrupt termination in nigeria of black africas largest. Today is january 15 2009, the 43rd anniversary of nigerias first military coup on january 15, 1966. Home master of military art and science theses impact of military coups detat on west africas socioeconomic and political development. Some of the victims of the first military coup in nigeria are maj. The six year mistakes of the first republic politicians invited the military to interfere in governance after more than a total of six decades of colonial misrule rodney, 1974. Africa nigeria the world factbook central intelligence.
Prevention in war time, acts or omissions, capable of. Mar 12, 20 a video profiling nigeria s history of coups and military governments between 1966 and 1983. Dec 07, 2006 the men were unaware that the military exercise they were participating in was actually a practice run for a military coup to overthrow the government. In order to have a serious and professional military organization worth its salt, three basic criteria must be met. Military coups in africathe african neocolonialism. Sep 27, 2010 by the end of 1983, the civilian government in nigeria was overthrown by a military coup led by majorgeneral muhammadu buhari. A tolerance of military coups today, ghanaian writer elizabeth ohene tackles the issue of military coups for the bbc and says ecowas, a west african regional group that works toward civility. Unlike other political leaders, leaders coming to power through military coups face. Nigeria became an independent country in october 1 st 1960 after about a century occupation by the british colonial masters. Master of military art and science theses add or remove collections home master of military art and science theses impact of military coups detat on west africas socioeconomic and political development. The inside story of nigerias first military coup 2. Power seized in armed coup jump to media player by the end of 1983, the civilian government in nigeria was overthrown by a military coup led by majorgeneral muhammadu buhari.
Not many realize that several officers of northern origin took part in nigerias first military coup. Militancy flourishes in nigeria because political advancement requires it. To commemorate this anniversary i have reproduced the full text of the famous radio broadcast made by major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu announcing the coup in nigeria s northern region. West africa with its 16 countries is the cradle of military coups and. The importance of this essay lies in the fact that in spite of the arrogance, fraudulence and recklessness of the obasanjo government, there was not a successful military coup even though since its early years of its postindependence period nigeria has been a coupprone country, and these coups come at the slightest provocation. But with nigeria becoming a republic in 1963, the nigerian military forces were renamed, and thereafter designated nigerian military forces. The nigeria military then was still largely under the control and influence of the queen of england. Pdf the paper traces the evolution of the influence of the military governance in nigeria on. The 1966 nigerian countercoup, or the socalled july rematch, was the second of many military coups in nigeria. Anniversary of nigerias first military coup nigerian. It attempts a brief analysis of different coups that took place in the country. The coup was carried out by young officers in the nigerian army, and it was also a boldly one, making it the first bloody coup in the history of the country. Ltcol anthony nyiam retd is one of the few surviving men, who staged a coup against the regime of former military president, gen. Harold mcmillan, a british prime minister later called.
Never before in the history of nigeria had anyone thought of a coup. The regime declared a war against indiscipline wai, which resulted in the arrest, detention, and jailing of a number of politicians. The second step examined the effect of military governance on education, the economy, and foreign policy. How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria. The coup plotters attacked ibadan, lagos and kaduna within a period of 2 days. Since then, military rule has been a recurring phenomenon in nigeria. He also urged countries with similar experiences to find an effective and relatively painless way of curbing the incidence of coups and corruption by the military. Nigerian military juntas of 196679 and 198399 wikipedia. Nigeria has therefore been governed for a longer period over thirty years of her independence by the military. Oct 01, 2016 how 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria tanko yakassai on october 1, 2016 10. A complete overhaul is needed, including accountability for human rights abuses, if nigerians are not to be left at the mercy of boko haram and other armed groups. Federal republic of nigeria makes up nearly half with a population of 120 million. The federation comprises 36 states and 1 federal capital territory, where the capital, abuja, is located. There have been a large number of successful and failed military coups in nigeria since the countrys independence from the british empire in 1960.
By the end of 1983, the civilian government in nigeria was overthrown by a military coup led by majorgeneral muhammadu buhari. Prior to the first military coup in nigeria, on august 1965 a group of army majors which includes patrick chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu ring leader, igbo, emmanuel ifeajuna a high jumper and a principal role player in the coup, igbo, timothy onwuatuegwu. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966, this will forever be remembered in nigeria because it was the first time that the nigerian military ever thought of taking power which led to a series of dark moments in the countrys history never before in the history of nigeria had anyone thought of a coup. Be that as it may, that first military coup in nigeria laid the infamous foundation for coups and counter coups in nigeria, a situation that seems to have been laid to rest since 1999. In the aftermath of the intervention by the military in zimbabwe that led to yesterdays resignation of president robert mugabe, there was a strong call from zimbabweans for the african union au and the southern african development community sadc to not get involved.
The first major speculation of a coup plot against buhari was when niger delta militants alleged on 23 june 2016 that they had been approached by some military officers to. Expert analysis of violent instability and nigerian elections overview elections in nigeria scheduled for january 2011 may well be the first in the countrys history featuring a genuine political contest between the predominantly christian south and the muslim north. The impact of military coup detat on political development. The coup was the fifth after independence in 1960, with troops.
It wasnt a propitious start the election was marked by boycotts, malpractice and violence. Pdf military intervention in the nigerian politics and its impact on. Nigeria civil war, extraction of moise tschombe, congo. The african unions chequered history with military coups. Colonel murtala muhammed and many northern military officers.
A video profiling nigerias history of coups and military governments between 1966 and 1983. Nigeria the 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government. Nigerias military is the largest in west africa, but is significantly less capable than its size and equipment inventory would indicate. With military or civilmilitary regimes becoming increasingly the norm in africa, asia, latin america and the middle east, from around the mid 1970s students of the military began to shift the focus of their enquiry from explaining coups to a second enterprise, that of. The conclusion recommended an increase in militarytomilitary contact with nigeria to. Military governments and economic development sheffield hallam. Pdf explaining african military coups detat, 19601982. Tracing the development of a single african army coup detat does, i believe. Jan 15, 2009 today is january 15 2009, the 43rd anniversary of nigeria s first military coup on january 15, 1966. This number is not inclusive of the numerous occurrences where individual administration leaders were removed by force without a change in regime. Worldwide, military coups frequently usher in competitive elections that can lead to democratic transitions. Major general johnson aguiyiironsi was made the head of the federal military government of nigeria, but was soon overthrown and murdered in a coup in july of the same year aguiyiironsi was succeeded by general yakubu gowon, who established a supreme. Abogo largema kanuri, prime minister abubakar balewa bageri, premier ahmadu bello fulani, premier samuel akintola yoruba, finance minister festus okotieeboh itsekiri, brig.
Salah ould henena, abderrahmane ould mini, mohammed ould cheikhna, mohammed ould salek 15 mauritania 8 10 2004 3 knights of change 0 mauritania 8 3 2005 1 col. The source of this myth is the we were five in number comment, which the coups most visible, participant. A history of coups majorgeneral babangida ruled nigeria from 1985 to 1993 the first nigerian national election took place in 1964, four years after the country gained independence from britain. It was major chukwuma nzeogwu that officially announced the successful coup on radio nigeria in kaduna. Coast, much of the surplus is absorbed by a combine of foreign. Decades of military coups in postcolonial nigeria instilled a fundamental mistrust between the central state and the security services, even after 1999, when a civilian, democratic government took over. It was a bloody military intervention in the political history of nigeria. This post is about the first ever military coup in nigeria. The inside story of nigerias first military coup part 1. The first military coup in nigeria was said to be not entirely successful. Military coup rumours persist in nigeria menas associates. Nigerias undersized, undertrained military under fire. An incomplete coup is one in which the intended objectives are not fully accomplished in one fell swoop.
The evolution of the nigerian military followed very closely, the political history of the country. The first military coup in nigeria took place on january 15, 1966. Current and future trends in africa military coups in africathe african neocolonialism that is selfinflicted the wind of change, as mr. Nigeria s first military junta began following the 1966 nigerian coup detat which overthrew prime minister alhaji sir abubakar tafawa balewa. It must be properly trained, appropriately equipped, and populated by quality. Footage of generals gowon, muhammed, and obasanjo, and coverage of the 1983 coup that overthrew. The 1966 coups, civil war, and gowons government nigeria table of contents by the time a disparate group of junior officers struck first in january 1966, the officers were still politically naive and had yet to master the art of coup planning and execution.
In the quest for power and control of the nigerian state, there arose a group of young soldiers in the nigerian army who were not satisfied about how the affairs of the country was run and sought to correct the system. The coup was led by major chukwuma nzeogwu and other majors in the army. We begin by replicating a wellknown model jackman, 1978 that purports to identify. One can only hope the last has been heard of a military coup in nigeria. Read all the latest news, breaking stories, top headlines, opinion, pictures and videos about military coup from nigeria and the world on today.
Military and politics in nigeria the group of army officers involved in the military take over of janua ry 15, 1966, consisted of mostly southeastern igbo officers including major chukuma kaduna. Criminalization of acts or omissions which ordinarily in civil life would at worst amount to near breaches of contract or moral obligation, b. The coup began as a mutiny at roughly midnight on july 28, 1966 and was a reaction to the killings of northern politicians and officers by mostly igbo soldiers on january 15, 1966 see 1966. The events of january 15, 1966 was the first time ever that. Impact of military coups detat on west africas socio. To link to this object, paste this link in email, im or document. How 1966, 1975 and 1983 military coups destroyed nigeria tanko yakassai on october 1, 2016 10. Major chukwuma kaduna nzeogwu, made in an interview with dennis ejindu africa and the world may 1967 after the coup. Fellow nigerian citizens, on behalf of the patriotic and wellmeaning peoples of the middle belt and the southern parts of this country, i, major gideon orkar, wish to happily inform you of the successful ousting of the dictatorial, corrupt, drug baronish, evil man, deceitful, homosexuallycentered, prodigalistic, unpatriotic administration of general ibrahim. Military and civilian regimes in subsaharan africa lsu digital. The june 12 crisis radically changed the nigerian populaces relationship with the military and a military coup in modern nigeria would be met with massive civil opposition and sanctions from the international community. The igbo coup tag attached to the majors assault ignores the fact that scores of northern officers took part in the lagos operations, and even assisted nzeogwu when he stormed the residence of the northern regions premier.
Top 8 facts about the first military coup in nigeria. The first major speculation of a coup plot against buhari was when niger delta militants alleged on 23 june 2016 that they had been approached by some military officers to destroy oil assets to provide cover for a coup. One enduring myth is that nigerias first military coup was carried out by five igbo majors. Jul 14, 2014 militancy flourishes in nigeria because political advancement requires it. Successful military coups in subsaharan african states. We all know that nigerias first military coup took place on january 15 1966.
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