1986 Togolese coup attempt

The 1986 Togolese coup d'état attempt was a coup attempt that occurred in the West African country of Togo on 23 September 1986.[1][2][3][4] The coup attempt consisted of a group of some 70 armed dissidents crossed into capital Lomé from Ghana in an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the government of President General Gnassingbé Eyadéma.[1]

1986 Togolese coup d'état attempt
Date23 September 1986
Location
Lomé, Togo
6°7′55″N 1°13′22″E
Result

Coup attempt fails.

Belligerents
Armed dissidents
Supported by:
Ghana		 Government
Supported by:
France
Commanders and leaders
Gnassingbé Eyadéma
Strength
70
Casualties and losses
7 killed, 19 captured
13–14 people killed.
1986 Togolese coup attempt is located in Togo
1986 Togolese coup attempt
Nexus of coup attempt in Lomé (marked green), Togo

The coup attempt

According to radio reports, at about 20:00 UTC, the rebels entered Lomé (located on the border with Ghana) in about 30–40 trucks. They headed straight for a military camp in where Eyadéma resided, and opened fire with automatic weapons and rocket launchers.[4]

The rebels also attacked the radio station and the governing RPT party headquarters.[4]

A radio report said the rebel attack was repulsed by a counterattack led by Eyadema himself.[4] The crushing of the coup attempt involved Togolese Armed Forces troops and warplanes.[3] At least 14[4] or 13[3] people were killed in an all-night street battle, and 19 of the rebels were captured. 6 civilians also were killed, state-run radio reported.[3]

The West German Foreign Ministry officials said in Bonn that their citizen, a businessman, was killed in the fighting. They described the battle as an apparent bid to topple the government.[4][3]

Aftermath

The Ghana–Togo border was closed. People were ordered off the streets, and an indefinite curfew was imposed on Lomé.[4]

Following the requested of Eyadéma for military help of France, the French Defence Ministry said on 26 September that it was sending warplanes and troops to Togo. The ministry said the troops were being sent in line with a 1963 agreement with Togo.[2]

Eyadéma was re-elected unopposed at the 21 December 1986 presidential election,[5] and continued to rule the country until his death on 5 February 2005.[6][7][8][9]

References

Notes
  1. "Coups in Togo". globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  2. "FRANCE SENDING FORCES TO TOGO IN WAKE OF ATTACK". The New York Times. September 26, 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  3. "Togo Officials Report Crushing Well-Armed Coup Attempt; 13 Die". The Los Angeles Times. September 25, 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  4. "Curfew in Togolese capital following coup attempt". UPI Archives. September 24, 1986. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  5. Elections in Togo African Elections Database
  6. "Gnassingbé Eyadéma, 69, Togo Ruler, Dies". The New York Times. February 7, 2005. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  7. "Togolese president Eyadema dies". BBC. February 6, 2005. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  8. Wurster 2005, p. 1566.
  9. Kuranga 2012, p. 74.

Bibliography
  • Kuranga, David Oladipupo (2012). The Power of Interdependence: Lessons from Africa. Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-01993-6.
  • Wurster, Patrick F.A. (2005). "Togo: Eyadema, Gnassingbe, Life and Era of President of Togo". In Kevin Shillington (ed.). Encyclopedia of African History. Taylor & Francis Group. pp. 1566–1568. ISBN 1135456704.
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