Maurice Kouandété
Iropa Maurice Kouandété | |
---|---|
Alphonse Amadou Alley | |
Personal details | |
Born | Gaba District, Dahomey | 22 September 1932
Died | 7 April 2003 Natitingou | (aged 70)
Occupation | Military officer |
Signature | |
Iropa Maurice Kouandété (22 September 1932 – 7 April 2003) was a
On 17 December 1967 Kouandété led a military coup and toppled President
Early life and military career
Kouandété was born in the
Kouandété's rose to power during a period of intense regionalism in Dahomey. They were spurred by the historical resentment shared by members of the former kingdoms of
Despite Kouandété's disdain for him, Soglo appointed the former to his palace guard in 1965. He was removed the next year after the president asserted Kouandété falsified reports in opposition to Soglo. Kouandété was appointed Alley's chef de cabinet in 1967[4] and his frequent opposition toward Alley during staff meetings helped to create factions in the Dahomeyan Army.[2] In April, Kouandété became the vice president of the Comité Militaire de Vigilance, which was established to manage the Soglo administration. Beside his usual contempt, Kouandété became increasingly concerned about the president's "unmilitary" ways.[4]
1967 coup d'état
On 17 December 1967, Kouandété, Kerekou, and 60 other soldiers led a military coup and toppled Soglo. Kouandété seized power although he was unsure of how to wield it. Even though he was not popular among the general public, members of Kouandété's faction urged him to remain at his post. Meanwhile, France refused to provide aid to Dahomey and did not recognise Kouandété as legitimate.[8] Two days later, in an attempt to fix the crisis in Dahomey, Kouandété appointed the well-liked Alley provisional president, whom Kouandété previously put under house arrest.[9] Kouandété served as prime minister thereafter.[8]
Their roles were only temporary, as power was to be ceded back to civilians in six months' time.
1969 coup d'état
In 1969, Kouandété discovered that Zinsou planned to replace him and cut the size of the armed forces. On 10 December 1969 Zinsou was overthrown by Kouandété. Zinsou was met with soldiers firing automatic guns when he arrived at his presidential palace. The former president escaped with an injury, though two of his bodyguards were murdered.[16] Kouandété justified the coup by saying that Zinsou failed to reconcile the country.[17]
The military, however, did not recognize Kouandété.
1972 coup attempt
Kouandété attempted to usurp to power again at dawn on 23 February. When he first heard of the mutiny, Ahomadégbé-Tomêtin believed it to be an attempt by Maga to retain power.[24] Leading the Ouidah garrison, Kouandété also attempted to take over government buildings and murder de Souza. During the operation, assailant Major Moumouni was mortally wounded by de Souza's bullets. The plot was foiled, although Maga cancelled a visit to France to attend to the matter at hand.[25] A 12-member military commission soon discovered another plot that would have been undertaken simultaneous to Kouandété's.[24] According to its findings, Captains Glélé and Pierre Boni were going to follow Kouandété until de Souza was assassinated, and would then kill their leader and insert Zinsou back into power.[26]
The organization of a military trial was slow, and it did not begin until 12 May. The court tried 21 men in addition to Kouandété,[note 1][27] mostly military officers but also several commoners and Maga bodyguards.[28] The punishments were announced on 16 May. Kouandété received the death penalty, as did Captains Josué and Glélé, Quartermaster Sergeant Agboton, and a corporal and a sergeant in absentia. Lesser sentences were handed to five men who were given life imprisonment, two who would serve 20 years in prison, another with 15 years, two with ten, and two with five. An additional four were acquitted.[27] The sentences were never carried out; the jurors believed that Kouandété would seize power in another coup.[29] He was immediately pardoned when Major Mathieu Kérékou seized power on 26 October 1972.[30]
Later life and death
After his pardon Kouandété retired from military life.[23] The former president died on 7 April 2003 in Natitingou. He was 70 years old and had been suffering an undisclosed illness. The Beninese government decreed three national days of mourning from 10 to 13 April. During this period, flags remained at half-staff until his national funeral was held on the last day of mourning. According to a government press release, the mourning was held "in recognition of exceptional services" that Kouandété provided Benin.[31]
Notes
- ^ The true number of accused men was not known until the trial convened.
References
- ^ a b Hoagland, Jim (29 March 1970), "Dahomey's Political Farce Could Become Tragedy", The Washington Post, p. 31, retrieved 2008-12-29
- ^ a b Decalo 1973, p. 462.
- ^ Ihonvbere & Mbaku 2003, p. 146.
- ^ a b c d Decalo 1976, p. 79.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 453.
- ^ Dossou-Yovo 1999, p. 60.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 471.
- ^ a b Decalo 1973, p. 464.
- ^ Decalo 1976, p. 13.
- ^ "Results of Election In Dahomey Voided By Military Regime" (PDF), The New York Times, p. 17, 13 May 1968, retrieved 2008-12-13.
- ^ a b Decalo 1973, p. 465.
- ^ Ronen 1975, p. 206.
- ^ Ronen 1975, p. 207.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 466.
- ^ Ronen 1975, p. 213.
- ^ "A Job with Little Future". Time. Time Inc. 19 December 1969. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
- ^ "Army Leaders in Dahomey Oust the President and Take Power" (PDF), The New York Times, Reuters, p. 2, 11 December 1969, retrieved 2008-12-22.
- ^ Kneib 2007, p. 21.
- ^ Hudgens, Trillo & Calonnec 2003, p. 893.
- ^ Decalo 1976, p. 86.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (27 March 1970), "Slayings Reported and Regional Tension Rises as Dahomey Votes for President" (PDF), The New York Times, p. 6, retrieved 2008-12-14.
- ^ Kpatindé, Francis (25 March 2002), "Justin Tomêtin Ahomadégbé Éphémère chef de l'État", Jeune Afrique (in French), Groupe Jeune Afrique, retrieved 2008-11-14.
- ^ a b Decalo 1976, p. 80.
- ^ a b Decalo 1973, p. 473.
- ^ Agence France-Presse (24 February 1972), "Dahomean Sergeant Slain In Attack on Chief of Staff" (PDF), The New York Times, p. 9, retrieved 2008-12-16.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 474.
- ^ a b Ronen 1972, p. 227 .
- ^ Decalo 1973, pp. 473–474.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 475.
- ^ Decalo 1973, p. 477.
- Panapress(in Portuguese), 10 April 2003, retrieved 2008-12-22
Bibliography
- Decalo, Samuel (April 1973), "Regionalism, Politics, and the Military in Dahomey", The Journal of Developing Areas, 7 (3), College of Business, Tennessee State University: 449–478, JSTOR 4190033(subscription required).
- Decalo, Samuel (1976), Historical Dictionary of Dahomey (People's Republic of Benin), OCLC 1959674.
- OCLC 211426384.
- Hudgens, Jim; Trillo, Richard; Calonnec, Nathalie (2003), The Rough Guide to West Africa, London: OCLC 176832097.
- Ihonvbere, Julius Omozuanvbo; Mbaku, John Mukum (2003), Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences, OCLC 60127996.
- Kneib, Martha (2007), Benin, Cultures of the World, OCLC 62109915.
- Ronen, Dov (1975), Dahomey: Between Tradition and Modernity, OCLC 1527290.