| 1978 Comorian coup d'état | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
.svg){kind=small} State of the Comoros | Bob Denard's mercenaries | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Ali Soilih M'Tshashiwa |
Bob Denard Said Attoumani | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 50 mercenaries | |||||||
The 1978 Comorian coup d'état resulted in the successful overthrow of the 3rd President of the Comoros, Ali Soilih M'Tshashiwa, on May 13, 1978. Led by French mercenary Bob Denard and Comorian politician Said Attoumani, the coup was financed by former president Ahmed Abdallah and former vice president Mohamed Ahmed. Following the successful coup attempt, Ahmed Abdallah and Mohamed Ahmed installed themselves as joint presidents. Soon after however, Ahmed Abdallah was named as the sole executive.
Background
Main article: State of the ComorosInstalled as a populist leader following the ousting of founding president Ahmed Abdallah, Ali Soilih soon alienated the predominantly Muslim population of the country with his radical policies which limited individual freedoms, discouraged religion, and promoted a revolutionary culture. Restrictions under his regime included bans on religious practices and traditional ceremonies, aiming to establish a secular state in line with Maoist principles. As a symbolic gesture of breaking away from the past, President Soilih ordered the destruction of government archives.
President Soilih's policies, combined with the withdrawal of French aid and its civil servants from the country, exacerbated an already dire economic situation characterized by high unemployment and declining living standards.
Coup attempt
From May 12 to May 13, 1978, a group of foreign mercenaries led by Bob Denard staged a coup d'état which resulted in the ousting of President Soilih and the deaths of five people. In the aftermath, a provisional government was formed under the leadership of Said Attoumani, a minister of the Abdallah administration who helped lead the coup. The new government claimed to restore rights previously denied during the Soilih regime, including freedom of religion, the right to hold traditional wedding ceremonies, and the right to freely use personal property.
Aftermath
Following a few days of rule by the provisional government, former president Ahmed Abdallah and former vice president Mohamed Ahmed, both financiers of the coup attempt, returned to Moroni from their three-year exile in Paris and installed themselves as joint presidents, proclaiming the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros on May 24. Soon after however, Abdallah was named as the sole executive.
On May 29, Ali Soilih was shot and killed while reportedly attempting to escape from house arrest. The government claimed that he was fatally wounded while trying to flee with "outside elements".
References
- ^ "The Comorian comitragedy: Final curtain on Abdallahism?". African Journals. 20 (3).
- ^ "REGIME IN COMOROS OUSTED BY MILITARY". New York Times.
- ^ "58. Comoros (1975-present)". uca.edu. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Comoros - The Abdallah Regime". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ^ "Ex‐Comoros Island Chief Reported Shot to Death While Trying to Escape". New York Times.