David Dacko

Who is David Dacko?

David Dacko was born in Bouchia, a nephew of Barthélemy Boganda and a fellow member of the MESAN political movement. Following Boganda's death in 1959, Dacko rose to leadership of the party and became the first President of the newly independent Central African Republic when it achieved full independence from France in August 1960. His early presidency established the country's first institutions but became increasingly authoritarian as he banned rival parties and concentrated power within MESAN. In January 1966 he was overthrown in a coup led by his army chief of staff and relative, Jean-Bédel Bokassa. Dacko lived largely out of the political spotlight during Bokassa's rule until France's 1979 intervention, "Operation Barracuda," removed the self-proclaimed emperor and restored Dacko to the presidency. He governed again until 1981, when he was displaced following a coup led by General André Kolingba amid economic difficulty and political unrest. Dacko later remained a recognized elder statesman in Central African politics until his death in 2003, remembered as the country's founding post-independence president.

Sources: Pierre Kalck, Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic · Thomas O'Toole, The Central African Republic: The Continent's Hidden Heart (1986) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, "David Dacko"