28 Facts About Alexandre Banza

Lieutenant Colonel Alexandre Banza was a military officer and politician in the Central African Republic.

Bokassa rewarded Alexandre Banza by appointing him as minister of state and minister of finance in the new government.

Alexandre Banza quickly established the new regime's reputation abroad and forged diplomatic relations with other countries.

Alexandre Banza confided in a few military officers, who he hoped would support his attempt to gain power.

Hours before he was going to execute his bid for power, Alexandre Banza was ambushed by Mandaba and taken directly to Bokassa.

Alexandre Banza was reportedly taken to an open field, where he was executed and buried in an unmarked grave.

Alternate circumstances of Alexandre Banza's death have been reported in Time and Le Monde.

Alexandre Banza was the first of three sons and grew up in the heart of Gbaya territory.

Alexandre Banza had a similar military record to his future colleague Jean-Bedel Bokassa, who had served in the First Indochina War and had been stationed in Africa and Europe as a radio transmissions expert.

Alexandre Banza was concerned the French would intervene to aid Dacko, as had occurred after the 23 February 1964 coup d'etat in Gabon against President Leon M'ba.

Alexandre Banza, who was then commander of the Camp Kassai military base in northeast Bangui, offered Bokassa his support and persuaded the still-worried commander-in-chief to carry out the coup.

Alexandre Banza helped Bokassa lay out the plans for the coup, proposed to take place on 31 December 1965.

Shortly after midnight, in the first minutes of 1 January 1966, Bokassa and Alexandre Banza organized their troops and told them of their plan to take over the government.

Alexandre Banza then told the soldiers that they had to act now to prevent the gendarmerie from taking over the Central African Republic army.

Alexandre Banza then asked the soldiers if they would support his course of action; the men who refused were thrown in jail.

Bokassa and Alexandre Banza then rushed to the Palais de la Renaissance, where they tried to arrest Dacko, who was not there.

Alexandre Banza was arrested by a few of Bokassa's men as he entered Petevo Junction, on the western border of the capital.

Alexandre Banza wanted to kill Dacko, but Bokassa would not allow it, believing that Dacko had not yet outlived his usefulness.

Meanwhile, Alexandre Banza took over administrative centers, where politicians, diplomats and other high-level officials were celebrating the coming of the New Year.

Alexandre Banza was appointed minister of finance and minister of state in the new government.

At first, the French government was reluctant to support the Bokassa regime, so Alexandre Banza went to Paris to meet with French officials to convince them that the coup was necessary to save the country from turmoil.

Alexandre Banza was successful in his efforts to build the government's reputation abroad, all the while establishing himself as a respected and well-liked leader.

Two years later, the two had a major argument over the country's budget, as Alexandre Banza adamantly opposed Bokassa's extravagant spending.

Cognizant of the president's intentions, Alexandre Banza increased his vocalization of dissenting political views.

Alexandre Banza revealed his intention to stage a coup to Lieutenant Jean-Claude Mandaba, the commanding officer of Camp Kassai, who he looked to for support.

Alexandre Banza was sentenced to death by firing squad, taken to an open field behind Camp Kassai, executed and buried in an unmarked grave.

Alexandre Banza's father was sent to jail, where he died of hunger and exhaustion on 24 April 1970 at Ngaragba Central Prison.

Alexandre Banza started to rule more arbitrarily after the Banza affair, giving himself control of various ministerial positions and the army.