27 Facts About David Dacko

David Dacko was a Central African politician who served as the first president of the Central African Republic from 14 August 1960 to 1 January 1966, and 3rd President from 21 September 1979 to 1 September 1981.

David Dacko was born in the village of Bouchia, near Mbaiki in the Lobaye region, which was then a part of the French Equatorial African territory of Ubangi-Shari to Joseph Iniabode and Marie Okolania.

David Dacko began primary school in Mbaiki, where his father worked as a plantation's night watchman.

David Dacko continued his primary education in Bambari before being admitted to the Ecole normale of Mouyoundzi in Moyen Congo.

David Dacko took part in an experimental educational program promoted by the French colonial administration.

David Dacko was named principal of Kouanga College in 1955 and became a supporter of independence leader Barthelemy Boganda, who was from the same Ngbaka ethnic group as David Dacko.

In March 1957 David Dacko presented himself as a candidate for legislative elections in Ubangi-Shari for the circumscription of Ombella-M'Poko and won a seat as a member of the "Territorial Assembly of Ubangi-Shari".

David Dacko then served as Minister of the Interior and Administrative Affairs from 23 August to 8 December 1958.

David Dacko remained in the government as the Minister of the Interior, Economy and Commerce.

In October 1959, Goumba and Ngounio proposed that David Dacko be replaced by Pierre Maleombho as president, but as it became obvious that the motion would not succeed, they ended up withdrawing it within a week, before it could be discussed at the Assembly.

David Dacko began to consolidate his power soon after taking office in 1960.

David Dacko retained the portfolio of Minister of Defense and Keeper of the Seals and amended the Constitution to transform his regime into a one-party state with a strong presidency elected for a term of seven years.

On 5 January 1964, David Dacko was elected in an election in which he ran alone.

David Dacko succeeded in having a diamond-cutting factory built in Bangui.

David Dacko encouraged the rapid "Centralafricanization" of the country's administration, which was accompanied by growing corruption and inefficiency, and he expanded the number of civil servants, which greatly increased the portion of the national budget needed to pay salaries.

David Dacko was torn between his need to retain the support of France and his need to show that he was not subservient to France.

David Dacko, who belonged to the same Ngbaka ethnic group as Bokassa, was imprisoned, placed under house arrest in Lobaye, but then was released on 16 July 1969 and eventually named personal counselor of President Bokassa on 17 September 1976.

When Bokassa's rule came under increasing criticism during the late 1970s, David Dacko managed to leave for Paris where the French convinced him to cooperate in a coup to remove Bokassa from power and restore him to the presidency.

In March 1981, David Dacko was elected President of the Republic in a reasonably free multi-candidate election; his term began on 1 April.

Immediately after his restoration David Dacko found financial support from France, who provided his government with $17 million, leading to relative success in his first six months.

David Dacko was regarded by many Central Africans as a puppet of the French and his right to rule was challenged, in particular, by Bokassa's former prime minister, Ange-Felix Patasse who, in addition to belonging to the largest ethnic group in the country, the Gbaya, had residential and kinship ties to other ethnic groups and was the most popular politician in the country.

David Dacko's opposition was quashed by November 1979 with French support.

French aid then improved the timeliness of the salary payments, and David Dacko was able to introduce further scholarships for high school and university students, leading to an erosion of opposition.

Furthermore, David Dacko's government organised the public trials of some of Bokassa's officers.

On 1 September 1981, David Dacko was overthrown in a bloodless coup carried out by army chief of staff General Andre Kolingba, who may have had the support of local French security officers who are suspected of having acted without authorization by Francois Mitterrand's new Socialist government in France.

David Dacko was survived by his wife Brigitte, who bore seven sons and four daughters.

David Dacko received many awards and honors during his lifetime, including Commander of the Central African Order of Agriculture, Commander of the Central African Order of Academic Palms.