1972 Republic of the Congo coup attempt
1972 People's Republic of the Congo coup d'état attempt | |||||||
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Part of the Cold War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
People's Republic of the Congo North Korea Soviet Union Cuba East Germany | Pro-Ange Diawara faction |
On February 22, 1972 a faction loyal to Ange Diawara attempted a coup against President Marien Ngouabi. Joachim Yhombi-Opango was instrumental in ending the coup. The musician Franklin Boukaka was killed in the coup, as was former Minister Élie Théophile Itsihou. After more than a year of evading capture Diawara was ambushed and killed in April 1973 by forces loyal to Ngouabi.