Failed overthrow of President Mathieu Kérékou by French-led mercenaries
1977 Benin coup attempt
Part of Cold War in Africa
Date
January 17, 1977
Location
Cotonou, Benin
Result
Beninese victory
Coup-Attempt failed
Belligerents
People's Republic of Benin
Supported by North Korea
France (Covertly)
Mercenaries
Beninese political Exiles
Supported by Togo Ivory Coast Gabon Morocco
Commanders and leaders
Mathieu Kérékou
Bob Denard (WIA)
History of Benin
History of the Kingdom of Dahomey
Early history
Great Ardra
c. 1100–1724
Oyo Empire
c. 1300–1836
Songhai Empire
c. 1464–1591
Kingdom of Akwamu
c. 1480–1734
Atlantic slave trade
c. 1500–1800
Dutch Slave Coast
c. 1660–1760
Kingdom of Whydah
c. 1580–1728
Kingdom of Dahomey
c. 1600–1904
Annual Customs
c. 1730–1904
Modern period
First Franco-Dahomean War
1890
Second Franco-Dahomean War
1892–1894
French Dahomey
1894–1958
French West Africa
1895–1958
Republic of Dahomey
1958–1975
Soglo coup
1963
Kérékou coup
1972
People's Republic of Benin
1975–1990
Mercenary coup attempt
1977
Republic of Benin
1990–present
Category
Commons
Africa portal
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The 1977 Benin coup d'état attempt, Opération Crevette or Operation Shrimp was a failed attempt by a team of French-led mercenaries to overthrow the government of the People's Republic of Benin which was led by Mathieu Kérékou whose communist party, the People's Revolutionary Party of Benin (PRPB), was the only allowed political party in the country. The coup took place on 17 January 1977 and included a failed invasion of the port city of Cotonou by mercenaries contracted by a group of exiled Beninese political rivals.[1]
Bob Denard was the leader of the mercenary group and although Jacques Foccart denied knowledge of the attempted coup after its failure, he did recognize that it had been backed-up by Gnassingbé Eyadéma (Togo), Félix Houphouët-Boigny (Ivory Coast), Omar Bongo (Gabon) and Hassan II (Morocco), all allies of France.[2]
The coup would be one of several against Kérékou who survived numerous attempts to oust him, including two coup attempts in 1988.[3]
^Adesina, Olutayo (2005). "Benin, Republic of (Dahomey) Kérékou, Mathieu (1935–)". In Shillington, Kevin (ed.). Encyclopedia of African History. pp. 242+. ISBN 9781579582456.
^Bob Denard, chien de guerre Archived October 1, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, L'Humanité, 4 May 1999 (in French)
^"Benin profile – Timeline". BBC News. 4 June 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
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Global Information
North Korea
Togo
Ivory Coast
Gabon
Morocco
Mathieu Kérékou
Bob Denard (WIA)
