Jean-Bédel Bokassa

Emperor of Central Africa

22 February 1921 Bobangui, Ubangi-Shari, French Equatorial Africa

3 November 1996(1996-11-03) (75) Bangui, Central African Republic

Reign 4 December 1976 – 21 September 1979 (1976-12-04  – 1979-09-21 )

Central African politician Jean-Bédel Bokassa ( ; 22 February 1921 – 3 November 1996), also known as Bokassa I, was a Central African political and military leader who served as the second president of Central African Republic and as the emperor of its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his Saint-Sylvestre coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until overthrown in a subsequent coup in 1979. Of this period, he served about 11 years as president and three years as self-proclaimed emperor of Central Africa, though the country was still a de facto military dictatorship. His imperial regime lasted from 4 December 1976 to 21 September 1979. Following his overthrow, the CAR was restored under his predecessor, David Dacko. Bokassa's imperial title did not achieve international diplomatic recognition. In his trial in absentia, he was tried and sentenced to death. He returned to Central African Republic in 1986 and was put on trial for treason and murder. In 1987, he was cleared of charges of cannibalism, but found guilty of the murder of schoolchildren and other crimes. The death sentence was later commuted to life in solitary confinement, but he was freed in 1993. He lived a private life in Bangui, and died in November 1996.