Alexandre Banza (1932–1969) was a Central African military officer and politician. As commander of the Camp Kassaï military base in 1965, Banza helped Jean-Bédel Bokassa overthrow the government of President David Dacko. Bokassa rewarded Banza by appointing him as minister of state and minister of finance in the new government. In 1967, Bokassa and his protégé had a major argument over the president's excessive extravagances. In April 1968, Bokassa removed Banza as minister of finance. Recognizing Bokassa's attempts to undermine him, Banza made a number of remarks highly critical of the president's handling of the government. Bokassa responded by abolishing the minister of state position. Banza soon decided to stage a coup d'état. One of his confidants, Jean-Claude Mandaba, contacted the president and informed him of the date of the coup, 9 April 1969. Hours before he was going to execute his bid for power, Banza was ambushed by Mandaba and taken directly to Bokassa. Bokassa nearly beat Banza to death before Mandaba suggested that Banza be put on trial for appearance's sake. On 12 April, Banza presented his case to a military tribunal, which quickly sentenced him to death by firing squad. He was reportedly taken to an open field, where he was executed and buried in an unmarked grave. (more...)
Recently featured: Crown Fountain – Hermann Detzner – 1964 Brinks Hotel bombing
Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Banza
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1386:
A special Pontifical High Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit commemorated the opening of the doors of Heidelberg University. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidelberg_University
1775:
American Civil War: In an act of retaliation against ports that supported Patriot activities in the early stages of the war, the Royal Navy destroyed what is now Portland, Maine. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Falmouth
1967:
The Soviet space probe Venera 4 performed in-place analysis of the environment of Venus and became the first spacecraft to land on another planet, although it stopped working before that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venera_4
1968:
At the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, American Bob Beamon set a world record of 8.90 m in the long jump, a mark that stood for 23 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Beamon
1991:
The Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
stipulate (adj): (botany; not comparable) Having stipules; that is, having outgrowths borne on either side of the base of the leafstalk http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/stipulate
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
To produce a mighty book, you must choose a mighty theme. No great and enduring volume can ever be written on the flea, though many there be who have tried it. --Herman Melville http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Herman_Melville