Jean-Bedel Bokassa was the military dictator of the Central African Republic from which years?

Jean-Bedel Bokassa was the military dictator of the Central African Republic from which years?

• A. 1982 to 1986
• B. 1959 to 1963
• C. 1970 to 1981
• D. 1966 to 1979

Answer: (D)

The period of Bokassa’s rule as the Central African Republic’s dictator started with a military coup in 1966 and ended with his overthrow in 1979. He did tighten his grip on power through the late 1960s and even proclaimed himself Emperor in 1976, but the authoritarian control lasted until the 1979 coup, which removed him from power. That combination makes 1966 to 1979 the correct span. The other date ranges either occur before he seized power, after his overthrow, or don’t capture the full duration of his dictatorship.

The period of Bokassa’s rule as the Central African Republic’s dictator started with a military coup in 1966 and ended with his overthrow in 1979. He did tighten his grip on power through the late 1960s and even proclaimed himself Emperor in 1976, but the authoritarian control lasted until the 1979 coup, which removed him from power. That combination makes 1966 to 1979 the correct span. The other date ranges either occur before he seized power, after his overthrow, or don’t capture the full duration of his dictatorship.