6. The 1990 Zambian Coup D’etat Attempt

 

It was led by Lieutenant Mwamba Luchembe against the government of the then President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda. The coup itself just lasted 6 hours between 3 and 9 am.

Lieutenant Luchembe of the Zambian army had announced via the ZNBC (national radio station), that the military had seized control of the nation’s government. He cited the riots of the previous week as the cause of the takeover. The riots had left 17 dead and more than 100 wounded. The Luchembe led coup was a massive failure. Several hours after it was staged Kenneth Kaunda had retaken his position as the Zambian President. But the coup had seriously tampered the President’s political power which was already shaky from the rioting of the previous weeks.

 

5. The 2013 Libyan Coup

 

In the early hours of October 10, the Prime Minister of Libya was abducted by the coup plotters. Efforts were in progress to overthrow the government of Ali Zeidan.

The plot, however, met a serious hitch when the site where the Prime Minister was being held was stormed by pro-government militia several hours after the abduction. This resulted in the Prime Minister’s released and a collapse of the coup plans. Prime minister Zeidan later claimed that the attempted overthrow was carried out by militias in line with members of the GNC opposed to his government.

 

4. The 1972 Moroccan Coup

 

This was the 2nd attempted military overthrow on Hassan II the king of Morocco at the time. Hassan was on his way back from a personal visit to France when the Boeing 727 he was in came under attack by four air force pilots who were flying Northrop F-5 fighter jets.

Several died in the attack and others were left wounded. Holes had been shot through the fuselage of the Boeing 727.

Hassan managed to evade his attackers by a massive wise coy he deployed. He grabbed the radio and called out to the pilots ” stop firing the tyrant is dead”. The pilots were deceived and broke off their attacks.

The coup had been planned mainly by General Mohammed Oufkir and Mohammed Ameksane. General Oufkir was executed by a firing squad. Ameksane had died controversially in what seemed like a suicide.

 

3. 2014 Gambian Coup

 

President Yahya Jammeh had taken control of the Gambian government in the 1994 coup. The Gambian Head of State removed the Commander of his Presidential guard, lieutenant col. Lamin Sanneh. Sanneh fled to Washington D.C. He met with Njaga Jagne in Washington, a fellow refugee, and a former officer of the Kentucky National Guard, with whom he laid out the plans to overthrow Jammeh’s government.

The coup began with an attack on the state house of Gambia by about 160 soldiers, on December 30, 2014.

An intense battle between the rebels and the government forces ensued and was kept up for hours. Several points of entry into the city were blocked by soldiers and a full blackout of the state radio and television was in effect.

Failure of the rebel soldiers to consolidate control ultimately resulted in the triumph of the government forces. Four had been killed including Lieutenant Col. Sanneh and co-plotter Jagne.

 

2. Gideon Orkar’s 1990 Coup

 

One of the few failed Nigerian coup attempts. It was orchestrated by Gideon Orkar a major in the Nigerian army. General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida was head of state at the time.

Orka and his coconspirators had seized control of the FRCN radio station and various posts around Lagos and Dodan barracks the military headquarters and the presidential residence. The President who was present at the barracks when it was attacked had managed to escape to safety through a back route.

Orkar in his coup address called for the excision of five northern states. Ultimately the coup failed and Major Orkar was executed.

 

1. The Dimka-Led Coup

 

It was led by Buka Suka Dimka a Nigerian army officer against the government of General Murtala Mohammed. Dimka had also participated in the 1966 counter-coup against the Ironsi government which resulted in the General’s death and brought Gowon to power.

Dimka and other coup plotters managed in taking out the then Head of State after they ambushed his convoy. The coup hit a roadblock and with its failure, Colonel Dimka fled, first to the premises of radio Nigeria at Ikoyi from where he had broadcasted to the nation. He was eventually arrested in the company of a prostitute in Eastern Nigeria. A court-martial followed and he was executed with 38 other military officers and civilians.