Why Samuel Doe Staged a Bloody Coup in 1980

April 12th, 1980, stands as a significant turning point in Liberia's history, known as Africa's first republic. On this day, Master Sergeant Samuel Doe orchestrated a bold coup d'état in Monrovia, overthrowing President William R. Tolbert Jr.'s government and reshaping Liberia's trajectory forever.

This pivotal event not only destabilized Liberia politically but also reverberated across the region, ushering in a new era fraught with both hope and uncertainty. Some saw it as the inevitable removal of an entrenched 'oppressive regime', others as a 'retro- grade action'.

In this episode of African Biographics, we explore the circumstances that paved the way for this momentous occasion, uncovering a multifaceted landscape characterized by social upheaval, economic disparity, and political disillusionment. These factors together made Samuel Doe and his associates to seize power.


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Sources:

The Liberian Coup in Perspective, J. Gus Liebenow, Current History, Vol. 80, No. 464, AFRICA, 1981 (MARCH, 1981), pp. 101-105, 131-134 (9)

State of Africa After Independence, Martine Meredith

Africa, A modern history, Guy Arnold

Encyclopedia of African History, Kevin Shillington

https://adst.org/2015/11/surviving-th...

https://web.archive.org/web/200707121...

https://web.archive.org/web/200809281...

https://liberiapastandpresent.org/Sam...

https://bpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/wp.tows...
https://history.state.gov/milestones/...

https://www.sahistory.org.za/place/li...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/archiv...

https://www.refworld.org/reference/co...

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Music:

Epidemic Sound

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