1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt

Failed coup attempt February 2024 March 2024 1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe 8 March 1988 Coup attempt suppressed São Tomé and Príncipe Government of São Tomé and Príncipe Armed Forces Frente de Resistência Nacional de São Tomé and Príncipe – Renovada (FRNSTP-R) Manuel Pinto da Costa Afonso dos Santos 1 woundedLA Times 1988 3 deadSeibert 2006 191 The 1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt was a failed paramilitary operation undertaken by the exile National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe – Renewal (pt Frente de Resistência Nacional de São Tomé and Príncipe – Renovada FRNSTP-R) that sought to overthrow the ruling MLSTP government.Smith 2003 5 Launched on 8 March with the arrival of 44 mostly unarmed personnel on the island of São Tomé via small boats, the attempted coup was quickly suppressed, with three of the putschists being killed and one policeman wounded. Afonso dos Santos, leader of the FRNSTP-R, who was captured during the attempt, was subsequently tried, convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison in 1989, along with 38 co-defendants who received terms ranging from two to 21 years. However, following the end of single party rule in 1990, President Pinto da Costa granted an amnesty to those convicted.Gomes Porto 2003 34Seibert 2003 250 The coup attempt has been described as an "amazingly amateurish operation".Seibert 2006 190 Background The National Resistance Front of São Tomé and Príncipe (FRNSTP) was formed in 1981 as armed exile movement based in Gabon that sought the overthrow of the MLSTP government. As a result of political liberalisations from the mid-1980s onwards, relations with the government of Gabon improved and the leadership of the FRNSTP abandoned armed struggle. Coup attempt Arriving between 3 am and 4 am at four beaches, the group attacked the main police barracks.Le Monde 1988 They had then planned to attack the Presidential Palace, execute Pinto da Costa and declare dos Santos as president.Africa Report 1988 They had brought posters stating "Down with Pinto da Costa" and "Viva President Afsonso dos Santos" as well as documents proclaiming a new president and a resignation speech for Pinto da Costa.Seibert 2006 190–191 Legacy In December 1990, months after a new constitution permitting multiparty politics was approved, former FRNSTP-R members founded the Christian Democratic Front (FDC) party.Seibert 2003 250 See also History of São Tomé and Príncipe 1995 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt 2003 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt 2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt References Footnotes 30em Sources 30em yes Frynas Jędrzej George Wood Geoffrey Soares de Oliveira Ricardo M. S. Business and politics in São Tomé e Príncipe: from cocoa monoculture to petro-state African Affairs 1 January 2003 102 406 51–80 10.1093/oxfordjournals.afraf.a138811 Gomes Porto João Coup d'État in São Tomé and Príncipe African Security Studies 2003 12 4 33–35 10.1080/10246029.2003.9627247 São Tomé snuffs out coup attempt Africa Report May–June 1988 33 3 9 https://www.aaionline.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/01_May_Jun1988_TheTollofWar.pdf Africa Report 1988 Seibert Gerhard The Bloodless Coup of July 2003 in São Tomé e Príncipe Lusotopie 2003 10 245–260 https://www.persee.fr/doc/luso_1257-0273_2003_num_10_1_1557 Seibert Gerhard Comrades, Clients and Cousins: Colonialism, Socialism and Democratization in São Tomé and Príncipe 2006 Brill 9789047408437 https://books.google.com/books?id=PoZSEAAAQBAJ Smith Johann Memorandum on S. Tomé e Principe https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/137078/SAOTOMEJUL03.PDF Institute for Security Studies 27 February 2024 17 July 2003 News Reports 30em yes Sao-Tomé-e-Principe Une tentative de putsch a fait deux morts https://www.lemonde.fr/archives/article/1988/03/10/sao-tome-e-principe-une-tentative-de-putsch-a-fait-deux-morts_4065621_1819218.html 27 February 2024 Le Monde 10 March 1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt leaves two dead fr Le Monde 1988 U.S. Mercenary Reported Slain in Failed Coup https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-10-mn-1606-story.html 27 February 2024 Associated Press Los Angeles Times 10 March 1988 LA Times 1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt, 1988 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt Category:Attempted coups d'état in São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt Coup d'état attempt