1979 Ngaragba Prison massacre

1979 massacre of students in the Central African Empire August 2026 1979 Ngaragba Prison Massacre Ngaragba Prison, Bangui 19 April 1979 Clubs Approximately 100 students Jean-Bédel Bokassa Prison guards thumb|right|Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa (Bokassa I) On 19 April 1979, approximately 100 students were massacred in Ngaragba Prison, in Bangui, Central African Empire, following student protests against self-proclaimed Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa (Bokassa I). This event became known amongst the Central African public as the Bangui Children's Massacre. Bradshaw, Richard; Fandos-Rius, Juan (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 497–498. 978-0-8108-7991-1 Background Described as one of Africa's most brutal dictators,Smith David 2010-12-03 'Cannibal' dictator Bokassa given posthumous pardon en-GB The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/03/jean-bedel-bokassa-posthumous-pardon 2023-03-14 0261-3077 Bokassa came to power in a military coup in 1966 and ruled as an authoritarian leader.2010-01-07 Jean-Bédel Bokassa (1921–1996) https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/bokassa-jean-bedel-1921-1996/ 2023-03-14 Toure Maelenn-Kegni BlackPast.org https://web.archive.org/web/20250622075111/https://blackpast.org/global-african-history/bokassa-jean-bedel-1921-1996/ 22 June 2025 en-US Under Bokassa, many political opponents were tortured and killed. New uniforms In January 1979, Bokassa tried to force all students in the Central African Republic, from elementary school to university students, to wear uniforms made by a company owned by one of his wives.Dash Leon 1979-10-01 Nightmares From Bokassa's Empire en-US Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1979/10/01/nightmares-from-bokassas-empire/db2aa7ea-6a3d-428e-93f0-09b0fbd831f8/ 2023-03-14 0190-8286 In response to this, students began protesting against Bokassa and by April 1979, the students and police "were practically in state of war".1979-09-30 Survivors Describe Massacre In Bangui en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1979/09/30/archives/survivors-describe-massacre-in-bangui-2-central-african-youths-say.html 2023-03-14 0362-4331 Many students were shot dead by the police during these protests. Mass arrests of students In mid-April 1979, a group of plainclothes police officers attempted to infiltrate a students' meeting. Upon discovering the police officers, the students stripped them naked and pushed them into the street. It has been suggested that this incident triggered the mass arrests of students who were suspected of participating in the protests. On 19 April 1979, at least 100 students were arrested and taken to Ngaragba Prison. In prison, the students were beaten by the guards and forced into overcrowded cells. Massacre At 10pm on 19 April 1979, Bokassa visited the students in their cells and warned that he would 'teach them a lesson'. He beat several young boys to death using his ivory-encrusted ebony cane. He ordered the prison guards to 'carry on'. At least 100 students were beaten to death by Bokassa and the prison guards.The Cannibal Emperor of Bangui and Africa's Forgotten Conflict https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-cannibal-emperor-of-bangui-and-africas-forgotten-conflict/ 2023-03-14 Vice.com en Several students survived by pretending to be dead. Aftermath After the massacre, Bokassa was condemned by foreign governments and international organizations cut off aid. On September 20, 1979, French special forces overthrew Bokassa in a military coup, ending his 13-year rule. References Category:Prison massacres Category:Student massacres Category:Massacres in 1979 Category:Massacres in the Central African Republic Category:1979 in the Central African Republic Category:Massacres of protesters in Africa Category:20th-century mass murders in Africa Category:Deaths by beating