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"I, Bokassa, solemnly swear and promise here to do everything in my power to strictly implement the Constitution of the Central African Empire." This quote comes from a speech delivered by Bokasa on his accession to the throne.
It was this speech that changed the fate of China and Africa, and also changed the lives of many Chinese and African people. It marked the official monopoly of the bloodthirsty and cannibalistic Bokassa, who could no longer be subject to any restrictions.
And Bokassa also changed from the former president of Central Africa to "the hope of the Central African people, the leader of the national political party Black African Social Evolution Movement, and the emperor of the Central African Empire." ”
Bokassa regarded Napoleon as his idol, and believed that his every move, word and deed, including changing the Republic to an empire, was a tribute to Napoleon, so his coronation must be as magnificent as Napoleon.
Bokasa went to such great lengths to get out in front of the world. When he ascended the throne, he specially informed more than 100 national dignitaries and more than 4,000 celebrities, but his international reputation was so low that most leaders of countries did not want to attend, choosing to replace them with diplomats.
As soon as this news came out, the world was in an uproar, and countries scoffed at its blatant reversal.
Bokassa claimed that Central Africa at the time of the emperor was extremely poor. After years of exploitation by Bokassa, Central Africa's own industrial system has not been established, and even the production of natural resources on which Central Africa depends has fallen so sharply that civil servants have not spent money for four months.
But Bokasa said, "If I don't eat, if I don't drink, I will be crowned." The reason is that Napoleon once held a huge coronation, so he, the African Napoleon, naturally cannot be left behind.
A year in advance, he issued an order to the Minister of Finance to hold the ceremony even with all the national strength.
Two months before the coronation, Bokassa was in full swing, flying on a private jet to Paris, where he ordered his own exclusive objects in high-end clothing and jewelry stores dedicated to dignitaries from all over the world.
To make the crown, staff, and ring, 13,000 diamonds with a total weight of 2,000 carats were used. Among them, the diamond under the crown eagle ornament was polished by the famous French diamond carver Derian with an 80-carat diamond after 315 hours.
In order to show his majesty, Bokasa specially purchased 100 Chadian horses and 100 French Normandy horses, as well as 200 BMW motorcycles and 200 Mercedes-Benz luxury cars.
In addition, he specially chartered 22 planes to transport 40,000 bottles of wine and 24,000 bottles of champagne from France and 150 tons of various famous wines; Flowers, green grass and pine and rose petals were purchased from Oceania, and a red carpet up to 2,000 meters long was ordered.
In addition, Bokassa clearly stipulated that all the procedures of the coronation ceremony must be strictly the same as the coronation ceremony of Napoleon that year.
This enthronement ceremony can be said to be the pinnacle of Bokassa's "legendary career". From this incident, it is enough to see that the Bokasa people are profligate. And the reason why he dared to make such a big deal was precisely because the concentration of power created the abundance of his treasury.
Bokassa was well aware that power was money, so from the first day he took control of Central Africa, he began to purge dissidents non-stop, changing cabinets six times a year at most.
Bokasa must also know the whereabouts of the current officials. Because calls from Central Africa were scarce, in order to recall the officials in time, Bokasa demanded that they listen to the radio 24 hours a day, and abruptly turned the national radio station into his private FM.
Bokassa embraced personality cults in Central Africa, printing his head on banknotes, stamps, posters and newspapers, and occasionally erecting giant statues. After gaining absolute power, Bokassa began his job of "making money".
Central Africa has a large population, but the infrastructure is extremely backward, only uranium
Mines and diamonds can be sold. But that didn't stop Bokasa from making money, and he took the country's largest hotel, all the diamond and uranium mines, and the coffee and cotton industries under his name. In addition, he turned the treasury into his own bank, often saying: "The treasury is mine, and paying taxes to the government is equivalent to paying me money." ”
He instituted so strict taxes that most merchants were unable to pay on time. So he sent soldiers from house to house to ask for "protection money", which was taken as soon as someone could not pay. In addition, even the most ordinary workers and peasants had to pay taxes on time every day. In order to make further money, Bokassa made agreements with foreign companies to withdraw dividends on time every year, on the condition that Bokasa could hand over monopoly to them.
The extravagance of the usual Bokassa, coupled with the $30 million award ceremony, has left Central Africa impoverished and heavily indebted. As a result, the salaries of civil servants and soldiers were suspended and subsidies for university students were abolished. In order to raise money, Bokassa turned his attention to the people. Stipulates that all Central African nationals must join his political party in order to collect party fees; Collect three years of tax burden in advance from the whole country; Opening a garment factory, from which all students must purchase uniforms.
The land in Central Africa is already barren, and the people's lives are not very prosperous, and he has exploited them for ten years, and he has long run out of oil, and he can't find any oil and water. Protests erupted in Central Africa, and Bokasa ordered indiscriminate shooting, killing many children.
Bokassa's perverse behavior finally attracted the attention of the international community, and condemnation poured in. French President Jean-Cede d'Estaing ordered special forces to launch an operation to unite with the Central African high-ranking officials to overthrow Bokassa. At that time, Bokassa was drinking with Gaddafi, and when he heard the news, he immediately asked Libya to accept his political asylum.
And Gaddafi turned his face and refused to recognize the people and threw Bokassa out. In desperation, Bokasa sought refuge everywhere, but he had already become a rat crossing the street. In the end, it was the old master, the French, who helped him contact Côte d'Ivoire.
There, Bokassa was still a thief and tried to restore himself to the throne, only to be rejected by Côte d'Ivoire. In desperation, he had to flee to Paris. When his subordinate Kolingba came to power, Bokassa decided that the time had come and returned to Central Africa overnight with his family. Unexpectedly, he was arrested on the plane, sentenced first to death, then to hard labor for life, and died of illness in Bankey in 1996.
According to his crime, it is not exaggerated to shoot ten times, and in the end, he actually died of illness, which can be regarded as a good end. If he hadn't acted recklessly and stayed in Paris, he would have been able to spend the rest of his life dashingly.
Revelation:
Bokassa's experience of rule offers some important implications not only for Central Africa, but also for other countries as well. Here are some important lessons:
Abuse of power leads to social rupture: Bokassa is a clear case of abuse of power. He spent the wealth of his country on extravagant coronations, while the people lived in poverty. This extreme inequality and abuse of power leads to a rise in social instability and discontent.
The cult of personality and the dangers of boasting: Bokassa imprinted his head on various national objects, creating an atmosphere of cult of personality. Such vaunted and overconfident leaders are often prone to losing touch with reality, leading to policy failures and state collapse.
Exploitation and the wealth gap: Bokassa's greed and exploitation have dramatically widened the gap between rich and poor. This led to social fragmentation and inequality, which eventually led to protests and international interventions.
Responsibility of the international community: The international community ruled Bokassa too intimately and did not act until protests erupted in the country. This reminds us that the international community should intervene more actively and prevent the spread of tyranny.
Summary:
Bokassa's rule is a shocking case of how the abuse of power, the gap between rich and poor, the cult of personality and the inaction of the international community can lead to the collapse of the state. His lavish coronation contrasts with the poverty of the common people, a clear manifestation of social contradictions. Bokassa's rule was also a warning to other nations and leaders that power must be checked and balanced, or it could lead to disastrous consequences. The international community should be more actively involved in preventing similar situations in order to protect human rights and promote social stability. This history teaches us to be wary of the cult of personality, the abuse of power and the exploitation of the poor, all of which can lead to the unfortunate fate of nations.
For other countries and leaders, Bokassa's experience of domination offers more lessons:
Valuing human rights and the rule of law: Bokassa's rule is a clear violation of human rights and the rule of law. Other countries and leaders should value human rights and ensure the sound functioning of the rule of law system to prevent abuses and injustices.
Financial transparency and anti-corruption: Bokassa considers the treasury his own bank and has a strict tax policy. Other countries should focus on financial transparency, combat corruption and ensure that government resources were used for national development and the well-being of their people.
Collaboration of the international community: The eventual ouster of Bokasa will require the intervention of the international community. This underscores the important role of the international community in maintaining peace and stability, particularly in dealing with tyranny and human rights violations.
Education and awareness-raising: To prevent similar leaders, the international community should invest in education and awareness-raising, and foster critical thinking and political awareness among citizens to better recognize and resist abuses of power.
Overall, the story of Bokassa's rule is a lesson about power and corruption, and the responsibility of the international community in upholding justice and human rights. This case reminds us that leaders must center on the well-being of their people, not be guided by individual power and greed. It is only through the rule of law, financial transparency and international collaboration that we can prevent similar tragedies, protect the rights and interests of people and ensure peace and stability in societies.
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