General information
Part of Conflict: Liberia: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 1980-04-12
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: The dyad became active on the morning of 12 April 1980, when a previously unknown group of deserting soldiers staged an attack against the executive mansion, killing President Tolbert and several others. In doing so they revealed their willingness to use violence in order to overturn the sitting government. Due to the nature of coups – requiring secrecy and the element of surprise to be effective – a statement of incompatibility preceding the ensuing violence could not be found. Following the coup’s successful completion, the leader and incumbent president Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe announced that the intention of the coup was to overturn the inept and corrupt sitting government, providing the conflict with a retroactive statement of incompatibility.
One month prior to the coup led by Doe, Maccus Mathews of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) called for a comprehensive strike to bring the government down, and a march on the executive mansion was scheduled. Members of the government, including President Tolbert himself, accused the opposition of planning to overthrow the government. Mathews, along with 79 other PPP members were arrested, and allegedly beaten. While there is no clear link between the PPP and the Doe’s military faction, Mathews later received a ministerial post in Doe’s new government.
Date of first use of armed force: 1980-04-12
Comment on date of first use of armed force: This phase of the armed conflict covers the violence that took place in connection with the 1980 coup. On the early morning of 12 April 1980, 17 non-commissioned officers of the Liberian army under the leadership of Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe attacked the executive mansion and killed President Tolbert. Fighting ensued, marking the onset of the conflict.
At the time of the coup, discontentment with the regime had been building up for some time. Frustration with the slow progress of democracy was exacerbated by economic hardship. Demonstrations in April 1979 over a political proposal to significantly raise the price of rice, Liberia’s staple food, caused rioting and violent confrontation with army and police forces. Revealing the high levels of public frustration with the government, the demonstrations led to between 41 and 100 deaths. President Tolbert blamed the leaders of the demonstration, claiming their objective was to overthrow the government.
First Battle Related Death: 1980-04-12
Comment on First Battle Related Death: In the early morning of 12 April 1980, the sitting President Tolbert, along with several members of his staff, were killed in an attack on the executive mansion
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 1980-04-12
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: Following the killing of President Tolbert in the early morning attack, fighting broke out around the executive mansion. Other members of Tolbert’s government and staff are thought to have died in the fighting. There were also reported of fighting and shooting in several other parts of Monrovia. On 15 April 1980 it was reported that 28 bodies, including that of Tolbert himself, were dropped in a mass-grave and bulldozed over.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 26 |
| Best | 26 |
| Low | 1 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Liberia): n/a
Side B (Military faction (forces of Samuel Doe)): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1980 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: The area around the executive mansion in the capital Monrovia is thought to have been the scene of the fighting that killed a majority of those deaths coded for the period.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: YES
Victorious side: B
Comment on Victory: The coup-makers under the leadership of Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe killed President Tolbert and succeeded in overturning the sitting government. Sporadic shooting followed in several parts of Monrovia, indicating that the coup was resisted by elements of the military and police. In a first radio announcement, the victors declared that the army would be in charge until a decision could be made on a new government. Immediately following the coup, witnesses reported Doe giving orders and being referred to as “Mr. President”. On 14 April, Doe named his military-civilian cabinet of 15, and announced that officials of the toppled government were to be tried for treason
Comment on Victorious Side: A new government, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), was established by the victorious coup-makers, with coup-leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe assuming the presidency.
Comment on Total Battle Related Deaths: A new government, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), was established by the victorious coup-makers, with coup-leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe assuming the presidency.
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: Victory
Date of termination: 1980-04-14
Comment on Termination: The coup-makers under the leadership of Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe killed President Tolbert and succeeded in overturning the sitting government. Sporadic shooting followed in several parts of Monrovia, indicating that the coup was resisted by elements of the military and police. In a first radio announcement, the victors declared that the army would be in charge until a decision could be made on a new government. Immediately following the coup, witnesses reported Doe giving orders and being referred to as “Mr. President”. On 14 April, Doe named his military-civilian cabinet of 15, and announced that officials of the toppled government were to be tried for treason.
A new government, the People’s Redemption Council (PRC), was established by the victorious coup-makers, with coup-leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe assuming the presidency.
Comment on Termination Date: On 14 April 1980 Liberia’s new military leader Master-Sergeant Samuel Doe named his new 15-member military-civilian cabinet, as well as announcing that members of the toppled Tolbert government would be tried for treason, thus marking the end of this dyad through victory for Doe’s military faction.
