Dacko, David

Dacko, David dävēdˈ däkōˈ [key], 1930–2003, president of the Central African Republic (1960–66, 1979–81). A leader in the independence movement in French Equatorial Africa, he became the first president of the newly independent Central African Republic. He was toppled from power in 1966 by Jean-Bédel Bokassa but reinstated in a French-supported coup in 1979. Reelected president, he was overthrown by a military junta in 1981.

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