Operation Barracuda

1979 Central African coup d'état
Date21 September 1979
Location
Result

Coup succeeds.

  • Bokassa I is exiled.
  • The Central African Republic is restored.
Belligerents
Central African Empire House of Bokassa
Central African Empire Armed Forces loyalists
Central African Republic Armed Forces rebels
 France
 Chad
 Zaire
Commanders and leaders
Bokassa I David Dacko
Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Operation Barracuda was a military operation by France during 1979-1981, to return to power the former President of the Central African Republic, David Dacko. It followed up Operation Caban of 21 September 1979, a bloodless military operation in which Emperor Bokassa I of the Central African Empire was overthrown by French paratrooper troupes.