1980 Liberian coup d'état

The 1980 Liberian coup d'état happened on April 12, 1980, when President William Tolbert was overthrown and murdered in a violent coup. The coup was staged by an indigenous Liberian faction of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) under the command of Master Sergeant Samuel Doe. Following a period of transition, Doe ruled Liberia throughout the 1980s until his murder in 1990 during the First Liberian Civil War.

1980 Liberian coup d'état
A CIA WFB map of Liberia
DateApril 12, 1980
LocationMonrovia, Liberia
TypeMilitary coup
CauseEthnic tensions between Americo-Liberians and indigenous Liberians
MotiveRegime change
TargetExecutive Mansion, Monrovia
Organised bySamuel Doe
Participants17 members of the Armed Forces (NCOs and soldiers)
OutcomeCoup succeeds
  • William Tolbert is overthrown and executed.
  • Thirteen members of the Tolbert administration are executed on 22 April 1980.
  • The People's Redemption Council is established by Samuel Doe to rule the country.
  • First Liberian Civil War begins.
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