1967 Algerian coup attempt
| 1967 Algerian coup d'état attempt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 People's Democratic Republic of Algeria |
Algerian People's National Army rebels | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Houari Boumédiène | Tahar Zbiri | ||||||
The 1967 Algerian coup attempt was a failed attempt to overthrow the Algerian President Houari Boumédiène by the Chief of Staff of the Algerian People's National Army, Colonel Tahar Zbiri, from 14 to 16 December 1967.[1] The coup was quickly suppressed by the use of air power against the rebel tank columns.[2]
Coup
[edit]There had been a power struggle in 1966–1967 between Boumédiène and former guerilla leaders and Marxists. Colonel Tahar Zbiri had been involved in the 1965 coup that ousted Ahmed Ben Bella and was rewarded with a promotion to chief of staff, however him and Boumédiène drifted apart over the years.[3]
On the night of 14 December 1967, Colonel Zbiri marched on Algiers from Chlef with army troops and two tank battalions, and was mainly supported by Chaoui people. Gendarmerie units blocked Zbiri's forces at the Bou Roumi river near the towns of El-Affroun and Mouzaïa.[3] The air force bombed the rebels near the town of El-Affroun causing sizable civilian casualties, where the wreckage of tanks was still to be seen until the end of the 1970s.[4]
On 15 December, president Boumédiène fired Colonel Zbiri and announced in a national broadcast: "Irresponsible elements have committed an act of clear disobedience which threatens to plunge the country into a dangerous adventure. In consequence I have decided to directly assume the command of the national popular army". On 16 December, the government announced that the last of the rebel soldiers surrendered and "misled" troops returned to their barracks. Zbiri and other rebel commanders fled into the mountains.[3]
Aftermath
[edit]No major internal challenges arose within the government following the 1967 coup attempt. Following the coup, Boumédiène emphasized collective leadership while asserting his own direct and uncontested authority in Algeria.[5][6] He acted swiftly to eliminate his rivals from positions of influence, establishing a politically stable government.[2] He dissolved the general staff and took on numerous staff responsibilities to strengthen his control over the Algerian army. While he excluded ANP leadership from daily policy making, he maintained close relationships with army commanders, whose support was crucial for his political dominance.[7] In April 1968, there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on Boumédiène.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ Times, Special to The New York (1967-12-16). "ALGERIA REPORTS CRUSHING REVOLT BY ARMY FACTION; Dissidents Led by Ex-Staff Chief 'Put Out of Action' as They Head for Capital BOUMEDIENE IS VICTOR President Takes Command of Forces When Former Ally Attempts a Coup". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ a b Affairs, United States Congress House Committee on Foreign (1972). Hearings. p. 195.
- ^ a b c Chin, John J.; Wright, Joseph; Carter, David B. (2022-12-13). Historical Dictionary of Modern Coups D'état. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1-5381-2068-2.
- ^ a b Belkaid, Akram (2017-09-26). "Houari Boumediene's Algeria to the Rescue of Nasser's Egypt - June 1967, an Endless Six-Day War". Orient XXI. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ John, Peter St. (1968). "Independent Algeria from Ben Bella to Boumédienne: I. The Counter-Revolution and Its Consequences". The World Today. 24 (7). Royal Institute of International Affairs: 290–296. JSTOR 40394141.
- ^ "Houari Boumedienne | president of Algeria | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
- ^ "Algeria The Military and Boumediene - Flags, Maps, Economy, History, Climate, Natural Resources, Current Issues, International Agreements, Population, Social Statistics, Political System". photius.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.