2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup attempt explained

Conflict:2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt
Place:São Tomé, São Tomé and Príncipe
Date:24–25 November 2022
Result:Government victory
Combatant1: Government of São Tomé and Príncipe
Military of São Tomé and Príncipe
Combatant2:4 citizens
12 soldiers
Fighters from Buffalo Battalion
Commander1:Patrice Trovoada
Commander2:Arlecio Costa
Delfim Neves (alleged)
Casualties1:None
Casualties2:4 dead

The 2022 São Tomé and Príncipe coup d'état attempt was an attempted coup d'état that is reported to have taken place on the island nation of São Tomé and Príncipe overnight on 24–25 November 2022.[1]

At a press conference held on 25 November, the nation's prime minister, Patrice Trovoada, said that the country's armed forces headquarters had come under attack from four men, including Delfim Neves, president of the outgoing National Assembly, and a military officer who had attempted a previous coup. The attempted coup was thwarted by the government, and its perpetrators were described as being under arrest.[2] [3]

Four people were killed in a gunfight, and 12 active soldiers were involved.[4] Trovoada also suggested fighters from the officially disbanded South African group Buffalo Battalion were involved, and that one of their mercenaries Arlecio Costa, who was killed in the fighting, was one of the ringleaders.

The coup leaders said they had tried to overthrow the government due to poverty in the country.

In a Deutsche Welle interview on 6 December, outgoing prime minister Jorge Bom Jesus labelled the event as an "invention" that the new government would use as a pretext to crack down on opposition parties.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2022-11-25 . Sao Tome and Principe government thwarts overnight coup attempt . en . . 2022-12-02.
  2. Web site: Coup attempt thwarted in Sao Tome and Principe, PM says. www.aljazeera.com. Nov 25, 2022.
  3. News: Failed coup attempt in Sao Tome and Principe - Prime Minister . Africa News . 25 November 2022 . 25 November 2022.
  4. Web site: 4 Killed in Sao Tome's Failed Coup Bid, State Media Reports . 2022-12-02 . VOA . 27 November 2022 . en.
  5. Web site: São Tomé e Príncipe: "Golpe de Estado é uma invenção" – DW – 06/12/2022 . 2022-12-08 . dw.com . pt.