On 12 November 1985, former Liberian military commander, General Thomas Quiwonkpa, launched an attempted military coup against President Samuel Kanyon Doe, hoping to overthrow his government.
Quiwonkpa had previously helped Doe seize power during the military coup of 12 April 1980. However, their relationship deteriorated over disagreements about political power, governance and Doe’s growing authoritarian rule. Quiwonkpa eventually fled Liberia in November 1983 and organised opposition from exile.
The coup attempt came less than a month after Liberia’s controversial presidential election of 15 October 1985, in which Doe was declared the winner amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud.
On 12 November, Quiwonkpa and his armed supporters entered Monrovia, attacked government installations and briefly took control of radio broadcasting facilities, announcing that Doe’s government had been overthrown.
However, loyalist troops regrouped and crushed the rebellion. Quiwonkpa was captured on 15 November 1985, brutally killed and his body publicly displayed.
The failed coup triggered widespread arrests, executions and reprisals, particularly against the Gio and Mano ethnic communities, who were associated with Quiwonkpa.
Conspiracy and controversy: Allegations emerged that foreign actors, including the CIA and authorities in Sierra Leone, had assisted Quiwonkpa. However, claims of official foreign government involvement remain unproven. There were also suspicions of intelligence leaks and betrayal within the opposition movement.
The aftermath further destabilised Liberia and intensified ethnic divisions.
On 24 December 1989, Charles Taylor launched an armed rebellion against Doe’s government, beginning the First Liberian Civil War. Doe was eventually captured and killed on 9 September 1990.
The civil war would claim approximately 200,000 lives and displace hundreds of thousands of Liberians.
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