On the night of 27–28 May 2001 a coup attempt was carried out by commandos of the Central African Armed Forces who attempted to overthrow Ange-Félix Patassé. The coup attempt failed, but violence continued in the capital over the following days.[7]
| 2001 Central African Republic coup d'état attempt | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Government of Central African Republic 100 Libyan troops[1] Chadian troops[2]Congolese rebels[3] | Army faction | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Ange-Felix Patasse Abel Abrou † Francois N'Djadder Bedaya † | Francois Bozize | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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At least 59 killed in initial coup attempt.[5] Around 300 Yakoma civilians murdered following coup[6] | |||||||
The coup was sponsored by André Kolingba and had the effect of dividing the country's armed forces into two opposing camps: one that supported Patassé and the other that supported François Bozizé.[8] While the coup failed, the Central African chief of staff Abel Abrou and general Francois N'Djadder Bedaya were killed.[9]