DACKO, DAVID

born March 24, 1930, Bouchia, Moyen-Congo, French Equatorial Africa [now in Central African Republic] president of the Central African Republic in 196065 and 197981. A former teacher, Dacko held ministerial posts under President Barthlemy Boganda and, claiming a family relationship, succeeded to the presidency after Boganda's death. He ruled the republic as a one-party state until he was overthrown by Jean-Bdel Bokassa, on the night of Dec. 31, 1965/Jan. 1, 1966. On Sept. 21, 1979, after 13 years of Bokassa's brutal rule (which included proclaiming himself emperor of a Central African Empire), Dacko in turn overthrew him, announcing that the country would revert to a republic with himself as president. He was removed from office in September 1981, when General Andr Kolingba seized power.