Editing Jean-Bédel Bokassa (section)

==Coup d'état==
{{main|Saint-Sylvestre coup d'état}}
Early in the evening of 31 December 1965, Dacko left the [[Renaissance Palace]] to visit one of his ministers' plantations southwest of Bangui.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=26}} An hour and a half before midnight, Banza gave orders to his officers to begin the coup.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=27}} Bokassa called Izamo at his headquarters and asked him to come to Camp de Roux to sign some documents that needed his immediate attention. Izamo, who was at a [[New Year's Eve]] celebration with friends, reluctantly agreed and travelled to the camp. Upon arrival, he was confronted by Banza and Bokassa, who informed him of the coup in progress. After declaring his opposition to the coup, Izamo was taken by the coup plotters to an underground cellar.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=27}}

Around midnight, Bokassa, Banza, and their supporters left Camp de Roux to take over Bangui.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=27}} After seizing the capital in a matter of hours, Bokassa and Banza rushed to the Renaissance Palace in order to arrest Dacko, who was nowhere to be found. Bokassa panicked, believing the president had been warned of the coup in advance, and immediately ordered his soldiers to search for Dacko in the countryside until he was found.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=27}}

Dacko was arrested by soldiers patrolling Pétévo Junction, on the western border of Bangui. He was taken back to the palace, where Bokassa hugged the president and told him, "I tried to warn you — but now it's too late."{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=28}} Dacko was taken to [[Ngaragba Central Prison|Ngaragba Prison]] at around 02:00&nbsp;[[West Africa Time|WAT]] (01:00&nbsp;[[UTC]]). In a move that he thought would boost his popularity with the people, Bokassa ordered prison director Otto Šacher to release all prisoners in the jail. Bokassa then took Dacko to Camp Kassaï, where he forced the president to resign.{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=28}}

In the morning, Bokassa addressed the public via [[Radio Centrafrique|Radio Bangui]]: "This is Colonel Bokassa speaking to you. At 3:00{{nbs}}a.m. this morning, your army took control of the government. The Dacko government has resigned. The hour of justice is at hand. The ''[[bourgeoisie]]'' is abolished. A new era of equality among all has begun. Central Africans, wherever you may be, be assured that the army will defend you and your property&nbsp;... Long live the Central African Republic!{{sfn|Titley|1997|p=28}}