LIBERIA: COUP PLOTTING AND HYSTERIA.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84B00049R001303120017-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Sequence Number: 17
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/06/14 :CIA-RDP84B00049R001303120017-9
SECRET
DIADIN 295-2E
AS OF 1945 EDT
22 OCT 81
LIBERIA: COUP PLOTTING AND HYSTERIA.
FOUR FORMER MEMBERS
OF THE LIBERIA'S DISBANDED ARMY UNIT WERE ARRESTED
ON 20 AND 21 OCTOBER FOR ALLEGED COUP PLOTTING. ALL WERE
ENLISTED MEN. INITIAL REPORTING SUGGESTS OTHERS MAY HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED.
AT ABOUT THE SAME
TIME OF THE ARRESTS, POLICE REPORTED 250 SOVIET AND LIBYAN
TROOPS HAD LANDED IN MONROVIA TO OVERTHROW THE PEOPLE'S
REDEMPTION COUNCIL, THE COUNTRY'S RULING BODY. THE REPORT
WAS LATER FOUND TO BE A FABRICATION, BUT NOT UNTIL AFTER
SECURITY FORCES HAD BEEN PLACED ON ALERT.
ALTHOUGH THIS COUP PLOT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN
HAULTED IN AN EARLY STAGE, IT IS THE SECOND SUCH PLOT
REPORTED WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS. THE LAST ALLEGED PLOT
RESULTED IN THE AUGUST EXECUTION OF THEN VICE HEAD OF STATE
GEN THOMAS WEH SYEN. HEAD OF STATE SAMUEL K. DOE CAME TO
POWER BY A COUP IN APRIL 1980 WHEN HE OUSTED PRESIDENT
TOLBERT. LIBERIA MAY BE FACING A PERIOD OF POLITICAL
INSTABILITY WHICH WOULD BE UNIQUE IN ITS 134 YEARS AS AN
INDEPENDENT NATION. (REVW 21 OCT O1)
DIA Review
Completed.
JSI-5B, 695-0738
II-1
SECRET
Approved For Release 2007/06/14 :CIA-RDP84B00049R001303120017-9