Thomas Quiwonkpa
Encyclopedia
Thomas Quiwonkpa, a Gio
from Nimba County
, was a Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia
and founder of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
.
In 1983, Quiwonkpa was demoted, and was subsequently charged with an attempt to overthrow the Doe
administration. The charges forced Quiwonkpa to flee the country.
On November 12, 1985, one month after elections
were held, Quiwonkpa, supported by about 24 heavily armed men, covertly entered Liberia through Sierra Leone
, and launched a coup against President Doe. Bad timing, unorthodox methods used by Quiwonkpa and lack of support from the United States
resulted in the disastrous failure of the uprising. Quiwonkpa was later captured, killed, and allegedly mutilated by Krahn
soldiers loyal to President Doe. Joe Wylie, later Deputy Minister of Defense in the NTGL, was among the group who launched the coup.
In a massive campaign of retribution against the coup plotters and their supporters, Doe's government launched a bloody purge against the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Quiwonkpa's Nimba County, raising alarm about a possible genocide. Doe's slaughter of an estimated 3,000 people created the opportunity for the exploitation of ethnic rivalries that later fuelled the First Liberian Civil War.
Gio Tribe
The Gio or Dan people is an ethnic group in north-eastern Liberia and in Côte d'Ivoire. The Dan are an ethnic group located in the West African countries of Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. There are approximately 350,000 members of the group, united by the Dan language, a Mande language...
from Nimba County
Nimba County
Nimba is a county in the north-central portion of the West African nation of Liberia. One of 15 counties that comprise the first-level of administrative division in the nation, it has six districts. Sanniquellie serves as the capital with the area of the county measuring , the largest in the nation...
, was a Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia
Armed Forces of Liberia
The Armed Forces of Liberia are the armed forces of the Republic of Liberia. Founded as the Liberian Frontier Force in 1908, the military was retitled in 1956. For virtually all of its history, the AFL has received considerable materiel and training assistance from the United States. For most of...
and founder of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia
National Patriotic Front of Liberia
The National Patriotic Front of Liberia was a rebel group that initiated and participated in the First Liberian Civil War from 1989 to 1996.-Leadership:...
.
In 1983, Quiwonkpa was demoted, and was subsequently charged with an attempt to overthrow the Doe
Samuel Doe
Samuel Kanyon Doe was the 21st President of Liberia, serving from 1986 until his assassination in 1990. He had previously served as Chairman of the People's Redemption Council from 1980 to 1986. He was the first indigenous head of state in Liberian history.Doe was a part of a rural tribe in inland...
administration. The charges forced Quiwonkpa to flee the country.
On November 12, 1985, one month after elections
Liberian elections, 1985
General elections were held in Liberia on 15 October 1985. These were the first elections since the 12 April 1980 military coup that brought Samuel Doe to power. The polls were marred by allegations of widespread fraud and rigging. Many independent observers believed that the LAP's Jackson Doe, who...
were held, Quiwonkpa, supported by about 24 heavily armed men, covertly entered Liberia through Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, and launched a coup against President Doe. Bad timing, unorthodox methods used by Quiwonkpa and lack of support from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
resulted in the disastrous failure of the uprising. Quiwonkpa was later captured, killed, and allegedly mutilated by Krahn
Krahn
Krahn is an ethnic group of Liberia; it is also the language traditionally spoken by these people.- History :The Krahn Arrived in the area known as Ivory Coast and Liberia from Northern Africa shortly before the slaves trade. Most of these people were taken as slaves to the United States and the...
soldiers loyal to President Doe. Joe Wylie, later Deputy Minister of Defense in the NTGL, was among the group who launched the coup.
In a massive campaign of retribution against the coup plotters and their supporters, Doe's government launched a bloody purge against the Gio and Mano ethnic groups in Quiwonkpa's Nimba County, raising alarm about a possible genocide. Doe's slaughter of an estimated 3,000 people created the opportunity for the exploitation of ethnic rivalries that later fuelled the First Liberian Civil War.