Thread by @Sipho_Mudau

We're back in Liberia to follow the saga of General Samuel Doe, the Liberian leader from 1980 to 1990.

(Part 2)

#KnowYourDictators

1. A recap: its the mid 1980s.

Samuel Doe has grabbed power through a military coup (how else?) and is having a grand ol' time ruling his people through violence and intimidation😊

A self made man, Doe has done really well for himself and his friends, amassing a considerable fortune through controlling important state owned companies💵

And of course, general looting from the treasury💰

Doe also enjoys the friendship of the USA, who are generous with aid money in spite of my mans shortcomings😊

Its all going really well until 1984, when the USA decides that maybe Liberia needs to go back to civilian rule...

2. Because "he who pays the Piper calls the tune", Doe reluctantly agreed to have elections in 1985.📓

Money talks after all.

Doe offered himself as a candidate, which is kind of weird if the idea was for a civilian to lead.👀

No bother.

As part of the "reforms" Doe unbanned political parties🙌

But as we know, saying something and doing it are different things.

Soon, Doe was back to his old ways, persecuting opponents with as much energy as ever💪

A popular university professor was arrested, leading to protests among the students.

Well Doe wasn't going to have this national security threat and yet again deployed the army🚔

Obviously acting AGAINST Doe's instructions, the military shot at, stripped naked, beat and raped students fleeing the scene.🏃🏿‍♂️

For good measure, the soldiers vandalised the university leaving $2 million in damage.

But hey, the kids had it coming.

3. Wanting to create a level playing field, Doe banned the 2 most popular opposition parties, made it a crime (again) to criticise the government and shut down all independent media.😊

Another prominent opposition leader, Harvard educated Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was arrested.👮🏿‍♀️

The USA, quite okay with the killing of 50 students, drew the line at the arrest of a Harvard man. Quite rightly too.

Anyway, the USA threatened to withdraw $25 million in aid to Doe if Johnson (and other prisoners) weren't released.

Reluctantly, Doe agreed to let them go💃🏿

Money is chatty🗣️

4. The election took place in 1985.

Despite widespread intimidation, people came out in their numbers👪

Surprisingly, early results had Doe LOSING in the Presidential poll😲

To help make the vote counting process more efficient, Doe fired the election officials and replaced them with another group.

Coincidentally, this new group was made up of Doe's friends and tribesmen👀 Weird.

After 2 weeks, the REAL results were announced...

Doe JUST won the presidency, getting 50.9% of the vote😊

A number which sounds remarkably similar to...never mind.

Haters hated. The local press even had pictures📷of ballot papers that had been hidden and burned. Obviously photo-shop.

Despite the Liberian election being widely condemned as a fraud, the US government (who were a lot more connected to reality) declared it free "although marked by some irregularities"😊

A true and accurate assessment.

A US policy maker praised Doe for claiming that he had only won 51% of the vote. Because other leaders typically claimed margins of 90-95%.

So you see, if you get 51% you can't possibly have cheated😎

5. The haters continued to hate☹️

A month after the elections, one of Doe's army commanders Thomas Quiwonkpa pulled off a coup against his former boss.🤺

Seizing the airwaves, Q's force promised free and fair elections.

Like they didn't just have them🙄

The party didn't last long because the wily Doe was soon able to regain control.

Quiwonkpa was found and escorted by Doe's men to an imaginative death.😊

Our mans was kicked and punched to the point where he was unrecognisable.

Then he was dragged out into the streets, where in full view of citizens, soldiers castrated him and hacked of his limbs.🍴

And then ate his flesh - leaving the delicacy of his heart for last❤️

6. As we have learned, hell hath no wrath like a dictator scorned.🔥

Doe ruthlessly rounded up Q's friends and had them executed.

Never one to waste the moment, Doe used this as a moment to conduct a little bit of genocide...on the side.🍟

Doe strengthened the position of his minority tribe by targeting members of the army who were part of the bigger tribes.

By the time he was done, most people (who weren't from his tribe) hated Doe and you'd think the country would be poised for civil war...

7. But no! Because through it all, there was a friend who stuck closer than any other - the USA🇺🇸

Reporting on Liberia, US govt officials were impressed by the strides the cowntry was taking towards democracy and free expression.😊

Again, a true and accurate assessment.

8. Unfortunately, while you can rig an election - its a bit harder to rig the economy.

Especially when you're managing it like your own personal bank account.

Disillusioned by the corruption, investors began to leave🚶🏿‍♂️

Despite this, Doe's networks provided opportunities for his friends to launder money🧺

The number of banks🏦in Liberia increased rapidly. Even though most people were poor and unemployed. But thats besides the point...

9. Worrying about the state of Liberia's finances, 📈the USA sent in a team to help/audit.

The results were probably surprising to them - they discovered that Doe had not prioritised the development of Liberia at all but had spent all their aid money on keeping power👀

10. Disappointed, the USA withdrew all direct aid to Liberia and in so doing cut off Doe's last support line.

As we've seen over and over again, once the cash goes - its all downhill for our hero.😢

How Doe eventually lost power is a story for another day...

11. And thats the history lesson for today, folks!

I guess the moral of the story is that money really can control you.

Oh, and keep your friends close and your enemies closer - for your friends can soon become your enemies.

End of Part 2.