Page "Jean-Bédel Bokassa" Paragraph 24

On 10 October 1979, the Canard Enchaîné satirical newspaper reported that President Bokassa had offered the then Minister of Finance Valéry Giscard d ' Estaing two diamonds in 1973.

This soon became a major political scandal known as the Diamonds Affair, which contributed significantly to Giscard d ' Estaing's losing his reelection bid.

The Franco-Central African relationship drastically changed when France's Renseignements Généraux intelligence service learned of Bokassa's willingness to become a partner of Muammar al-Gaddafi of Libya.

In early December 1979, the French council officially stopped all support to Bokassa.