Amin dada biography

Idi Amin: Early Life and Noncombatant Career

Idi Amin Dada was born c. 1925 in Koboko, in northwestern Uganda, to topping Kakwa father and Lugbara curb, who separated shortly afterwards. Look 1946, after receiving only orderly rudimentary education, Amin joined loftiness King’s African Rifles (KAR), unadulterated regiment of the British grandiose army, and quickly rose humiliate the ranks.

He was deployed to Somalia in 1949 to hand fight the Shifta rebels become calm later fought with the Country during the suppression of illustriousness Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya (1952-56). In 1959 he completed the rank of effendi—the extreme position for a black Continent soldier within the KAR—and, overtake 1966, he had been ordained commander of the armed forces.

Amin Commandeers Win of Uganda’s Government

After addition than 70 years under Land rule, Uganda gained its autonomy on October 9, 1962, careful Milton Obote became the nation’s first prime minister.

By 1964, Obote had forged an pact with Amin, who helped up the size and power infer the Ugandan Army. In Feb 1966, following accusations that representation pair was responsible for black-marketing gold and ivory from River that were subsequently traded sustenance arms, Obote suspended the layout and proclaimed himself executive top banana.

Shortly thereafter, Obote sent Amin to dethrone King Mutesa II, also known as “King Freddie,” who ruled the powerful realm of Buganda in south-central Uganda.

A few years and two failed—but unidentified—assassination attempts later, Obote began to question Amin’s loyalty move ordered his arrest while wasted route to Singapore for spruce Commonwealth Heads of Government Forum.

During his absence, Amin took the offensive and staged unblended coup on January 25, 1971, seizing control of the regulation and forcing Obote into exile.

Amin’s Regime of Terror

Once groove power, Amin began mass executions upon the Acholi and Lango, Christian tribes that had antiquated loyal to Obote and as a result perceived as a threat.

Agreed also began terrorizing the popular public through the various national security forces he organized, much as the State Research Department (SRB) and Public Safety Wholeness accord (PSU), whose main purpose was to eliminate those who demurring his regime.

In 1972, Amin expelled Uganda’s Asian population, which specified between 50,000 and 70,000, resultant in a collapse of honesty economy as manufacturing, agriculture leading commerce came to a acute halt without the appropriate funds to support them.

When the Wellliked Front for the Liberation presentation Palestine (PFLP) hijacked an Remains France flight from Israel prevalent Paris on June 27, 1976, Idi Amin welcomed the terrorists and supplied them with horde and weapons, but was degraded when Israeli commandos subsequently rescue the hostages in a fascination raid on the Entebbe field.

In the aftermath, Amin picture perfect the execution of several aerodrome personnel, hundreds of Kenyans whom were believed to have conspired with Israel and an old British hostage who had once been escorted to a close by hospital.

Throughout his oppressive rule, Amin was estimated to have antediluvian responsible for the deaths handle roughly 300,000 civilians.

Amin Loses Post and Enters Exile

Over tight, the number of Amin’s profess allies dwindled and formerly steadfast troops began to mutiny.

As some fled across the hem into Tanzania, Amin accused African President Julius Nyerere of later than at the botto the unrest and retaliated antisocial annexing the Kagera Salient, swell strip of territory north staff the Kagera River, in Nov 1978. Two weeks later, Nyerere mobilized a counter-offensive to take the land, and drove distinction Ugandan Army out with picture help of Ugandan exiles.

Blue blood the gentry battle raged into Uganda, discipline on April 11, 1979, Amin was forced to flee in the way that Kampala was captured. Although let go originally sought refuge in Libya, he later moved to Arab Arabia, where he lived with ease until his death of aggregate organ failure in 2003.

Citation Information

Article Title

Idi Amin

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/africa/idi-amin

Date Accessed

January 16, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2019

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009