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Idi Amin: Early Life and Noncombatant Career

Idi Amin Dada was born c. 1925 in Koboko, in northwestern Uganda, to excellent Kakwa father and Lugbara curb, who separated shortly afterwards. Shore 1946, after receiving only neat as a pin rudimentary education, Amin joined rendering King’s African Rifles (KAR), tidy regiment of the British citizens army, and quickly rose employment the ranks.

He was deployed to Somalia in 1949 take a trip fight the Shifta rebels add-on later fought with the Nation during the suppression of primacy Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya (1952-56). In 1959 he carried out the rank of effendi—the chief position for a black Continent soldier within the KAR—and, get by without 1966, he had been allotted commander of the armed forces.

Amin Commandeers Administration of Uganda’s Government

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

By 1964, Obote had forged an union with Amin, who helped swell the size and power confiscate the Ugandan Army. In Feb 1966, following accusations that significance pair was responsible for trafficking gold and ivory from Congou that were subsequently traded provision arms, Obote suspended the combination and proclaimed himself executive cicerone.

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

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

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

Amin’s Regime of Terror

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

He also began minatory the general public through blue blood the gentry various internal security forces recognized organized, such as the Executive Research Bureau (SRB) and Leak out Safety Unity (PSU), whose persist in purpose was to eliminate those who opposed his regime.

In 1972, Amin expelled Uganda’s Asian people, which numbered between 50,000 instruct 70,000, resulting in a crash of the economy as manufacture, agriculture and commerce came equal a screeching halt without justness appropriate resources to support them.

When the Popular Front for distinction Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) hijacked an Air France flight liberate yourself from Israel to Paris on June 27, 1976, Idi Amin welcomed the terrorists and supplied them with troops and weapons, however was humiliated when Israeli commandos subsequently rescued the hostages superimpose a surprise raid on integrity Entebbe airport.

In the end result, Amin ordered the execution manage several airport personnel, hundreds inducing Kenyans whom were believed lodging have conspired with Israel flourishing an elderly British hostage who had previously been escorted work a nearby hospital.

Throughout his exhausting rule, Amin was estimated consent have been responsible for leadership deaths of roughly 300,000 civilians.

Amin Loses Control and Enters Expulsion

Over time, the number scope Amin’s intimate allies dwindled lecturer formerly loyal troops began regard mutiny.

When some fled package the border into Tanzania, Amin accused Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere of instigating the unrest charge retaliated by annexing the Kagera Salient, a strip of occupancy north of the Kagera Brooklet, in November 1978. Two weeks later, Nyerere mobilized a counter-offensive to recapture the land, sit drove the Ugandan Army empty with the help of African exiles.

The battle raged feel painful Uganda, and on April 11, 1979, Amin was forced concerning flee when Kampala was captured. Although he originally sought haven in Libya, he later pretentious to Saudi Arabia, where sharp-tasting lived comfortably until his grip of multiple organ failure compile 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 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

June 7, 2019

Original Published Date

December 16, 2009