How a Failed Coup D’Etat Can Shape the Trajectory of a State: The Events and Consequences of 6 April 1984 in Cameroon

This article addresses the failed coup d'Etat of 6 April 1984, in Cameroon, asking what it can teach us about Cameroon's post-1984 political path. The article makes two main contributions. First, it offers evidence that the failed coup provided President Biya an opportunity to legitimate his power in the eyes of the people, while at the same time allowing him to seise control of key institutions like the party, the army, and state-owned companies. Second, the failed coup facilitated the state's push towards authoritarianism by allowing the president to eliminate his opponents and adopt measures, like the creation of paramilitary units, the granting of special dispensations to security forces, and the hiring of mercenaries, that prevented future coups and helped keep Biya in power.