In the early phases of the Indonesian National Revolution, the residents of West Sumatra had felt that the authorities of the Republic of Indonesia had not been radical enough in taking actions against the Dutch.

[2] In November 1946, the Linggadjati Agreement was signed, which in West Sumatra meant that Indonesian army units were required to withdraw from the city of Padang, an unpopular decision for the locals.

[2] This resentment was furthered by grievances by soldiers on the frontlines against civilian administrators and their officers, in addition to a lack of Masyumi representation in the residency government and the fact that military supplies were allocated almost exclusively for regular army units with militia groups receiving effectively nothing.

[4][5] Due to the prior knowledge, Republican military leaders had formed operational plans which dictated a policy of minimal violence to prevent losses.

[6] Outside of Bukittinggi, the rebels managed to capture some civilian officials (such as future minister Eny Karim),[5] but by morning the following day principal coup leaders had been arrested.