Bokassa justified his actions by claiming that creating a monarchy would help Central Africa "stand out" from the rest of the continent, and earn the world's respect.

An undercover commando squad from the French intelligence agency SDECE, joined by the 1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment led by Colonel Brancion-Rouge, landed by Transall C-160, and managed to secure Bangui M'Poko International Airport.

[6] When Jean-Bédel Bokassa took control of the Central African Republic, the French president at the time, Charles de Gaulle, did not want to engage with the new leader, refusing to receive him and calling him a "bloody idiot.

"[4] After heavy advising from his chief of staff, Jacques Foccart, De Gaulle finally met Bokassa in 1969, three years after he came into power.

[7] When Bokassa declared that he was going to be hosting a coronation for himself as the emperor of the new Central African Empire, many of the novelties that attributed to the luxurious event came from France.

These included elephant tusks, ivory carved objects as well as precious stones estimated to be worth one million francs.

Operation Barracuda entailed French soldiers entering the country [12] while Bokassa was on a trip to Libya and instating David Dacko, who had been exiled to Paris,[13] as the new leader.

France cut off all humanitarian aid for media presence and then later sent French troops into Bangui, the nation's capital, to install David Dacko as the new leader.

[13] Leaders from Chad, Congo (then Zaire) all agreed to the idea as well as to aid the French in transport and military support for Operation Barracuda.