2016 Cape Verde army mutiny

Monte Tchota massacre
Location of São Domingos municipality Santiago within Cape Verde islands
Date 25–27 April 2016 (2 days) Location Monte Tchota, Santiago Island, Cape Verde 15°04′N 23°38′W / 15.067°N 23.633°W / 15.067; -23.633Coordinates: 15°04′N 23°38′W / 15.067°N 23.633°W / 15.067; -23.633 Result Mutiny put down
Belligerents
Cabo Verdean Armed Forces and Police
Casualties and losses
8 Cape Verdean Army soldiers and 1 civilian contractor dead[1] 2 Spanish contractors dead[1]
Total: 11 killed

The 2016 Cape Verde army mutiny known as the Monte Tchota massacre^[2][3][4] by Cape Verde media, occurred in the early hours of the 25th of April.

Monte Tchota massacre

Between the hours of 9:30 and 10:00 in the morning, a rogue FACV soldier identified as 23 year old Manuel Antonio Silva Ribeiro, opened fire at the Monte Tchota army barracks, 27 km (17 miles) north of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde.^[5] The shooting occurred as the soldiers were helping to repair antennas at the top of the hill near the barracks. Antonio Ribeiro opened fire on his fellow soldiers, shooting eight to death. In the aftermath of the shootings, the ex-soldier killed the three technicians, two Spanish and a local Cape Verdean, who stopped him from leaving in a getaway car. Eight Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition were stolen from the dead soldiers and later discovered in the abandoned car nearby.

The bodies were discovered shot to death 24-hours later by a police officer.^[6][7]

Victims

FACV Soldiers; Nelson Neide de Brito, of Brava island, Romario Steffan Dias Lima, of St. Anthony island, Anacleto Lopes dos Santos, of St. Anthony island, Marilson Adérito Fernandes Delgado, of Santiago island, Mario Stanick Fernandes Pereira, of Santiago island, José Maria Correia Ribeiro, of Santiago island, Wilson Ramos Mendes, of Santiago island, Adérito Silva Rocha, of Santiago island.^[1]

Civilians; Danielson Reis Monteiro (Cape Verde), Angelo Martinez Ruiz and David Sanches Zamarreno (Spain).^[1]

Arrests

The rogue FACV soldier was arrested by in a joint operation by judicial police and the military two days later in a neighborhood of the capital of Praia.^[1][8]

In response to the incident President Jorge Carlos Fonseca said a personal feud was being the killings, ruling out an attempted coup or links to the drug trade.^[9]

References