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The diamonds affair, known in France as "l'affaire des diamants", was a political scandal in the 5th French Republic. In 1973, the French Minister of Finance, future president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, was offered two diamonds from the President (and future Emperor) of the Central African Republic, Jean-Bédel Bokassa. The affair was unveiled by the satiric newspaper Le Canard Enchaîné on October 10, 1979, towards the end of Giscard's presidency.
In order to defend himself, Giscard d'Estaing claimed to have sold the diamonds and donated the proceeds to the Central African Red Cross. He expected CAR authorities to confirm the story. However, the head of the local Red Cross society, Jeanne-Marie Ruth-Rolland, publicly denied the French claims. Ruth-Rolland was quickly dismissed from her post by in what she described as a "coup de force" by David Dacko.
The saga contributed to Giscard losing his 1981 bid for reelection.
References
- Titley, Brian (2002-02-22). "10: Operation Revenge". Dark Age: The Political Odyssey of Emperor Bokassa. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. pp. 136–151. ISBN 978-0-7735-2418-7. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- Dowell, William (18 November 1980). "Le Monde raises government hackles with diamond scandal questions". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- "France's President Says He Sold Bokassa Jewels". The New York Times. 11 March 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- AP (18 March 1981). "Giscard Accused Anew On African Diamonds". The New York Times. p. 4. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
- Dupin, Eric (2001). "La Corruption Politique". French Politics, Culture and Society (in French). 19. doi:10.3167/153763701782370163.
- Bradshaw, Richard; Fandos-Rius, Juan (2016). Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic (New ed.). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 550–551. ISBN 9780810879911.
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