Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Saint-Sylvestre coup d’état


 * The following is an archived discussion of a featured article nomination. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the article's talk page or in Wikipedia talk:Featured article candidates. No further edits should be made to this page.

The article was promoted by User:SandyGeorgia 01:37, 13 June 2008.

Saint-Sylvestre coup d’état
This article details a coup d’état staged by Jean-Bedel Bokassa against the government of David Dacko. Bokassa became a ruthless dictator, just like Idi Amin. Dacko regained power 13 years later, but was again overthrown in another coup. Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 02:01, 1 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Support It reads like a well-written story. I couldn't find any major issues.

Oppose for now. I found a few issues. Switching to Comments for now because I haven't given another look yet.

Gary King ( talk ) 06:22, 1 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Support - Good prose, fully referenced and sufficient images make for a very nice read. — Wackymacs ( talk  ~  edits ) 06:18, 9 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Comments - sources look good, links checked out with the link checker (although you might want to put in that a fee is required to access the JSTOR article). Ealdgyth - Talk 13:26, 1 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Support - I read it through, made some small fixes for grammar/readability, and I believe all the criteria are met. Well-done treatment of a little-known but important episode that I am sure readers will find a gripping account. Biruitorul Talk 23:39, 2 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Comment A very good work even if I feel the lead could have a slight trimming. I have more serious objections regarding the second part of the "Aftermath" section, i.e. the "Banza and Dacko" subsection: differently from the rest of the aftermath section this part has only weak connections with the coup events.--Aldux (talk) 01:06, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I believe this section is appropriate because it discusses the fate of the two other main figures of the coup, Dacko and Banza. What would you suggest I do with this section? Trim it? Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 14:55, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Yes, in my view that would be the right way to proceed. And a last issue: maybe the article should be renamed; it seems to be quite largely known as the Coup d'état of Saint Sylvestre. Kalck in his Historical Dictionary of the Central African Republic reserves a seperate entry for the coup with the title "SAINT-SYLVESTRE, COUP D'ETAT OF". See also page 28: "Originator of the coup d'etat called the Saint-Sylvestre coup" (in French, by the same authour, "modifiée par le coup d'État de 1966, dit "coup d'État de la Saint-Sylvestre" [La République Centrafricaine, p. 29, 1971]). Also Titley calls the coup repeatedly either "coup of Saint-Sylvestre" or "Saint-Sylvestre coup". This is also the name given by other writers: Loubat, L'ogre de Berengo: "Bokassa m'a dit", Biarnes Si tu vois le margouillat: souvenirs d'Afrique, Cornevin, Histoire de l'Afrique contemporaine, and others.--Aldux (talk) 17:43, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * That was the title I was planning on using at first. However, it seemed misleading since the most of the coup occurred on New Year's Day. Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 17:57, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * It's true the coup's execution continued on the following day, but shouldn't we follow in wikipedia the best known name? In the lead's article we can make it clear that the coup took place in 2 days, but we shouldn't attempt to "correct" the sources, because we dislike or feel wrong the way they have called it: especially when, like in this case, it would seem this name is a well estabilished tradition.--Aldux (talk) 19:05, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * I see your point. I have moved the article to a more appropriate title. I've also made a note regarding the name of the coup. Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 21:00, 8 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Thanks Nishkid, and as for the FAC, I support, because despite I feel the second part of the "aftermath" section would be OK with some trimming, I feel this article is already worthy of being a FA. And my compliments for the great work you're doing on African-related articles!--Aldux (talk) 23:20, 8 June 2008 (UTC)

 Comments by Ruhrfisch  I now see my copyedits have made me the second contributor in terms of number of edits. If it is allowed, I will Support as the issues I raised have been addressed satisfactorily, I feel the prose now meets 1A and the article meets all the other criteria as well. Ruhrfisch &gt;&lt;&gt; &deg; &deg; 17:39, 9 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the review, Ruhrfisch. The article now has 46 total edits, six of which were made by you (as part of the FA review). :) Nishkid64 (Make articles, not wikidrama) 17:49, 9 June 2008 (UTC)
 * Glad to be of help, thanks for an interesting article. I think this may be the fewest edits to FAC I have ever seen. Ruhrfisch &gt;&lt;&gt; &deg; &deg; 18:34, 9 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Comment - Images look good copyright-wise and all comply with policy. Kelly  hi! 01:36, 10 June 2008 (UTC)
 * The above discussion is preserved as an archive. Please do not modify it. No further edits should be made to this page.