Kukoi Samba Sanyang

Kukoi Samba Sanyang (born 1952) led a 1981 rebellion against the democratically elected Gambian government of President Dawda Jawara.

On 30 July 1981, while Jawara was abroad, a 12-member National Revolutionary Council (NRC) headed by Sanyang seized control of the country. The leftist NRC accused Jawara's government of being "corrupt, tribalistic, and despotic". They also announced the suspension of the country's constitution and proclaimed their intention to establish a "dictatorship of the proletariat".

The attempted coup ended on 5 August when Senegalese troops defeated the rebel forces.