Guns at Batasi

A strict, battle-tested NCO who embodies the old guard of the army. He commands with iron discipline and practical resolve, earning unwavering loyalty from his men. During the crisis, he maintains order and composure, even as tensions threaten the base, and his rare moment of anger signals the depth of the pressure. In the end, he yields to the political reality by leaving the country, signaling a shift in authority.

The newly appointed African commanding officer whose arrest triggers the siege. He represents emerging indigenous leadership within a fragile post-colonial frame. Wounded during the coup, he remains a symbol of authority around which both sides orient themselves. His position underscores the transition from colonial command to African sovereignty.

A UN secretary drawn into the Batasi crisis, she offers a diplomatic perspective on events and becomes a romantic entry point for the story. Her presence highlights the international dimension of the post-colonial upheaval. She observes the interplay of power, loyalty, and reform from a global vantage point.

A British Labour MP visiting Batasi, her presence brings domestic politics into the crisis. She presses for humanitarian and political restraint, adding a pressurized ethical layer to decisions at the base. Her viewpoint reflects outside scrutiny of colonial-era arrangements as the situation unfolds.

A member of the British contingent at Batasi, Dodger provides practical, street-smart perspectives amid the crisis. He navigates the danger and absurdities of military life while maintaining loyalty to his unit. His reactions mirror the tension between duty and survival during a coup.

Another member of the British force at Batasi, he serves as part of the busy, diverse cast of soldiers trying to maintain order. He contributes to the base’s atmosphere of camaraderie under pressure. His role emphasizes the multinational makeup of the force policing a fragile independence-era landscape.