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| 1977, Oct. 31 |
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| In the country's first national elections, Henk Arron was returned as prime minister. Arron promised economic reform to reduce Surinam's dependence on bauxite exports. | 1 |
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| 1980, Feb. 25 |
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| Surinamese army sergeants deposed Prime Minister Arron and installed the National Military Council (NMC) under Lt. Michel van Rey, with Chin A. Sen as president. | 2 |
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| 1982, Feb. 5 |
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| Pres. Chin A. Sen was deposed by a leftist military coup led by Lt. Col. Deysey Bouterse. | 3 |
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| Dec. 10 |
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| Martial law was imposed amid strikes and protests over the execution of 15 opposition leaders by government security forces. | 4 |
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