1961 Salvadoran coup d'état
Date 25 January 1961 Location El Salvador Result Counter-coup successful Formation of anti-Communist military junta Outlawing of communist parties
Belligerents
Junta of Government	Armed Forces (rebels)
Commanders and leaders
César Yanes Urías	Aníbal Portillo

The 1961 Salvadoran coup d'état was a successful countercoup in El Salvador led by Colonel Aníbal Portillo against the short-lived Junta of Government that had taken power in 1960, replacing the reformist military junta with an ardent anti-communist government named the Civic-Military Directory. By the end of that year, military governance had given way to democratic rule.^[1]

Motives behind the military overthrow were reactionary in nature, driven by military fears of a Communist takeover within the country,^[2] due to the perceived sympathies of the reformist junta towards Communist and Cuban influence.^[3] These concerns were further exacerbated by the visit to Cuba by far-left Salvadoran extremists, spurring the disunited Armed Forces to unify in safeguarding the state from Communism.^[2]

On 25 January 1961, the planned military coup, which had the backing of every top army official, was finally executed, ending in the successful deposing of the six-man civilian-military junta. The avowedly anti-communist Civic-Military Directory that succeeded them permitted the continued activity of all non-Communist political parties ahead of planned congressional elections.^[2] Meanwhile, Communist parties were outlawed.^[4] The new government promised early elections, social and agrarian reforms, along with close cooperation with the United States.^[3] The US promptly extended diplomatic recognition to the military junta on February 15.^[1]

Fulfilling their promise to return the country to constitutional government, constituent assembly elections were held in December.^[1] On 5 January 1962, the newly drafted constitution was approved by the Constituent Assembly.^[1] Three days later on 8 January, a provisional president was elected: Eusebio Rodolfo Cordón Cea.^[1]