Fresh up this week is a new, two part African History Timeline for Djibouti, a brief review of the two main ethnic groups of the republic, and a look at the mediaeval era The Adal Sultanate and its most important leader, Ahmad Grāñ.

Djibouti Timeline
• Part 1: Prehistory to Independence
• Part 2: Independence to Present Day

Ethnic Groups in Djibouti
• Afar People of Djibouti
• Issa People of Djibouti

Djibouti in Mediaeval Times
• The Adal Sultanate
• Ahmad Grāñ

New on the African History Glossary:

• What is the significance of the port of Saylac?
• What is the significance of the port of Obock?

General Idi Amin Dada took power in Uganda by military coup on 25 January 1971 while the existing president, Milton Obote, was at a Commonwealth meeting in Singapore. This was a pre-emptive strike since President Obote was arranging for General Amin to be arrested and replaced as chief of staff.

During his period of rule, Amin would personally order the execution of the Anglican archbishop of Uganda, the chief justice, the chancellor of Makerere College, governor of the Bank of Uganda, and several of his own parliamentary ministers. In 1972 he declared 'economic war' on Uganda's Asian population, expelled his Israeli military advisors and turned to Colonel Gadhafi in Libya and the Soviet Union for support.

Find out more in this biography of Idi Amin Dada.

Following an overnight battle at Rorke's Drift, 150 British and Imperial soldiers successfully defended this isolated station against a force of more than 3,000 Zulu warriors, at a cost of 15 dead and 10 wounded. Hailed as heroes across the British Empire, 11 of the defenders were awarded the Victoria Cross. (It was only in 1999 that a memorial was finally constructed to the brave Zulu warriors who fought for their beleaguered nation.)

Find out more about the Anglo-Zulu War ...