| Week
starting Saturday 16 July |
|
| Date |
Year |
Event |
|
| 16 |
1967 |
Europeans and Americans are reportedly fleeing Biafra,
the oil rich eastern region of Nigeria, as more Nigerian Federal troops are
sent into the area. |
| 16 |
1977 |
Soviet advisers are expelled from the Republic of Somali
by orders of the president, Muhammad Siyad Barre. |
|
|
For more on 16 July |
|
| 17 |
1901 |
King Leopold retains control of his Congo Free State
despite attempts by the Belgian government to annex the region.
International protest at the treatment of the indigenous peoples prompted
the move by Belgium. Unfortunately, the new arrangement has left Leopold
with even greater autonomy. |
| 17 |
1988 |
British Labour Party leader Neil Kinnock is held at gun
point by security forces in Zimbabwe when his plane lands at the 'wrong'
airport. |
|
|
For more on 17 July |
|
| 18 |
1918 |
Birth of South African statesman and anti-Apartheid
leader Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela at Mvezo, Umtata District, Transkei. |
| 18 |
1935 |
Emperor Haile Selassi tells the Abyssinian parliament in
Addis Ababa that it is "better to die for freedom than to live as a
slave" and that he would lay down his own life for the country.
"For forty years, Italy has desired to conquer our country, but
Abyssinia knows how to fight to the last man to preserve the country's
independence". |
|
|
For more on 18 July |
|
| 19 |
1956 |
The United States withdraws its offer of help to build
the Aswan Dam in Egypt. Although the publicly stated reason is Egypt's
increasing ties with the Soviet Union, it is widely understood that the US
government has caved into pressure by American cotton producers who fear
the resultant increase in Egypt's cotton crop should the dam (and thus
improved irrigation) be completed. |
| 19 |
1991 |
Inkathagate
A South African government minister has revealed that the Inkatha Freedom
Party, IFP, was funded by the government through the Department of National
Security (formally known as the Bureau of State Security, BOSS). The IFP
also received funding from various Conservative sources in Germany. The
revelation damaged the credibility of Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi (the IFP
leader) and the political backlash may have proved significant in his
decision to sign the National Peace Accord in September 1991. In 1994, it
was also revealed that South African security forces had provided guns,
ammo, and missiles to be used in township warfare. |
|
|
For more on 19 July |
|
| 20 |
1922 |
The League of Nations agrees to award former German
colonies as mandates: Tanganyika (which formed the greater part of the
German colony Deutsche Ostafrika, became independent in 1961 Tanzania in
1961) to Britain, the greater part of the colony of Togo to France (became
independent as Togo in 1960), the lesser part of Togo as Togoland to the
British (eventually became part of Ghana in 1957) and the German colony of
Kamerun to the French as Cameroun (eventually became Cameroon in 1960) and
to the British as British Cameroon North (became Nigeria in 1961) and
British Cameroon South (eventually joined with Cameroon in 1961). |
| 20 |
1967 |
Death of Chief Albert
(John Mvumbi) Luthuli whilst 'crossing' a railway track near his home
at Stanger, Natal. Chief Luthuli was an aclaimed anti-Apartheid leader and
president of the African National Congress from 1951 to 1967. |
|
|
For more on 20 July |
|
| 21 |
1901 |
Three cases of Buboinic plague have been reported in
Cape Town, South Africa. |
| 21 |
1985 |
A state of emergency is declared in South Africa.
President PW Botha says that "law-abiding black people"
are victims of violence and thuggery. It is denounced as a "desperate
act to stem the tide of liberation" by the South African Council
of Churches. |
|
|
For more on 21 July |
|
| 22 |
1942 |
World War II: North Africa
The First Battle of El Alamein continues: General Sir Claude Auchinleck
orders the XXX corps to stand fast against Axis forces between Ruweisat
ridge and the coast to the north, whilst the XIII corps, including the 2nd
New Zealand Division pursued Rommel's forces west from Ruweisat ridge to
the El Mreir Depression. Unfortunately Auchenleck loses a Brigade to German
tanks, 88 mm Flak Guns, and a minefield. |
| 22 |
1970 |
The Organisation of African Unity, OAU, criticises the
British government for restarting arms sales to South Africa. |
|
|
For more on 22 July |
|
