| Week
starting Saturday 20 August |
|
| Date |
Year |
Event |
|
| 20 |
1900 |
Major Gibbons, British explorer, claims to have found
the source of the Zambizi. |
| 20 |
1955 |
Simultaneous attacks by Algerian rebels against French
targets in the Constantine district of Algeria have resulted in over 500
deaths and 200 wounded. At the same time nationalists have taken to the
streets in Morocco. The attacks and demonstrations mark the second
anniversary of the French deposition of the Sultan of Morocco, Siyyidi
Mohammed V ibn Youssef, in favour of Muhammad Ben Aarafa. |
|
|
For more on 20 August |
|
| 21 |
1961 |
Jomo Kenyatta at the age of 69 is released from
detention by Kenya's colonial master Britain. Kenyatta, who had been
arrested in 1953 and sentenced to hard labour for running the Mau Mau,
considered by the British to be a secret Kenyan terrorist organisation. Two
years ago the slow process leading to today's release began when he was
moved from prison to a house specially built for him in Gatundu, 20
kilometres out of Nairobi. |
| 21 |
1989 |
George Adamson, conservationist, dies in Kenya. |
|
|
For more on 21 August |
|
| 22 |
1972 |
The International Olympics Committee finally removes
Rhodesia from the list of competitors. |
| 22 |
1978 |
Kenyan President Jomo Kenyatta (born Kamau Johnstone on
20 October 1891) dies in office. He is succeeded by his vice-president
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi. |
|
|
For more on 22 August |
|
| 23 |
1956 |
A 22-nation conference has just ended with a plan for
international control of the Suez Canal and the Australian prime minister,
Robert Menzies, is due to fly out to Cairo to present it to Colonel Nasser.
Four of the 22 nations taking part refused to sign the deal, and the Soviet
Union is now threatening to send troops to aid the Egyptians should Britain
and France attempt to solve the dispute with force. Meanwhile a Royal
Proclamation to call up reservists in the UK has been issued and over 100
charter planes have been contracted to fly British troops to bases on the
Mediterranean. |
| 23 |
1964 |
Over one hundred European mercenaries are reported in
the Congo supporting government troops.. |
|
|
For more on 23 August |
|
| 24 |
1955 |
Talks between Egypt and Israel in an attempt to end
disputes over the Gaza Strip fail. Fighting is expected to flare up between
the two countries soon. The talks were doomed after Israeli forces attacked
Egyptian troops in the Egyptian held region on 28 February this year,
ending six years of truce (signed on 24 February 1949).. |
| 24 |
1965 |
An agreement to end the Yemen War is reached between
Egypt and Saudi Arabia. |
|
|
For more on 24 August |
|
| 25 |
1935 |
With an impending Italian invasion Emperor Haile
Selassie prepares Abyssinia for the worst. Evacuation of Addis Ababa will
begin tomorrow. |
| 25 |
1964 |
Kenneth David Kaunda wins Zambian elections and will
become the first president of an independent republic on 24 October 1964. |
|
|
For more on 25 August |
|
| 26 |
1936 |
Egypt once again becomes an independent state after 50
years of occupation, first by the French and then by the British. The
Anglo-Egyptian treaty is signed by Egyptian and British Prime Ministers
(Nahas Pasha and Anthony eden) ending the British Protectorate over Egypt.
Britain will, however, retain control over the Suez Canal for another 20
years. |
| 26 |
1986 |
One thousand five hundred people are reported dead
around Lake Nios, Cameroon, when poisonous gas (a mixture of carbon dioxide
and hydrogen sulphide) spews from a volcanic fissure near the lake. In one
village of 700 only two people survive. Israeli and French rescue teams are
being sent to help. |
|
|
For more on 26 August |
|
