| Week
starting Saturday 17 September |
|
| Date |
Year |
Event |
|
| 17 |
1942 |
World War II: North Africa
Despite Montgomery's plan to launch Operation 'Lightfoot' in October,
Churchill has ordered General Sir Claude Auchenleck, Commander-in-Chief
Middle East, to move ahead and attack by the end of September. After
consultation with Montgomery, Auchenleck rejects Churchill's demands,
pointing out that the troops would not be ready in time. |
| 17 |
1995 |
Pope John Paul II begins a six day tour of Africa by
celebrating a papal mass in South Africa. |
|
|
For more on 17
September |
|
| 18 |
1972 |
A small army of Ugandan exiles crosses the border from
Tanzania, but is easily repulsed. |
| 18 |
1972 |
President Muammar Muhammad Gaddafi, Libya, and President
Muhammad Ahmad Anwar Sadat, Egypt, agree to a joint capital: Cairo. |
|
|
For more on 18
September |
|
| 19 |
1903 |
King Leopold II of Belgium denies accusations of cruelty
in the Congo Free State and demands that foreign powers no longer interfere
in the running of his private country. |
| 19 |
1914 |
World War I: Southern Africa
Lüderitzburg, German South West Africa, is captured by South African
troops. |
|
|
For more on 19
September |
|
| 20 |
1960 |
The Federation of Mali, which was formed with Senegal
out of the former Soudan Francais, splits and Mali becomes an independent
republic. Modibo Keita remains president of Mali. |
| 20 |
1979 |
David Dacko becomes president of a newly re-instated
Central African Republic. He replaces Emperor Bokassa I who had renamed the
country the Central African Empire when he came to power on 4 December
1976. |
|
|
For more on 20
September |
|
| 21 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, Middle East, now
reinforced with troops and tanks sent out from Britain, begins a
counter-offensive against General Rodolfo Graziani and his troops at Sidi
Barrani. Graziani has refused to move further into Egypt despite continual
instructions form Mussolini to continue with the invasion. |
| 21 |
1991 |
Mozambique and South Africa begin discussions which lead
to the creation of a cross-border conservation park which will include the
Kruger National Park. |
|
|
For more on 21
September |
|
| 22 |
1972 |
Asians are arriving in London following their mass
expulsion from Uganda. |
| 22 |
1994 |
Anthropologists digging in the Middle Awash region of
Ethiopia have discovered fossils of a hominid, considered to be a potential
'missing link'. Its official name is to be Ardipithecus ramidus. |
|
|
For more on 22
September |
|
| 23 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
Free French troops, under the command of General Charles de Gaulle, are
landed in Senegal by the British Royal Navy. |
| 23 |
1976 |
The Apartheid government in South Africa announces its
decision to allow multi-racial teams to represent the country in
international sporting events. Back at home, however, segregation is still
strictly imposed. |
|
|
For more on 23
September |
|
