| Week
starting Saturday 24 September |
|
| Date |
Year |
Event |
|
| 24 |
1976 |
Ian Douglas Smith, the Rhodesian prime minister,
announces in a 20 minute radio broadcast that a two year plan is in place
for the transition to black majority rule. The government is to be
immediately replaced by a Council of State made up of equal numbers of
black and white representatives. The chairman, will however, be white. It
is believed that the prime minister's change of direction is due to heavy
international, political pressure - most noticeably form the US Secretary
of State, Henry Kissinger. |
|
|
For more on 24
September |
|
| 25 |
1901 |
The kingdom of the Ashanti is annexed by the British as
part of the Gold Coast colony. |
| 25 |
1940 |
World War II: North Africa
General Charles de Gaulle's Free French landing at Dakar, Senegal, is
repulsed. |
|
|
For more on 25
September |
|
| 26 |
1941 |
World War II: North Africa
The Western Desert Force is upgraded through the presence of two complete
corps: the XIII and XXX. General Sir Alan Cunningham is given overall
command of the newly names Eight Army. Troops include Australian, New
Zealand, South African, Indian, Free French and Polish soldiers. |
| 26 |
1992 |
President FW de Klerk and ANC leader Nelson Mandela
reach a deal for the process to majority rule in South Africa at a summit
in Johannesburg. |
|
|
For more on 26
September |
|
| 27 |
1975 |
Leo Tindermans is the first Belgian leader to visit the
republic of Zaire since the collapse of the Congo Free State formally
'owned' by the Belgian king, Leopold II. |
| 27 |
1992 |
In swift reaction to yesterdays announcement of a deal
between President FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg,
Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), announces
his party will boycott the constitutional negotiations. |
|
|
For more on 27
September |
|
| 28 |
1911 |
Italy issues an ultimatum to Turkey to hand over control
of Tripolitania, the only region of North Africa not under European
control. It is feared that the ultimatum is simply a piece of political
mis-direction since Italian warships have already been sighted off the port
of Tripoli. |
| 28 |
1970 |
President Nasser (Khalid Gamal an-Nasir) dies of a heart
attack - he had led power in Egypt since 24 November 1954. He is to by
succeeded by Muhammad Anwar Sadat. |
|
|
For more on 28
September |
|
| 29 |
1935 |
Haile Selassie, Emperor of Ethiopia, warns the League of
Nations that he is going to mobilise his forces because of threats of
invasion by Italy. |
| 29 |
1942 |
World War II: East Africa
South African troops are landed at Tulearon (Toliara) on the south west
coast of Madagascar, to support the East African force based at Tananarive
(Antananarivo). |
|
|
For more on 29
September |
|
| 30 |
1920 |
France takes over the mandate for Togo (previously a
German colony). |
| 30 |
1966 |
Botswana
(previously known as Bechuanaland) achieves independence (within the
Commonwealth) from Britain. |
|
|
For more on 30
September |
|
