1602, 8 April
Prince Maurice of Orange and Johan van Oldenbarnevelt persuade 73 directors of trading companies to unite as the Vereenighde Oostindische g'octrooijeerde Compangie (VOC, Dutch East India Company). The number later reduces to 60.
1652, 8 April
Jan van Riebeeck holds a meeting of the Breë Raad (Broad Council) abord the Dommedaris. Preliminary observations and assessment is underway for the establishment of a settlement in Table Bay.
1906, 8 April
Spain and France gain control of Morocco on the signing of the Algerias Act.
1911, 8 April
French forces at Fez are attacked by Moors.
1915, 8 April
Sultan of Egypt survives an assassination attempt.
1919, 8 April
Birth of Ian Douglas Smith, prime minister of Rhodesia from 1964 to 1979.
1924, 8 April
Industrial Conciliation Act No 11 of 1924 introduces job reservation for whites in South Africa.
1938, 8 April
Birth of Kofi Annan, seventh Secretary-general of the United Nations (1997 to 2006) is born in Kumasi in Ghana. Annan was awarded (jointly with the United Nations) the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001.
1953, 8 April
Jomo Kenyatta (who is known to his followers as Burning Spear) and five other co-accused are sentenced to seven years hard labor for their alleged part in the Mau Mau rebellion. In passing sentence Judge Ransley Thacker commented "[Kenyatta] you have successfully plunged many Africans back to a state which shows little humanity. You have persuaded them tin secret to murder, burn and commit atrocities which will take many years to forget." Kenyatta, and the other five, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, claiming that they "stood for the rights of the African people and peace in Kenya."
1961, 8 April
A French referendum calls for a peace settlement with Algerian nationalists.
1962 8 April
French government ratifies an Algerian truce following a 90% majority in parliament.
1986, 8 April
Military strike against Libya is plotted by US Reagan administration.
1992, 8 April
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasir Arafat survives a plane crash in Libya.
1994, 8 April
Théodore Sindikubwabo, former speaker of the Rwandan parliament announces the formation of an interim government, with himself as president.
