1942, 6 January - World War II: North Africa
As the British advance reaches Mersa Brega and El Agheila in the Western Desert, Rommel takes delivery of 55 new tanks.
1960, 6 January
British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan begins his "winds of change" tour of Africa in Ghana.
1995, 6 January
Joe Slovo, head of the South African Communist party, dies of leukaemia at the age of 68.
