The Big Picture:
15 January:
1971 -- President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Soviet Politburo member Nikolai Viktorovich Podgorny officiate at the opening of the Aswan High Dam.
1995 -- Joe Slovo, anti-Apartheid activist and general secretary of the South African Communist Party in the 1980s, who died from leukaemia on 6 January, is given a state funeral.
For more on 15 January.
16 January:
1956 -- Islam becomes the official Egyptian state religion, by order of Egyptian government.
1970 -- Private Muammar Kadhaffi, promoted to Colonel, becomes premier of Libya.
For more on 16 January.
17 January:
1986 -- There are reports of heavy fighting between government troops of President Tito Lutwa Okello and Yoweri Kaguta Museveni's National Resistance Army in Uganda. See next (25/1/86)
For more on 17 January.
18 January:
1978 -- President Anwar Sadat of Egypt calls back his delegation at peace talks in Cairo following a lack of movement over Palestinian involvement.
1982 -- Following the failed attempt to oust President France-Albert René of the Seychelles, Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare and 44 others are arrested in South Africa and charged with hijacking a plane.
For more on 18 January.
19 January:
2004 -- President Lansana Conté of Guinea is sworn in for a third term.
2005 -- An assassination attempt is made by an unidentified group on President Lansana Conté of Guinea whilst travelling in a presidential convoy.
For more on 19 January.
20 January:
1986 -- Following claims by South Africa's Apartheid government that Lesotho was a haven for black nationalist terrorists, it imposed an effective embargo on all movement across the landlocked state's borders. General Justin Metsing Lekhanya stages a military coup, deposing Lesotho's Prime Minister Joseph Leabua Jonathan. It is believed that the coup was funded by South Africa.
For more on 20 January.
21 January:
1970 -- Controversy rages over the plight of Biafra after the surrender by rebels to Nigerian forces. Wide spread starvation and public disorder is being reported by western journalists.
1992 -- Libya is ordered by the UN to hand over two of its nationals believed linked to the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.
For more on 21 January.
