1922, 12 March
Following the declaration of martial law in Johannesburg and the Rand Gold mining districts, South Africa troops detain 1,500 rioting miners.
1943, 12 March - World War II: North Africa
Following Rommel's departure from Africa, the Fifth Panzer Army is defeated at Ksar Rhilane and are now in retreat.
1975, 12 March
Kenyan students demonstrate against Jomo Kenyatta's government following the assassination of opposition leader Josiah Mwangi Kariuki.
1980, 12 March
Dr Apollo Milton Obote, the ex-president of Uganda now living in exile in Tanzania, confirms that he will be running for president. The incumbent, Field Marshal Idi Amin Dada, is departing for Saudi Arabia following his failed invasion of northern Tanzania.
1983, 12 March
Joshua Mqabuko Nyangol Nkomo has fled Zimbabwe following a failed armed rebellion by Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) forces in Matabeleland. Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) government reacted strongly: crushing all opposition and confiscating Nkomo's property.
1992, 12 March
Mauritius achieves independence within the Commonwealth and Seewoosagur Ramgoolam is elected prime minister. (Ramgoolam was awarded the United Nations Prize for the defence of human rights in 1973 for his handling of ethnic tensions between Muslims and Creoles on the islands.)
