1901, 13 May - Boer War
The British prime minister, the Marquess of Salisbury, states that Britain's successes in the South African campaign is proof of her "formidable military strength."
1903, 13 May
Following the proclamation of Abd al-Aziz as Sultan of Morocco, French and British citizens have been attacked by rebel tribesmen who refuse to acknowledge his authority.
1915, 13 May - World War I: German South West Africa
Under the command of General Louis Botha (the South African prime minister is leading the army in the field) South African forces capture German West Africa (an area of almost 300,000 square miles). The campaign had been delayed by the need to put down a rebellion by the Afrikaner right who still consider Britain to be the enemy.
1928, 13 May
Trans-African auto expedition between Brussels and Cape Town starts today.
1943, 13 May - World War II: Axis defeated in North Africa
At 2:15 pm the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, receives the following news from Allied C-in-C General Harold Alexander in North Africa: "Sir, it is my duty to report that the Tunisian campaign is over. All enemy resistance has ceased. We are the masters of the North African shores."
1958, 13 May
French nationalists in Algeria rebel: 40,000 French settlers have demonstrated against a proposal by Pierre Pfimlin, the French premier, to negotiate with Algerian nationalists over the countries future. There is a call by French army generals in Algeria for Charles de Gaulle to take over the government once again.
1960, 13 May
With Patrice Lumumba (Congolese nationalist) still under arrest, fighting has broken out between rival Congolese tribes in the streets of the capital Kinshasa.
1971, 13 May
Ninety-one people are arrested in Egypt as part of a purge of opposition to President Anwar el-Sadat.
1973, 13 May
Colonel Muammar Kadhaffi, premier of Libya, predicts the use of oil trading restrictions as a form of Arab nationalistic protection.
1984, 13 May
After an 11 week ordeal, 16 Britons are finally released by Angolan rebels.
1989, 13 May
Egypt is allowed back into the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Counties (OPEC) after a ten-year exile.
