1870, 24 May
Birth of Jan Christiaan Smuts.
1902, 24 May - Boer War
British General Sir Ian Hamilton attends General Jan Christiaan Smuts' birthday party: "I sat between Botha and De la Ray. On Botha's right was De Wet, on De la Ray's left sat Smuts. I had the most enchanting evening, and never wish to eat my dinner in better company."
1910, 24 May
Sir Leander Starr Jameson, leader of the Progressive Party in South Africa announces his formal opposition to the South African Unionist Party.
1946, 24 May
British premier Winston Churchill says the Suez Canal will be in danger if Britain withdraws from Egypt.
1956, 24 May
Egypt and Israel agree to UN observation posts along the Gaza Strip.
1964, 24 May
Soviet premier Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev announces a loan of 227 million dollars to the United Arab Republic (Egypt and Syria).
1993, 24 May
Eritrea declares independence from Ethiopia following a referendum last April.
1996, 24 May
Seven French Trappist monks have been killed in Algeria two months after their kidnap by Islamic extremists of the Armed Islamic Group. This brings the total number of foreigners killed in Algeria since 1993 to over 100. It is part of a terror campaign against the Algerian government and its perceived backer France.
