Africa timeline

Shaka Zulu is Assassinated

In 1827, Shaka's mother, Nandi, died, and the Zulu leader lost his mind. In his grief, Shaka had hundreds of Zulus killed, and he outlawed the... Read more

German Southwest Africa Surrenders to British-Boer Forces

British-Boer Forces, 20,000 General Louis Botha, Commander-in-Chief General Lukin General Myburgh General Mackenzie General Smuts Colonel Van... Read more

Ernest Hemingway Travels to Africa

In 1933 Hemingway and Pauline went on safari to East Africa, a 10-week trip that provided material for Green Hills of Africa as well as the short... Read more

Lake Nyos Disaster

At 9:30 p.m. on Aug. 1, 1986, Lake Nyos, in northwest Cameroon, exploded, killing 1,700 people and 3,000 cattle. Nobody witnessed the event, but... Read more

East Africa Bombings

Mullah Omar’s loyalty was split between Osama bin Laden and prince Turki. Originally Omar had agreed to hand bin Laden to Turki and was... Read more

Mozambique Flood of 2000

The 2000 Mozambique flood was a natural disaster that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall... Read more

Igandu Train Disaster

Tanzanian rescue crews labored on Tuesday to recover victims of a train crash that killed at least 200 people and authorities promised an inquiry... Read more

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is Elected President of Liberia, Becoming the Only Female Head of State in Africa

Sirleaf once again stood for president as the candidate of the Unity Party in the 2005 general election. She placed second in the first round of... Read more

Maputo Armory Explosion

More than 90 people have been killed after a series of explosions at a weapons depot in Mozambique, government officials say. Thousands of... Read more

Benaleka Train Crash

At least 100 people have died following the derailment of a goods train near Benaleka, 140 miles northwest of Kananga, Congo, a further 200 have... Read more

Charles Taylor Denies all Charges at His War Crimes Tribunal

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Former Liberian President Charles Taylor testified at his war crimes trial Tuesday that the case against him was built on... Read more

Togo National Football Team is Attacked by Gunmen

The assistant coach of Togo's national soccer team is among the victims of Friday's machine-gun attack on a bus carrying the squad to a tournament... Read more

Crash of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 409

An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration ET-ANB performing flight ET-409 from Beirut (Lebanon) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) with 82... Read more

Manute Bol Dies

Manute Bol, who became a basketball sensation in the 1980s as a skeletally thin shot-blocking giant with the Washington Bullets and other... Read more

Yanga Train Derailment

Georges Moyen, the health minister, warned the toll could rise because 16 of the wounded were in critical condition following Monday night's crash.... Read more

South Kivu Truck Explosion

At least 230 people were killed and 190 injured when an oil tanker flipped over and exploded in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a government... Read more