“History is a vast early warning system.” – Norman Cousins
Today In History
1. Nigeria’s Former President, General Muhammad Buhari Won The Presidential Election
On this day in 2015, General Muhammad Buhari won the presidential election under the umbrella of the All Progressive Congress (APC) party.
Buhari’s emergence as president is monumental because he defeated a sitting president from a powerful political party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which prided itself as being the largest political association on the African continent.
2. Libya Joined The Arab League
On this day in 1953, two years after Libya gained independence, it joined the Arab League, which had been established 8 years before.
3. Air Afrique Was Established
On this day in 1961, Air Afrique was established as a joint venture between Air France and UAT, with the signing of the Treaty of Yaoundé.
Air Afrique was established as the official transnational carrier for francophone West and Central Africa, because many of these countries did not have the capability to create and maintain a national airline, and had its headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Air France and UAT, had a 17% holding, while the eleven newly independent former French colonies in West Africa, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, the Republic of the Congo and Senegal, contributed with the remaining 66% of the capital, estimated in 500 millions of CFA francs.
4. The Shell House Massacre In Johannesburg
On this day in 1994, a shooting incident took place at Shell House, the headquarters of the African National Congress (ANC), in central Johannesburg, South Africa in the lead up to the 1994 elections.
About 20,000 Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters marched to Shell House in protest against the 1994 elections that the IFP was intending to boycott, and in response ANC people opened fire, killing 19 people.
5. South Sudan Civil War: Capture Of Airstrip At Okello
On this day in 2013, during the South Sudan civil war, South Sudan government troops captured an airstrip in the town of Okello, which it claims is used by Sudan to supply rebels with weapons. 163 soldiers were reportedly killed in the battle.
6. Nias–Simeulue Earthquake
On this day in 2005, Nias–Simeulue earthquake occurred off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia killing at least 915 people mostly on the island of Nias.
7. Athens International Airport, The Largest International Airport In Greece Began Operation
On this day in 2001, Athens International Airport, the largest international airport in Greece, serving the city of Athens and region of Attica began operation on 28 March 2001. It replaced the old Ellinikon International Airport.