Africa’s first modern coup d’état occurs, in Liberia, when Liberia’s fifth president, Edward James Roye, is removed and jailed after he unconstitutionally extends his term. His vice president James Smith will fill the final two months of Roye’s term, becoming the shortest-serving Liberian president.

The future first president of Côte d’Ivoire, Félix Houphouët-Boigny, starts his career as a doctor’s aide in the capital Abidjan, and forms an association of Ivorian medical personnel. French colonial authorities are alarmed by the organising skill of this 18 year-old, and move him to a provincial hospital.

One of the few African countries that have managed to resist colonialism, the Sultanate of Mujeerteen loses its autonomy that was specified in an 1896 treaty with Italy. Italy breaks the treaty, and incorporates the Mujeerteen Sultate, which was established in the early 16th century, into Italy’s Horn of Africa possessions.

Kenya’s flower exports have grown remarkably in recent years, from 7.5% of U.S. imports of chrysanthemums and other pyrethrum flowers in 1937 to 40% in 1939. This year, Kenya surpasses Japan as the main source for the U.S.' pyrethrum flowers, reports today’s Foreign Commerce Weekly. (pic: Kenyan chrysanthemums sold in New York)

Egypt’s President Gamal Nasser cements his iconic reputation with his cool response to an assassination attempt that happens while he is delivering a live radio broadcast. Despite eight shots fired at him, which miss, by a Muslim Brotherhood gunman – Nasser has rejected the radical Islamic group’s demand that Egypt be ruled by Sharia Law – he tells listeners that if he had died, he would have died for all Egyptians, and would forever live within every Egyptian.

Sudan’s President Ibrahim Abboud (pic: left, with U.S. President John Kennedy in 1963) dissolves government and prepares to resign. His call for a national dialogue to find a solution to civil war in the south has led instead to widespread criticism against his administration, a student strike and then a civil servant and transit workers strike.

Dahomey’s (Benin’s) power-sharing governance ends with a military coup d’état led by Mathieu Kérékou. After promoting nationalism, he will experiment with various ideologies and approaches to governance.

Tanzania President Julius Nyerere stands for his final election, which he again wins by default because the country is now a one-party state. He begins turning his attention to finding a successor.

The U.N. Special Committee Against Apartheid releases a list of major international entertainers who have broken the cultural boycott against South Africa. By performing at Sun City in the Ciskei “homeland,” which the international community recognises as part of South Africa, some of the top U.S. entertainers who have broken the boycott include Frank Sinatra, Cher, Ray Charles, Dolly Parton, the Beach Boys, Glen Campbell, Kenny Rogers, Liza Minelli, Johnny Mathis, Paul Anka, Linda Ronstadt, Elton John, Rod Stewart and the rock group Queen.

To begin compensation for decades of neglect under the apartheid system of racial discrimination, South Africa’s government-owned electricity company Eskom commits to electrifying 2,500 black schools and clinics within five years.

Angolan journalist Rafael Marques is arrested for writing that the country’s ruler, Eduardo dos Santos, is a corrupt dictator. Police will torture him in an unsuccessful attempt to get a confession, and the mock trial that follows will draw international criticism.

In Seychelles, for the first time an opposition candidate wins the presidency when a 59 year-old Anglican priest and opposition MP, Wavel Ramkalawan (pic), defeats incumbent Danny Faure, by a landslide.

At a speech before the U.N., gender and human rights activist Dr. Denis Mukwege of the Democratic Republic of Congo condemns mass rape that is being used as a “weapon of war“ in DRC’s conflicts. He draws global attention to the issue of sexual violence in warfare. For his efforts, he will be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.