Arab forces under Amr ibn al-'As conquer Alexandria, Egypt, nine years after the death of Mohammed and at a time when Islam is expanding rapidly. Alexandria will become a point of departure for new conquests against the declining Byzantine Empire, which has controlled North Africa since the conquest of Carthage in 533.

As Italian forces with the agreement of Britain and France invade his country, Ethiopia Emperor Menelik II issues a proclamation mobilising his army: “Enemies have now come upon us to ruin our country and change our religion. Today, you who are strong, give me your strength, and you who are weak, help me by prayer.” Menelik’s Ethiopian army will be victorious at pushing out the invaders, and Italy will suffer one of the worst military defeats in its history.

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Egypt joins European countries at a conference in Switzerland that authorises a British force to shoot down aircraft of Spain’s Nationalist leader Francisco Franco that have been sinking merchant ships in the Mediterranean (pic). Franco accuses the ships of bringing materials to the Republican Army in the Spanish Civil War.

East African Airlines enters the jet age as a DeHavilland Comet 4 is put into service for the Nairobi, Kenya to London, England route.

Rebels opposed to Uganda dictator Idi Amin launch an invasion from Tanzania. Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere is displeased by Amin’s coup d’état that ousted Ugandan President Milton Obote. The invasion is a failure, and will be condemned by the Organisation of African Unity

Egyptian President Anwar Sadat signs the Camp David Accords at the U.S. Presidential retreat Camp David in the U.S., making Egypt the first Arab country to make peace with Israel.

Heads of States from ten southern African countries meeting at a summit in Windhoek, Namibia sign a treaty establishing the Southern African Development Community (SADC). The organisation will replace the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference that was set up in 1980 to reduce Southern African countries’ trade and economic dependence on apartheid South Africa.

Lesotho will get a vital installation for its road infrastructure links with South Africa, which surrounds the landlocked country, as both countries sign an agreement to build and maintain a border bridge over the Caledon River at Maseru.

The University of Seychelles (“UniSey”) is established. The university will remain small - with 300 students taught by 50 professors in 2022 - but is considered essential for Seychelles' development and identity.

The Nigeria Maritime Administration launches of a new, state of the art floating dry dock that will earn US$100 million in revenues yearly, because ships can now make repairs in Nigeria and not have to go to Ghana or Cameroon.

An explosion in Egypt's stray dog population is linked to the growth of uncollected garbage. Health authorities say millions of stray dogs were responsible for 400,000 cases of dog bites in 2017, up from 300,000 in 2014, causing 231 human deaths, mainly from rabies.

The United States Mint unveils the designs for the Anwar El Sadat Congressional Gold Medal, a commemorative coin honouring the Egyptian President’s role in advancing Middle East peace.

Gabon's powerful football striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signs a 3-year contract with Arsenel F.C., the London team with a global following. His contract is worth €20 million, which makes him the highest-paying Arsenal player in history. Since 2018, he has scored 72 goals for Arsenal.