International telegraph service arrives in West Africa with the completion of a deep-sea cable laid from Madiera, Portugal to the Cabo Verde islands by the Brazilian Submarine Telegraph Company.

In order to block German expansion northward from South West Africa (Namibia) and to block Boer expansion northward from South Africa's Boer Republics, Britain assumes control of Bechuanaland (Botswana), proclaiming the land of the Tswana to be a British Protectorate.

Alarmed by Britain and France’s growing power in Africa, Germany’s Kaiser Wilhelm II visits Tangier, Morocco. In a fiery speech, he demands Morocco’s independence from France.

The Mier Camel Post that takes mail across the Kalahari Desert from South Africa to Bechuanaland (Botswana), started in 1899 using camels after horses and oxen perished in the desert heat, ends its service today. Shipping disruptions due to World War I prevent the resupply of camels. (pic: British soldiers patrolling the Kalahari on camel)

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The Syndicat national d'Etude des Transports Aériens (National Union of Study of Aerial Transport, or SNETA) is formed as an experimental airline to establish air routes, first in Europe and then in 1921 in the Belgian Congo through the SNETA subsidiary the Comité d' Etude pour la Navigation Aérienne du Congo. When its work is completed, the airline will cease operations in 1922. In 1923, the routes will be taken by Belgium’s first commercial airline, Sabena, which will fly extensively in Africa.

Cocoa is the staple product of Gold Coast (Ghana), and makes up 81% of exports, earning £11,219,512 (equal to £894,030,829 in 2024) during the financial year ending today.

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The Ethiopian Air Force flies its first combat mission: three biplanes drop bombs on the rebel army of Gugsa Welle at the beginning of the Battle of Anchem. The bombing proves the turning point of the battle, frightening the rebels and causing so many to desert that the rebel army is outnumbered by Ethiopian soldiers when ground combat begins. The Imperial Forces are victorious, and with the death of Gugsa Welle, the rebellion ends.

British forces in World War II, led by troops from India, enter Asmara, ending Italy’s control (since 1882) of Eritrea.

The first Territorial Assembly of Upper Volta (Burkina Faso) is instituted by French colonial authorities.

In the lead up to Chad’s Independence in 1960, a national election results in a victory for the Chadian Progressive Party, which forms the country’s first African-led government. (Pic: Fort-Lamy)

All 50 seats contested in the first Territorial Assembly Elections in Ubangi-Shari, a French colony that is part of French Equatorial Africa, are won by the Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa. This is the political party of Barthélemy Boganda (in pic with French President Charles de Gaul) that seeks to fight racism and elevate black humanity globally.

The Royal Air Force Station El Adem, in Libya, which the British have operated in the country since the start of the North African Campaign during World War II, is handed over to Libya’s government. Its name is changed to Gamel Abdel Nasser Airbase, in honour of the President of Egypt and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi’s fellow North African revolutionary. Begun as an Italian Air Force base, the facility will finally serve commercial flights when it is reopened in 2013 as the Tobruk International Airport.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter becomes the first U.S. president to visit Nigeria. He meets with Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo.

U.N. Resolution 748 compels Libya to turn over for trial two intelligence agents, who will be found guilty of bombing a civilian airliner over Scotland in 1988, killing 270 people.

The opening of The Song of Jacob Zulu, with music by South Africa’s Ladysmith Black Mambaso and written by Johannesburg-born Tug Yourgrau. The musical will have a three-month run at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, U.S.A. The production will then move to Broadway in New York in 1993 where it will earn six Tony nominations.

U.S. President Bill Clinton is the first U.S. president to visit Senegal. He meets with Senegal’s President Abdul Diouf, delivers several public addresses, and visits Senegalese peacekeeping troops.

Angolan journalist Rafael Marques is found guilty of “insulting” the country’s ruler Eduardo dos Santos, by describing the corrupt dos Santos dictatorship in an article. Governments, human rights and media groups worldwide condemn the trial as unfair, and successfully pressure Angola’s Supreme Court into suspending Marques’ prison sentence.

Lola Odujinrin, a Nigeria/British pilot, becomes the first African to circumnavigate the globe flying solo, when he lands today at the point of his departure: Dulles Airport in the U.S. capital Washington.