The Kingdom of Libya lasted from 1951 to September 1, 1969, when Muammar Gaddafi overthrew King Idris and established the "Libyan Arab Republic," becoming the "Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" in 1977 and the "Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" in 1986. Gaddafi himself was killed during the Libyan Civil War of 2011. Libya is a member of the NAM, the Arab League, the OIC, and the OPEC. The capital of the State of Libya is Tripoli.[5]
When Spain gave up Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco, Mauritania, and Polisario Front fought for control of the territory. Mauritania gave up its claims in 1979.[9] Today the government of Morocco claims sovereignty and controls 3/4 of the territory of Western Sahara, which it calls its Southern Provinces[10][a] The United Nations proposed a referendum on the area's future; Morocco agreed to autonomy in 2007 but no referendum. The largest city is Laayoune.[9]
Territorial and border disputes with Spain
The Kingdom of Spain controls two cities on the Mediterranean coast of Africa. Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until 1973, but Morocco disputes the claims.[12]
The island of Fuerteventura is located only 50 nautical miles (93 km) west the coast of Western Sahara in the Atlantic Ocean, leading to a conflict over offshore mineral rights.[13]
Tunisia threw off its French yoke on March 20, 1956, and the Republic of Tunisia was declared the following year. The Tunisian Revolution of December 2010-January 2011 set off the Arab Spring and led to the democratization of Tunisia. The capital and largest city is Tunis.[21]
February 13 – Sudan says it has reached a settlement in the USS Cole bombing, a first step in being removed from the designation as a state supporter of terrorism.[38]
February 14 – Thousands of Algerians march against corruption and military participation in politics.[39]
February 26 – Spain calls for a firm defense of its territorial claims for the Canary Islands in a dispute with Morocco over mineral rights off the coast of Western Sahara.[41]
February 29 – Egypt says it will use "all means" to defend its interests in a dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan over a dam on the Nile River.[42]
March
March 2 – Independence Day, Morocco (1956 from France)[8]
March 12 – At least 18 African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia report cases of the novel coronavirus. Most are in single figures, but five deaths have been reported in North Africa.[43]
March 20 – Independence Day, Tunisia (1956 from France)[22]
Humanitarian groups call upon the government of Morocco to give African migrants the same cash aid it gives to citizens.[44]
Sudan and the United States finalize the settlement of the 2000 USS Cole bombing. The announcement maintained Sudan's position that it was not responsible for the attack on the ship or any other "terrorist" act.[45]
April 9 – Martyrs' Day, Sudan
April 13 – 14,000 cases of COVID-19 and 788 deaths have been reported across Africa. Cases by country: Algeria – 1,914, Egypt – 2,065, Libya – 25, Morocco – 1,661, Sudan – 19, Tunisia – 707[46]
April 22 – Sudan reports 13 deaths and 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but there are fears that the actual number is much higher as people only go to the hospital when they are very sick. The government has increased its health budget by 200%, but $120 million to fight the new virus and $150 million to cover medicines until June is still needed. Importing equipment and medicine is difficult as suppliers prioritize their own countries.[47]
April 28 – Libyan General Khalifa Haftar is accused of carrying out a coup d'état as he puts the eastern part of the country under direct military rule.[49]
April 29 – Representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) visit Sudan to rally support and recruit fighters for Libya's Khalifa Haftar.[50]
Ten Egyptian soldiers, including an army officer, died in a bomb attack in Bir al-Abd, North Sinai Governorate. It is suspected this attack was carried out by Islamic State although no one immediately claimed responsibility.[52]
Two civilians are killed when eastern forces under the command of Khalifa Hifter bomb Tripoli, Libya.[53]
May 4 – Seventy-eight migrants from Libya are stuck at sea as no European port will accept them.[54]
May 6 – Fighting between Arabs and non-Arabs in South Darfur, Sudan, leaves thirty dead and a dozen wounded.[55]
May 8 – A Moroccan man is arrested in Spain for allegedly planning a pro-Islamic State terrorist attack in Barcelona.[56]
May 12 – Sudan pushes Ethiopia to resume discussion related to the $4.6 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the Nile River that officials say will start filling in July.[57]
May 13 – In the third incident of armed violence this month, 24 people, including paratroopers are killed in Kaduqli, Sudan.[58]
May 14 – Algeria summons Morocco's ambassador to Algiers in protest when the Moroccan consul in Oran purportedly referred to Algeria as an "enemy country."[59]
Egyptian security forces report killing 21 militants in two raids in the northern Sinai Peninsula; two Egyptian soldiers are wounded.[60]
COVID-19 pandemic: Sudan announces the formation of a special police force to prevent attacks on health workers. The country has reported at least 63 deaths from COVID-19 among around 3,380 confirmed cases of the coronavirus. There have been two dozen attacks on health workers over the past two months.[61]
May 26 – The U.S. says Russia has sent fighter jets to Tripoli to support the mercenaries trying to topple the government. Russia says this is ″disinformation.″[62]
May 27 – Five British men and one woman are accused of being among 30 mercenaries fighting for Libyan rebel Khalifa Haftar on behalf of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) based company called Opus.[63]
The internationally recognized government of Libya retakes Tripoli International Airport.[65] Egypt and the UAE, both backers of military commander Khalifa Haftar, support the ceasefire announced on June 2.[66]
June 27 – Egypt executes Libyan militant Abdel-Rahim al-Mosmari, convicted of plotting an attack that killed at least 16 police officers in October 2017.[73]
July 13 – Sudanese security forces violently break up a protest camp in North Darfur, killing at least protester and wounding a dozen others, including four children, activists.[76]
July 20 – The Parliament of Egypt authorizes sending troops to Libya.[77]
August 17 – Forty-five migrants, including children, die when the boat carrying them explodes near Zuwarah, Libya. Thirty-seven people survive.[81]
August 24 – General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan defends the upcoming visit of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to remove Sudan from the state sponsors of terrorism.[82]
August 25 – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia meets Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan and General Abdelfatah al Burhan in Khartoum to discuss the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) and border issues.[83]
Filmmaker Hajooj Kuka is among the five Sudanaese artists convicted on charges of public disturbance and violating public safety measures in Khartoum in a demonstration against dictator Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Six others are awaiting similar charges.[89]
October
October 3 – The government of Sudan and ten rebel groups sign a peace agreement, ending 17 years of war.[90]
November 15 – A 30-year cease-fire between Morocco and Polisario Front forces is broken as the government tries to open a road in the Guerguerat buffer zone near the border with Mauritania.[91]
November 18 – Independence Day, Morocco
December
December 11 – Morocco normalizes relations with Israel and in return U.S. President Trump acknowledges Morocco's sovereignty over the Western Sahara.[92]
December 15 – Sudan says that "Ethiopian forces and militias" ambushed Sudanese army forces near Jabal Abutiour, Sudan. Sudane Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok visited Ethiopia briefly on December 13 to discuss the security situation.[93]
January 28 – February 7: 2020 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations: Morocco was the defending champion and successfully managed to defend their title after beating Egypt 5–0 in the final.
^Morocco's rule over the Western Sahara is not officially recognized by any country, but Morocco has the support of the Arab League.[11]
^In August 2019, the ruling military council and civilian opposition alliance signed a power-sharing deal as the "Sovereignty Council," chaired by General Abd-al-Fatah al-Burhan and consisting of six civilians and five generals; the Council is currently led by the military but the intention is to transition to civilian leadership in May 2021 when elections can be held; Burhan serves as both chief of state and head of government.[20]
^On 21 August 21, 2019, the Forces for Freedom and Change, the civilian opposition alliance, named Abdallah Handouk as prime minister of Sudan for the transitional period.[20]
Citations
^Keith Sutton; Abdel Kader Chanderli; L. Carl Brown; Salah Zaimeche. "Algeria". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
^Donald P. Little; Charles Gordon Smith; Derek Hopwood; Arthur Eduard Goldschmidt (March 17, 2020). "Egypt". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved Apr 5, 2020.
^Libya: Haftar's forces capture strategic Sirte. Eastern forces, led by Khalifa Haftar, have announced the capture of the coastal city of Sirte, previously controlled by the Tripoli government. The news comes a day after Turkey deployed troops in support of Tripoli. dw.com, Jan 7, 2020
