Historical Events
Events
- 2010 - Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's oppressive regime.
- 2002 - Second Congo War: Congolese parties in the Inter-Congolese Dialogue sign a peace accord for transitional governance and elections within two years.
- 2012 - 18 people drown after an overloaded boat sinks in Cotonou, Benin.
- 1962 - Senegal's Premier Mamadou Dia is arrested after troops loyal to President Leopold Senghor block his attempt to seize power.
Births
- 1988 - David Rudisha, a Kenyan runner, is born.
- 1991 - Atsedu Tsegay, an Ethiopian runner, is born.
- 1917 - Kenneth Dike, a Nigerian historian and author, is born.
- 1941 - Stan Mudenge, a Zimbabwean historian and politician, is born.
- 1942 - Muhammadu Buhari, former Nigerian president, is born.
- 1971 - Alan Khan, a South African radio and TV presenter, is born.
- 1982 - Stéphane Lasme, a Gabonese basketball player, is born.
- 1983 - Haron Keitany, a Kenyan runner, is born.
Deaths
- 2008 – Gregoire, a Congolese chimpanzee, the oldest recorded, dies.
- 1663 - Queen Nzinga, considered the “mother of the nation” in Angola, dies in Matamba.