INTRODUCTION
SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
As a global power with interests stretching from one pole to the other, the United States and its armed forces often find themselves directly involved in dealing with crisis situations in places many Americans have never heard of. In the past couple of years, U.S. forces have been deployed to such out of the way locales as Somalia, Liberia, Rwanda and Zaire to deal with humanitarian disasters brought on by civil war and ensuing mass migrations, disease and starvation. The future is likely to hold many similar commitments of American forces and diplomacy. In the relatively limited time available, we cannot cover all the areas of possible American involvement. In addition to the three core regions addressed in this course, we have selected sub-Saharan Africa as a region for all students to develop at least some familiarity through a lecture and readings. This also is an area that a portion of the class will focus upon in the following regional analysis block.
CHRONOLOGY OF MAJOR EVENTS IN AFRICA DURING 1995 - 1999
April 1995.- Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Qaddafi announces that he plans to withdraw Libya from the UN and is preparing to send flights of pilgrims to Mecca despite a 1992 UN ban on flights into and out of Libya.
August 1995.- In Rwanda, the UN suspends the arms embargo it imposed last year.
February 1996.- The CIA reports that Libya is nearing completion of what will be the world's largest chemical weapons plant.
February 1997.- UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appeals for an end to airlifts of arms to former Rwandan soldiers and Hutu militiamen at the Tingi Tingi refugee camp in eastern Zaire.
UN Secretary General Annan calls for an international force to assist refugees in eastern Zaire.
May 1997.- Nigerian peacekeeping troops seize control of the country's airport. Coup leaders abolish the constitution and ban political parties, but promise the restoration of "proper democracy" in the future.
August 1997.- In Kenya, President Daniel arap Moi is accused by the opposition of orchestrating the appearance of insurgency in order to arrest opposition leaders.
October 1997.- In a visit to Libya, South African President Nelson Mandela expresses his indebtedness to Colonel Muammar Qaddafi for supporting the struggle against apartheid.
November 1997.- President Bill Clinton imposes sanctions on Sudan for sponsoring terrorism and human rights abuses.
December 1997.- Thabo Mbeki is elected head of the African National Congress; Mbeki, who was unopposed, will take over from President Nelson Mandela.
April 1998.- The UN World Food Program announces that Ethiopia needs approximately 60,000 tons of food aid for an estimated 800,000 people in the eastern and lowland regions of Tigre and Amhara, which have been devastated by drought and poor harvests.
April 1999.- In Niger, President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, who seized power in a January 1996 coup, is assassinated by members of his president guard. The army says it has taken control of the government and confers leadership of the country on the National Reconciliation Council.
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