Guinea-Bissau and Africa at large have witnessed a series of events on September 14 that have shaped the continent’s history and political landscape. From ancient military conquests to modern political transitions, the date resonates with significance.
In 533, Byzantine general Belisarius marched on Carthage following his victory at the Battle of Ad Decimum. This campaign effectively ended Vandal rule in North Africa and restored imperial authority to the region, as chronicled by the historian Procopius. The conquest marked a turning point in the control of the Mediterranean territories.
Centuries later, on September 14, 1960, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was founded in Baghdad. Although its five original members were non-African, the organization has profoundly influenced the continent’s oil-producing nations, including Nigeria, Libya, Algeria, and Angola, which later became members. OPEC’s creation reshaped the global energy market and cemented Africa’s role in petroleum geopolitics.
On September 14, 1989, Frederik Willem de Klerk was elected President of South Africa by Parliament, following his interim tenure after Pieter Willem Botha’s resignation. De Klerk’s presidency initiated a series of reforms that ultimately dismantled apartheid and transformed South Africa’s social and political order.
Two years later, on September 14, 1991, the National Peace Accord was signed in Johannesburg.
The accord, endorsed by political parties, trade unions, and civil society groups, sought to curb political violence and lay the groundwork for democratic transition.
Closer to home, September 14, 2003, remains a pivotal date in Guinea-Bissau’s contemporary history. A bloodless military coup led by General Veríssimo Correia Seabra ousted President Kumba Yalá, citing institutional paralysis and repeated political deadlocks as justification for the takeover.
The coup highlighted the fragility of political structures in the young West African nation.
Elsewhere on the continent, Gabon marked a major human rights milestone.
On September 13, 2007, the Council of Ministers voted to abolish the death penalty, a decision that became law in 2010 and earned international recognition in 2011.
September 14 thus stands as a date of both reflection and significance across Africa, illustrating the continent’s turbulent political history, landmark reforms, and strides in governance and human rights.
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