The following lists events that happened during 2020 in North Africa . The countries listed are those described in the United Nations geoscheme for Africa: Algeria,
Egypt,
Libya,
Morocco,
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic,
Sudan,
Tunisia, and
Western Sahara
The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria won its independence from France in 1962. It is a member of the African Union (AU), the Arab League, OPEC, and the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). The capital of Algeria is Algiers. [1]
Modern Egypt gained nominal independence from the British Empire as a monarchy in 1922. In 1952, Egypt ended British occupation, nationalized the Suez Canal, exiled King Farouk, and declared itself a republic. Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic from 1958 to 1961. Egypt is a member the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Arab League, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) The capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt is Cairo. [3]
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]
The Alaouite dynasty began its rule in 1631 but in 1912 Morocco was divided between French and Spanish protectorates. The Kingdom of Morocco regained its independence in 1956. Morocco is a member of the Arab League, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the AU. Rabat is the capital city. [7]
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]
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]
Ceuta became an autonomous city of Spain on March 14, 1995. It is a free port at the Mediterranean entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. [14]
Melilla is also a free port that has been an autonomous city of Spain since 1995. It is located in eastern Morocco on the Mediterranean coast. [16]
Morocco also claims the Spanish territories of Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and the Plazas de soberanía along its northern coast.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) controls about 1⁄4 of the territory of Western Sahara and is recognized by about 40 countries. It is a member of the African Union. [11] The SADR claims El Aaiún as its capital, but as that is controlled by Morocco, Tifariti in the Liberated Territories east of the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall is the de facto capital. [18]
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established in 1899, granting Sudan independence on January 1, 1956. Mostly Christian South Sudan broke off from the Muslim Republic of the Sudan in 2011. President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in April 2019 and by August 20, 2019 the Sovereignty Council of Sudan was established. The 2022 Sudanese general election is scheduled to complete the transition to democracy by November 2022. Khartoum is the capital. [19]
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]