1979: Idi Amin Overthrown
The despotic rule of Idi Amin came to an end when a joint force of Ugandan rebels and Tanzanian troops entered the Ugandan capital of Kampala. Amin fled. (History Central)
1979: Southern Rhodesia Becomes Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe: The white-controlled government, under Ian Smith, successfully held out against majority rule until 1976. At that point, the South Africans decided to withhold further military aid. The white government…
1979: Somalia invaded Ethiopia
On August 8th, Somalia invaded Ethiopia, the latest chapter in the ongoing dispute over the Ogaden. The Somalis were initially successful in their attack, but the Soviets-- initially patrons of…
1977: Zaire Turns Back Angolan Invasion
Angolan invasion: A small force of Angolans invaded the Shab province of Zaire. The Zairan forces proved ineffectual, so 1,500 Moroccan troops transported by the French and financed by the…
1975: Angola Gains Independence
Angola declared its independence from Portugal. Two separate governments were proclaimed: the Soviet-backed Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for Total Independence of Angola…
1975: Mozambique Gains Independence
A further consequence of the changes in government policy in Portugal was the granting of independence to Mozambique on June 25th. A Marxist state with Samora Moises Machel as President…