16 records
Africa
- GIN
Guinea · Politics & Power
Alpha Condé elected; return to civilian rule
Veteran opposition leader Alpha Condé wins Guinea's first competitive presidential election, beginning a civilian government; he is re-elected in 2015 and 2020.
Coups, Civilian Rule and Bauxite
Sources: Alpha Condé (Wikipedia) · Guinea — History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- CIV
Ivory Coast · War & Rupture · 2010–2011
Post-election crisis
After the disputed November 2010 runoff, Gbagbo refused to cede to Ouattara; the standoff became open conflict that killed about 3,000 people before pro-Ouattara forces, backed by France and the UN, captured Gbagbo on 11 April 2011.
Ivoirité, civil war, and recovery
Sources: 2010–2011 Ivorian crisis (Wikipedia) · Côte d'Ivoire Post-Gbagbo: Crisis Recovery (Congressional Research Service) · Côte d'Ivoire's Post-Electoral Crisis: Ouattara Rules but Can He Govern? (Journal of African Elections (EISA))
- KEN
Kenya · Politics & Power · 4 August 2010
New constitution adopted
Kenyans approve a new constitution that limits presidential power, expands rights, and devolves authority to 47 county governments.
The Republic of Kenya
Sources: Kenyan Constitutional Referendum (2010) (Ballotpedia) · History of Kenya (Wikipedia)
- MOZ
Mozambique · Economy & Trade · 2010–2011
Offshore gas discovered in the Rovuma basin
Major natural-gas finds in the deep waters of the Rovuma basin attract tens of billions of dollars in planned investment and reshape the country's economic prospects.
Civil War, Peace and Modern Mozambique
Sources: War in Mozambique: a natural gas blessing, turned curse (openDemocracy) · Offshore gas finds offered major promise for Mozambique: what went wrong (The Conversation) · Coral gas field (Wikipedia)
- NER
Niger · Politics & Power
Coup ousts President Tandja
The army removed President Mamadou Tandja after he manoeuvred to extend his term, one of a series of military interventions that punctuated Niger's democratic experiment.
Democracy, Tuareg rebellions and the cycle of coups
Sources: History of Niger (Wikipedia) · 2023 Nigerien coup d'état (Wikipedia)
- SOL
Somaliland · Politics & Power
Peaceful transfer of power by election
In the 2010 presidential election an opposition candidate won and power passed peacefully between rivals, a rare democratic transition in the Horn of Africa that bolstered Somaliland's standing as a functioning self-governing polity.
Restoration and the Building of a State
Sources: Somaliland at 30: Still unrecognised, but alive and well (African Arguments) · Somaliland: The Power of Democracy (Royal United Services Institute (RUSI))
- TUN
Tunisia · Politics & Power · 17 Dec 2010
Mohamed Bouazizi self-immolation
A street vendor sets himself alight in Sidi Bouzid, triggering nationwide protests.
The Republic & the Jasmine Revolution
Sources: Jasmine Revolution (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Jasmine Revolution (Wikipedia)
Asia
- KGZ
Kyrgyzstan · War & Rupture · Jun 2010
Ethnic violence in the south
Clashes between ethnic Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in Osh and Jalal-Abad erupted into days of communal violence, killing several hundred people — figures are estimates and remain contested — and displacing hundreds of thousands.
A Turbulent Republic: Revolution, Violence and Competitive Politics
Sources: 'Where is the Justice?': Interethnic Violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan and its Aftermath (Human Rights Watch) · Kyrgyzstan: History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- KGZ
Kyrgyzstan · Politics & Power
Parliamentary republic and the first peaceful transfer
A new constitution made Kyrgyzstan a parliamentary republic, a rarity in Central Asia; the 2011 election that followed Otunbayeva's interim presidency was the country's first peaceful handover of power.
A Turbulent Republic: Revolution, Violence and Competitive Politics
Sources: Roza Otunbayeva (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- KGZ
Kyrgyzstan · Politics & Power · Apr 2010
The 2010 revolution ousts Bakiyev
A violent uprising in Bishkek over corruption and rising prices forced President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee; an interim government under Roza Otunbayeva took power and prepared a new constitution.
A Turbulent Republic: Revolution, Violence and Competitive Politics
Sources: Roza Otunbayeva (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Kyrgyzstan: History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- ARE
United Arab Emirates · Culture & Ideas · January 2010
The Burj Khalifa opens in Dubai
Dubai inaugurated the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, a symbol of the emirate's wager on trade, real estate and tourism rather than oil.
Oil Wealth and the Global Federation
Sources: History of the United Arab Emirates (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · History (The Official Platform of the UAE Government (u.ae))
Europe
- KOS
Kosovo · Politics & Power · 22 Jul 2010
ICJ advisory opinion
Responding to the UN General Assembly, the International Court of Justice advised that the 2008 declaration of independence did not violate general international law or Resolution 1244.
Independence and the Contested Present
Sources: Summary of the Advisory Opinion of 22 July 2010 (Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo) (International Court of Justice) · Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo (Case No. 141) (International Court of Justice)
- MNE
Montenegro · Politics & Power · 17 Dec 2010
EU candidate status
The European Union granted Montenegro candidate status, a milestone toward the accession negotiations the country has pursued while retaining the euro as its currency.
Independent Montenegro, NATO and Europe
Sources: Montenegro: EU accession (application 2008, candidate status December 2010, negotiations from 2012) (European Commission, Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood)
- NOR
Norway · Politics & Power · 15 Sep 2010
Barents Sea delimitation treaty with Russia
Norway and Russia signed a treaty dividing the disputed 175,000 sq km of the Barents Sea and Arctic Ocean, ending a roughly forty-year dispute; in force from 2011, it replaced the Grey Zone arrangement.
Oil Wealth, the European Question and the Arctic Boundary
Sources: Agreement reached between Norway and the Russian Federation in the negotiations on maritime delimitation (Government of Norway (regjeringen.no)) · The maritime delimitation between Norway and Russia: Frequently Asked Questions (Government of Norway (regjeringen.no)) · Norway and Russia Agree on Maritime Boundary in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean (American Society of International Law (ASIL Insights))
- SRB
Serbia · Politics & Power · 22 Jul 2010
ICJ advisory opinion on Kosovo
The International Court of Justice found that Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence did not violate international law; Serbia continued nonetheless to withhold recognition.
Modern Serbia and the Kosovo Dispute
Sources: Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo — Advisory Opinion of 22 July 2010 (International Court of Justice)
North America
- HTI
Haiti · Catastrophe · 12 Jan 2010
Catastrophic earthquake
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastates Port-au-Prince; death-toll estimates vary widely and remain disputed, with around three million people affected.
Democracy, Disaster, and Collapse
Sources: 2010 Haiti earthquake (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
19 records
Africa
- EGY
Egypt · Politics & Power
Egyptian revolution and Mubarak's fall
Mass protests from 25 January force President Hosni Mubarak to resign on 11 February after nearly thirty years in power.
The Modern Republic
Sources: Gamal Abdel Nasser (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- CIV
Ivory Coast · Politics & Power · since 2011
Recovery under Ouattara
Alassane Ouattara took office and presided over a return to rapid growth; he was re-elected in 2015 and won a contested third term in 2020 that opponents argued was unconstitutional.
Ivoirité, civil war, and recovery
Sources: History of Ivory Coast (Wikipedia) · Côte d'Ivoire Post-Gbagbo: Crisis Recovery (Congressional Research Service)
- KEN
Kenya · Culture & Ideas
Fort Jesus inscribed by UNESCO
Fort Jesus is added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as an outstanding example of sixteenth-century military architecture and a witness to the contest for the Indian Ocean trade.
Portuguese and Omani Rule on the Coast
Sources: Fort Jesus, Mombasa (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- LBR
Liberia · Politics & Power
Sirleaf shares the Nobel Peace Prize
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with two other women, for non-violent work on behalf of women's safety and participation in peacebuilding.
Peace, Sirleaf, and the Ebola epidemic
Sources: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Biographical (The Nobel Prize)
- LBY
Libya · War & Rupture · February–October 2011
Uprising, NATO intervention and Gaddafi's fall
An uprising from February 2011 and a NATO air campaign from 19 March topple Gaddafi, who is captured and killed at Sirte on 20 October 2011.
The Gaddafi Era, Uprising and Division
Sources: Libya Revolt of 2011 (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Battle of Sirte (2011) (Wikipedia)
- MAR
Morocco · Politics & Power · 1 July 2011
Constitutional reform
Following Arab Spring protests, a new constitution approved by referendum expands the powers of parliament and the prime minister and recognises Tamazight, while the king retains ultimate authority.
Independence and the Modern Kingdom
Sources: Muhammad VI (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Constitutional Reform in Morocco: Reform in times of revolution (International IDEA / ConstitutionNet)
- SDS
South Sudan · Independence · 14 Jul 2011
Admission to the United Nations
South Sudan is admitted as the 193rd member state of the United Nations, and soon after joins the African Union.
Peace, Referendum and a New State
Sources: History of South Sudan (Wikipedia)
- SDS
South Sudan · Independence · 9 Jul 2011
Independence of South Sudan
At midnight on 9 July 2011 South Sudan becomes an independent state, the world's newest widely recognised nation, recognised the same day by the United States and others.
Peace, Referendum and a New State
Sources: U.S. Relations With South Sudan (U.S. Department of State) · History of South Sudan (Wikipedia)
- SDS
South Sudan · Independence · 9–15 Jan 2011
Self-determination referendum
In a week-long vote, 98.83% of southern Sudanese choose independence on a turnout of about 99%.
Peace, Referendum and a New State
Sources: Referendum in Southern Sudan (United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS)) · History of South Sudan (Wikipedia)
- SDN
Sudan · Independence · 9 July 2011
South Sudan secedes
After a referendum, South Sudan becomes independent, taking most of the former Sudan's oil with it.
Darfur, Secession and the War of the Generals
Sources: Sudan (Wikipedia) · Independence of South Sudan (United States Institute of Peace)
- TUN
Tunisia · Independence · 14 Jan 2011
Jasmine Revolution ousts Ben Ali
Ben Ali flees the country; the uprising sparks the wider Arab Spring and a Tunisian democratic transition.
The Republic & the Jasmine Revolution
Sources: Jasmine Revolution (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Jasmine Revolution (Wikipedia)
Asia
- JPN
- JOR
Jordan · Peoples & Migration
The Arab Spring and Syrian refugees
Protests during the regional uprisings of 2011 prompted reforms from Abdullah II, while the Syrian civil war soon drove hundreds of thousands of refugees into Jordan, straining its economy.
Modern Jordan: Hussein, the Wars, Peace and Abdullah II
Sources: Abdullah II: Biography, Education, Family, and Facts (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · King Abdullah II of Jordan (EBSCO Research Starters)
- MMR
Myanmar · Politics & Power · 2011 CE
Reforms under Thein Sein
A quasi-civilian government begins political and economic liberalization, releasing prisoners, easing censorship, and restoring Aung San Suu Kyi's freedoms.
Opening, the Rohingya Crisis, and the 2021 Coup
Sources: Thein Sein (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Myanmar since 1988 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- PRK
North Korea · Politics & Power · 17 December 2011
Death of Kim Jong Il
Kim Jong Il dies and is succeeded by his youngest son Kim Jong Un, completing a third generation of hereditary rule.
Famine and the Second Succession
Sources: Kim Jong Il (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Kim Jong-Un (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- SYR
Syria · War & Rupture · 2011 CE
Uprising and the start of the civil war
Arab Spring protests across Syria meet a violent state response; armed opposition emerges and the country descends into a civil war drawing in regional and global powers.
The Assad Era, the Civil War and the Fall of 2024
Sources: Bashar al-Assad — Unrest and civil war (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- YEM
Yemen · Politics & Power
Arab Spring uprising and Saleh's removal
Mass protests against corruption and Saleh's three decades in power, part of the regional Arab Spring, led to a Gulf-brokered transition under which Saleh ceded power and Hadi became president in 2012.
Uprising, War and Humanitarian Crisis
Sources: Yemen: Arab Spring uprising (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Yemeni Civil War (Houthi conflict and Saudi-led intervention) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Europe
- AND
Andorra · Economy & Trade · 30 Jun 2011
Monetary agreement and the euro
Andorra signed a monetary agreement with the European Union allowing it to use the euro as its official currency and to issue its own euro coins.
A Sovereign Democracy in the Heart of Europe
Sources: Andorra and the euro: monetary agreement (European Central Bank) · Monetary Agreement between the European Union and the Principality of Andorra (EUR-Lex (European Union))
- MKD
North Macedonia · Politics & Power · 5 Dec 2011
ICJ rules against Greece
The International Court of Justice held that Greece had breached the Interim Accord by objecting to the country's admission to NATO at the 2008 Bucharest summit.
Independence and the Name Dispute with Greece
Sources: Application of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995 (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia v. Greece), Judgment of 5 December 2011 (International Court of Justice)
10 records
Africa
- COD
DR Congo · War & Rupture
M23 rebellion seizes Goma
The M23 rebel movement briefly captures Goma in North Kivu before being pushed back; conflict festers across the east.
Africa's World War & After
Sources: The M23 Offensive: Elusive Peace in the Great Lakes (International Crisis Group) · Second Congo War (Wikipedia)
- GNB
Guinea-Bissau · Politics & Power · April 2012
Coup amid the cocaine trade
A military coup interrupted a presidential election in April 2012, deepening a pattern of intervention by a politicised army increasingly entangled with cocaine trafficking.
Instability, civil war and the cocaine route
Sources: History of Guinea-Bissau (Wikipedia) · Guinea-Bissau (country overview and history) (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · West Africa under attack from narco-trafficking (UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC))
- LBR
Liberia · War & Rupture · 26 April 2012
Taylor convicted of war crimes
The Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted Charles Taylor of aiding and abetting war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone and sentenced him to 50 years — the first former head of state convicted by an international tribunal since Nuremberg.
The civil wars and Charles Taylor
Sources: Sierra Leone: Landmark Conviction of Liberian Ex-President (Human Rights Watch) · Special Court sentences former Liberian leader Charles Taylor to 50 years in prison (UN News)
- MWI
Malawi · Politics & Power
Joyce Banda becomes head of state
After the death in office of President Bingu wa Mutharika, Vice-President Joyce Banda succeeded him, becoming Malawi's first woman president.
The Banda regime and the democratic transition
Sources: Joyce Banda (Wikipedia) · Bingu wa Mutharika (Wikipedia)
- MLI
Mali · War & Rupture
Tuareg rebellion, coup and jihadist seizure of the north
The MNLA's January rebellion and a 22 March coup precipitate collapse; AQIM, Ansar Dine and allied jihadists take Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal.
Dictatorship, Democracy and Crisis
Sources: Timeline: How Mali went from democracy beacon to instability (Al Jazeera) · A Review of the French-led Military Campaign in Northern Mali (Combating Terrorism Center at West Point) · Timbuktu — World Heritage Centre (UNESCO)
- SEN
Senegal · Politics & Power
Macky Sall elected
Sall defeats Wade at the polls, continuing Senegal's pattern of competitive elections and peaceful handovers.
A Democratic Republic and the Casamance Question
Sources: Macky Sall (Wikipedia) · Senegal's Democratic Evolution: Elections, Governance, and Presidential Legacies (Centre for Democracy and Development Africa)
- SLE
Sierra Leone · Politics & Power
Charles Taylor convicted
The UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone convicted former Liberian president Charles Taylor of aiding and abetting war crimes and sentenced him to 50 years — the first head of state convicted by an international tribunal since Nuremberg.
One-party rule, civil war, and recovery
Sources: The Prosecutor vs. Charles Ghankay Taylor (Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone) · Prosecutor welcomes UN-backed court's decision to uphold Charles Taylor conviction (United Nations News)
- SOM
Somalia · Formation · August 2012
Federal Government of Somalia established
A new permanent Federal Government is formed under a provisional constitution—the first central government since 1991—as African Union forces push Al-Shabaab back from major cities.
State Collapse, Civil War and the Federal Republic
Sources: Federal Government of Somalia (Wikipedia) · Somalia (CRS In Focus) (U.S. Library of Congress / Congressional Research Service)
Asia
- PSE
Palestine · Independence · 29 November 2012
UN recognition as non-member observer state
The UN General Assembly, by resolution 67/19, recognised the State of Palestine as a non-member observer state by 138 votes to 9 with 41 abstentions.
Occupation, Dispossession, and the Present
Sources: General Assembly Resolution 67/19: Status of Palestine in the United Nations (United Nations (Security Council Report archive)) · United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19 (Wikipedia)
Europe
- SMR
San Marino · Economy & Trade
Euro monetary agreement
Under a monetary agreement with the European Union, in force since 2012 in place of an earlier 2000 accord, San Marino uses the euro as official currency and mints its own euro coins with national designs.
The Modern Republic: the UN, Europe and the Euro
Sources: San Marino and the Euro (Central Bank of the Republic of San Marino (BCSM))
19 records
Africa
- CAF
Central African Republic · War & Rupture · December 2013
Sectarian civil war erupts
Reprisals between Séléka and the anti-balaka militias spiralled into sectarian massacres; attacks in Bangui in early December 2013 killed more than a thousand civilians.
Séléka, Anti-balaka and a Fragile Peace
Sources: Central African Republic Civil War (Wikipedia) · Central African Republic — History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- CAF
Central African Republic · War & Rupture · 24 March 2013
Séléka captures Bangui
The Séléka rebel coalition seized the capital and ousted President Bozizé; its leader Michel Djotodia declared himself president, the country's first Muslim head of state.
Séléka, Anti-balaka and a Fragile Peace
Sources: Central African Republic Civil War (Wikipedia) · Central African Republic — History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- MLI
Mali · War & Rupture · 11 January 2013
France launches Operation Serval
As jihadist forces drive toward Bamako, France intervenes militarily, stopping the advance and recapturing the northern cities.
Dictatorship, Democracy and Crisis
Sources: A Review of the French-led Military Campaign in Northern Mali (Combating Terrorism Center at West Point) · Timeline: How Mali went from democracy beacon to instability (Al Jazeera)
- NER
Niger · Culture & Ideas
Agadez inscribed by UNESCO
The Historic Centre of Agadez — the mudbrick capital of the Sultanate of Aïr, with its tall earthen mosque minaret — was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognising its role in trans-Saharan trade and Islam.
Aïr, the caravans, and the eastern reach of Songhai
Sources: Agadez (Wikipedia) · Historic Centre of Agadez (World Heritage List, inscribed 2013) (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- SDS
South Sudan · War & Rupture · Dec 2013
Civil war erupts in Juba
A power struggle between President Salva Kiir and former vice-president Riek Machar ignites fighting in Juba that spreads nationwide and takes on an ethnic character.
A Young Nation at War
Sources: Civil war in South Sudan: a primer (UK House of Commons Library) · History of South Sudan (Wikipedia)
Asia
- KGZ
Kyrgyzstan · Culture & Ideas
Manas trilogy recognized by UNESCO
UNESCO inscribed the Kyrgyz epic trilogy of Manas, Semetey and Seytek on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing one of the world's longest oral epics.
The Yenisei Kyrgyz and the Epic of Manas
Sources: Kyrgyz epic trilogy: Manas, Semetey, Seytek (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage)
- QAT
Qatar · Politics & Power · June 2013
Hamad abdicates in favour of Tamim
In a transfer of power unusual for the Gulf, Sheikh Hamad abdicated in favour of his son Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, then 33, to make way for a new generation.
The Gas Boom: Hamad, Al Jazeera and New Wealth
Sources: Sheikh Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- QAT
Qatar · Politics & Power · June 2013
Sheikh Tamim becomes emir
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani succeeded his father as emir of Qatar, having earlier overseen the country's successful bid to host the 2022 World Cup.
Qatar Under Tamim: Blockade and World Stage
Sources: Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- TJK
Tajikistan · Culture & Ideas · 2013 CE
Tajik National Park inscribed by UNESCO
The Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs), covering roughly 18 per cent of the country, becomes Tajikistan's first natural World Heritage Site, protecting the 'Roof of the World'.
The Rahmon Era and the Mountain Republic
Sources: Tajik National Park (Mountains of the Pamirs) — World Heritage List (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
Europe
- HRV
Croatia · Politics & Power · 1 Jul 2013
Accession to the European Union
Croatia joined the European Union on 1 July 2013 as its 28th member, after a 2012 referendum, having joined NATO in 2009; it adopted the euro and entered the Schengen area on 1 January 2023.
Independence, the War and the Modern Republic
Sources: On 1 July 2013 Croatia has become the 28th Member State of the European Union (Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia) · Croatia — Enlargement (Member State as of 1 July 2013) (European Commission, Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood) · Croatia adopts the euro (European Central Bank)
- KOS
Kosovo · Politics & Power · 19 Apr 2013
Brussels Agreement
Under EU facilitation, Belgrade and Pristina reached the First Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalisation of Relations, addressing the integration of Serb-majority areas and a planned association of Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo.
Independence and the Contested Present
Sources: Kosovo: Self-declared independence (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue: Agreement on the Path to Normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia (the EU-facilitated dialogue, binding prior agreements including the 2013 Brussels Agreement) (European External Action Service (EU))
- PRT
Portugal · Politics & Power
The Savage Islands maritime dispute
Spain disputed the exclusive economic zone Portugal claims around the Savage Islands, contending that the islets are rocks under the law of the sea, an issue examined in US State Department maritime studies.
Republic, Dictatorship, Revolution and Europe
Sources: Limits in the Seas No. 155, Portugal: Maritime Claims and Boundaries (U.S. Department of State, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs)
- SRB
Serbia · Politics & Power · 19 Apr 2013
Brussels Agreement
In the EU-facilitated dialogue, Belgrade and Pristina reached the First Agreement of Principles, integrating Serb-majority northern Kosovo into Kosovo's institutions without constituting Serbian recognition.
Modern Serbia and the Kosovo Dispute
Sources: Belgrade–Pristina Dialogue: Agreement on the path to normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia (European External Action Service (EU))
North America
- DOM
Dominican Republic · Peoples & Migration · 2013 CE
Citizenship ruling on Haitian descent
A constitutional court ruling affecting the nationality of Dominicans of Haitian descent draws international criticism and underscores the fraught relationship with Haiti.
The Modern Tourism Republic
Sources: History of the Dominican Republic (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- GTM
Guatemala · Politics & Power · 2013 CE
Rios Montt convicted of genocide
A Guatemalan court convicts the former dictator of genocide against the Ixil Maya, the first such verdict by a national court, though it is soon annulled.
Guatemala Since the Peace
Sources: Efrain Rios Montt (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
South America
- FLK
Falkland Islands · Politics & Power · 10–11 March 2013
Sovereignty referendum
About 99.8% of islanders voting (turnout c. 92%) chose to remain a British Overseas Territory; the UK upheld the result while Argentina rejected its validity.
Referendum, Fisheries and Oil to the Present
Sources: H.Res.170 (113th Congress) — Recognizing the Falkland Islands referendum in favor of retaining their status as a British Overseas Territory (Library of Congress, Congress.gov) · Our History (Falkland Islands Government)
- URY
Uruguay · Politics & Power · 2013 CE
Cannabis and progressive reform
Under President Jose Mujica, Uruguay legalises same-sex marriage and becomes the first country in the world to fully legalise and regulate cannabis.
Dictatorship, Recovery, and Modern Uruguay
Sources: Jose Mujica (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- VEN
Venezuela · Politics & Power · Mar-Apr 2013
Death of Chavez; Maduro elected
Hugo Chavez dies of cancer in March 2013, and his chosen successor Nicolas Maduro narrowly wins the ensuing election.
The Bolivarian Revolution and the Crisis
Sources: Hugo Chavez (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations (CRS Report R44841) (Congressional Research Service, U.S. Library of Congress)
Oceania
- FJI
Fiji · Politics & Power
New constitution adopted
Fiji promulgates a 2013 constitution that abolishes ethnic communal voting in favour of a single common electoral roll.
New Constitution, Democracy & the Climate Frontline
Sources: Fiji — Countries (A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations) (U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian)
21 records
Africa
- BFA
Burkina Faso · Politics & Power · 30–31 October 2014
Popular uprising ousts Compaoré
Protests against Compaoré's bid to extend his rule culminate in the storming of the National Assembly; he resigns after 27 years and flees to Côte d'Ivoire.
Compaoré, Uprising and the Sahel Insurgency
Sources: 2014 Burkinabè uprising (Wikipedia) · Blaise Compaoré (Wikipedia)
- CAF
Central African Republic · War & Rupture · April–September 2014
UN establishes MINUSCA
After French and African Union deployments, the UN Security Council authorised the MINUSCA peacekeeping mission in April 2014; it assumed responsibility in September, alongside interim president Catherine Samba-Panza.
Séléka, Anti-balaka and a Fragile Peace
Sources: Central African Republic Civil War (Wikipedia) · MINUSCA — United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (United Nations Peacekeeping)
- LBR
Liberia · Catastrophe · 2014–2015
The Ebola epidemic
Liberia was among the countries worst hit by the West African Ebola epidemic, the largest in history, which killed thousands and overwhelmed a health system already weakened by war before transmission was halted.
Peace, Sirleaf, and the Ebola epidemic
Sources: Ebola virus epidemic in Liberia (Wikipedia) · Ebola Epidemic — Liberia, March–October 2014 (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (MMWR))
- LBY
Libya · Politics & Power · 2014 onward
Division and civil war
Disputed elections split Libya between rival governments in Tripoli and the east; Haftar's 2019–2020 assault on Tripoli fails, and a 2021 unity government cannot reunite the country.
The Gaddafi Era, Uprising and Division
Sources: Second Libyan Civil War (Wikipedia)
- NGA
Nigeria · Economy & Trade
Africa's largest economy
After rebasing its GDP, Nigeria was confirmed as the largest economy in Africa, underscoring its weight as the continent's most populous nation and a major oil producer.
The Fourth Republic and modern Nigeria
Sources: Nigeria becomes Africa's largest economy (Al Jazeera) · Nigeria (country overview and history) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- SLE
Sierra Leone · Catastrophe · 2014–2016
The Ebola epidemic
An Ebola outbreak reached Sierra Leone in May 2014, killing nearly 4,000 people and overwhelming health services before the WHO declared the outbreak over in November 2015, with recovery following.
One-party rule, civil war, and recovery
Sources: Statement on the end of the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone (World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa) · Ebola virus epidemic in Sierra Leone (Wikipedia)
Asia
- BRN
Brunei · Religion
Sharia penal code phased in
Brunei begins implementing a strict Sharia penal code in stages, with later phases drawing international condemnation, while pursuing the Wawasan 2035 plan to diversify beyond oil.
The 1962 Revolt, Independence, and the Modern Sultanate
Sources: Brunei (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- GEO
Georgia · Politics & Power
EU Association Agreement
Georgia signed an Association Agreement with the European Union, deepening a Western orientation that later led to its 2022 EU membership application and 2023 candidate status.
Independent Georgia: Conflicts, the Rose Revolution and the Western Turn
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country: Georgia (U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian) · Georgia: Independent Georgia (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- IRQ
Iraq · War & Rupture · June 2014
ISIS seizes Mosul and proclaims a caliphate
The jihadist group ISIS sweeps across northern Iraq, captures Mosul, and declares a 'caliphate', imposing extreme violence and destroying heritage sites including parts of Hatra, Ashur and Nimrud.
Iraq Since 2003 — Invasion, Insurgency and Recovery
Sources: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- THA
Thailand · Politics & Power · May 2014
Coup against Yingluck Shinawatra
The army overthrows the government of Yingluck Shinawatra, ruling directly and later entrenching its role in a new constitution adopted in 2017.
Cold War Ally, Coups, and the Modern Kingdom
Sources: Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) (Encyclopædia Britannica) · Thailand (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- YEM
Yemen · War & Rupture · September 2014
Houthi forces seize Sanaa
The Houthi movement, allied with former president Saleh, captured the capital Sanaa and went on to force President Hadi from the country, collapsing the post-2011 transition.
Uprising, War and Humanitarian Crisis
Sources: Yemeni Civil War (Houthi conflict and Saudi-led intervention) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Europe
- ALB
Albania · Politics & Power · Jun 2014
EU candidate status
Albania, which applied for membership in April 2009, was granted European Union candidate status in June 2014; accession negotiations were formally opened in July 2022.
Transition, the 1997 Crisis, NATO and Europe
Sources: Albania (Enlargement and Eastern Neighbourhood) (European Commission)
- EST
Estonia · Politics & Power · 2005 & 2014
The unratified border treaty
A border treaty with Russia, settling the post-war frontier at Narva and Petseri, was signed in 2005 and again in 2014 but remains unratified, leaving the boundary formally unconcluded.
The Singing Revolution, Restoration and the Return to Europe
Sources: Russian provocations and Estonia's borders: why international law matters (Trialoog, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)) · Foreign minister: We can initiate ratifying Estonia-Russia border treaty (ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting))
- RUS
Russia · War & Rupture · March 2014
Annexation of Crimea
Following the fall of Ukraine's pro-Russian president, Russian forces seize Crimea and Moscow annexes the peninsula, an action recognized by almost no other state, while Russia backs separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Post-Soviet Russia
Sources: Russia (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation (Wikipedia)
- UKR
Ukraine · Politics & Power · 2013–14
Revolution of Dignity (Euromaidan)
Protests sparked by the rejection of an EU association agreement grew into the Revolution of Dignity; after deadly clashes President Yanukovych fled the country in February 2014.
Independent Ukraine, Revolutions and the Defence of Sovereignty
Sources: Ukraine crisis of 2013-14 (Euromaidan, annexation of Crimea, war in the Donbas) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- UKR
Ukraine · War & Rupture · Mar 2014
Russia annexes Crimea; UN Resolution 68/262
Russia seized Crimea and declared its annexation after a referendum deemed illegal; the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 68/262, affirming Ukraine's territorial integrity and declaring the referendum without legal validity.
Independent Ukraine, Revolutions and the Defence of Sovereignty
Sources: Ukraine crisis of 2013-14 (Euromaidan, annexation of Crimea, war in the Donbas) (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · General Assembly Resolution 68/262, Territorial integrity of Ukraine (27 March 2014) (United Nations Digital Library) · United Nations Resolution Declares Crimea Referendum Invalid (U.S. Library of Congress, Global Legal Monitor)
North America
- CRI
Costa Rica · Culture & Ideas · 2014 CE
Diquis spheres named World Heritage
UNESCO inscribes the Diquis chiefdom settlements and their stone spheres as Costa Rica's first cultural World Heritage Site.
Peace, Welfare, and the Green Republic
Sources: Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquis (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- CRI
Costa Rica · Culture & Ideas · 2014 CE
UNESCO World Heritage inscription
The Diquis settlements with their stone spheres become Costa Rica's first cultural World Heritage Site, recognised as unique evidence of pre-Columbian chiefdom societies.
Chiefdoms and the Stone Spheres
Sources: Precolumbian Chiefdom Settlements with Stone Spheres of the Diquis (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- CUB
Cuba · Politics & Power · 17 Dec 2014
Thaw with the United States
Obama and Raul Castro announce normalisation; diplomatic relations are restored and embassies reopen in 2015, though the embargo remains.
Special Period, Thaw, and the Present
Sources: Re-Establishment of Diplomatic Relations With Cuba (U.S. Department of State (2009-2017 archive)) · Cuba since 1991 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- NIC
Nicaragua · Politics & Power · 2009–2014
Re-election limits removed
A 2009 court ruling and 2014 constitutional reform abolish term limits, enabling Ortega's continued re-election and the consolidation of FSLN control.
Democratic Interlude and Ortega's Return
Sources: Nicaragua: Ortega's return to power (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Oceania
- FJI
Fiji · Politics & Power
Return to elected government
Elections deemed broadly credible by observers restore parliamentary democracy; Frank Bainimarama becomes elected prime minister.
New Constitution, Democracy & the Climate Frontline
Sources: Fiji — Countries (A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations) (U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian)
15 records
Africa
- BFA
Burkina Faso · War & Rupture · August 2015 onward
Jihadist insurgency spreads to Burkina Faso
Sahelian jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside the homegrown Ansarul Islam, escalate attacks, killing thousands and displacing more than a million people.
Compaoré, Uprising and the Sahel Insurgency
Sources: Islamist insurgency in Burkina Faso (Wikipedia) · The Shifting Front of Militant Islamist Violence in the Sahel (Africa Center for Strategic Studies)
- BDI
Burundi · Politics & Power
Third-term crisis
Nkurunziza's bid for a disputed third term triggers mass protests, a failed May coup and a deadly crackdown; over a thousand are killed and hundreds of thousands flee.
Modern Burundi
Sources: Burundi crisis: The legacy of 2015 brings fear for 2020 (Amnesty International) · Burundian unrest (2015–2018) (Wikipedia) · Pierre Nkurunziza (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- COG
Congo · Politics & Power · 25 October 2015
Referendum removes term limits
A constitutional referendum in October 2015, reported as overwhelmingly approved on a disputed turnout, scrapped presidential term limits and the age ceiling, clearing the way for Sassou Nguesso to seek further terms; he was re-elected in 2016 and 2021.
Democracy, civil war, and the return of Sassou Nguesso
Sources: 2015 Republic of the Congo constitutional referendum (Wikipedia) · Republic of the Congo: President Announces Referendum on New Constitution (Library of Congress) · Denis Sassou Nguesso (Wikipedia)
- NGA
Nigeria · Politics & Power
First opposition election victory
Muhammadu Buhari defeated the sitting president Goodluck Jonathan, the first time an opposition candidate won Nigeria's presidency through the ballot box, marking a democratic milestone.
The Fourth Republic and modern Nigeria
Sources: Assessing Twenty-Five Years of Democracy in Nigeria (SAIS Review of International Affairs) · Nigeria (country overview and history) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- SYC
Seychelles · Economy & Trade · c. 2010s
High-income tourism and tuna economy
Tourism became the dominant sector and tuna fishing a leading export, lifting Seychelles to high-income status.
Democracy and Prosperity
Sources: Economy of Seychelles (Wikipedia) · Seychelles — Economy (CIA World Factbook)
Asia
- MMR
Myanmar · Politics & Power · November 2015
NLD wins free elections
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy wins Myanmar's first fairly contested elections; she becomes state counsellor in a government sharing power with the army.
Opening, the Rohingya Crisis, and the 2021 Coup
Sources: Aung San Suu Kyi (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Myanmar since 1988 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- NPL
Nepal · Politics & Power · 20 Sep 2015
Federal constitution promulgated
Nepal adopts a permanent constitution establishing a secular federal republic of seven provinces with a bicameral Federal Parliament.
Insurgency, Republic and Reconstruction
Sources: Nepal — Federal republic (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- NPL
Nepal · Catastrophe · 25 Apr 2015
Gorkha earthquake
A magnitude-7.8 quake near Gorkha kills about 9,000 people and devastates Kathmandu Valley heritage, including Durbar squares and the Dharahara tower.
Insurgency, Republic and Reconstruction
Sources: One Year After the M7.8 Nepal (Gorkha) Earthquake (U.S. Geological Survey) · Nepal earthquake of 2015 (Encyclopædia Britannica) · Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
- TJK
Tajikistan · Politics & Power · 2015 CE
Rahmon named 'Leader of the Nation'
Parliament grants Emomali Rahmon the title 'Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation', extending his authority as his long rule continues.
The Rahmon Era and the Mountain Republic
Sources: The Founder of Peace and National Unity — Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan) · Emomali Rahmon — president of Tajikistan (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- YEM
Yemen · War & Rupture · March 2015
Saudi-led coalition intervenes
A coalition led by Saudi Arabia and the UAE began military intervention to restore the recognised government, opening a prolonged war marked by air strikes, ground combat and blockade.
Uprising, War and Humanitarian Crisis
Sources: Yemeni Civil War (Houthi conflict and Saudi-led intervention) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Europe
- MNE
Montenegro · Politics & Power · 2015–2018
Kosovo border demarcation
Montenegro and Kosovo signed a demarcation of their 79-kilometre border in 2015; fiercely contested in Kosovo, it was finally ratified by Pristina's parliament in March 2018.
Independent Montenegro, NATO and Europe
Sources: Kosovo-Montenegro demarcation agreement came into effect (signed 2015, ratified March 2018) (European Western Balkans)
North America
- CAN
Canada · Politics & Power
Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports
After years of survivor testimony, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented the harms of the residential school system, described it as cultural genocide, and issued 94 Calls to Action for reconciliation.
Modern Canada — multiculturalism, patriation, and reconciliation
Sources: Truth and Reconciliation Commission reports (National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation) · Canada's Indian residential schools: Childhood denied (Canadian Museum for Human Rights)
- JAM
Jamaica · Culture & Ideas · 2015 CE
World Heritage inscription
The Blue and John Crow Mountains, refuge of the Maroons, become Jamaica's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Independent Jamaica and Global Culture
Sources: Blue and John Crow Mountains (UNESCO World Heritage Centre)
South America
- GUY
Guyana · Economy & Trade
First offshore oil discovery
ExxonMobil and partners make the first major oil discovery in the offshore Stabroek block, beginning Guyana's transformation into a significant petroleum producer.
Oil, the Essequibo Controversy and the Present
Sources: Guyana becomes key contributor to global crude oil supply growth (U.S. Energy Information Administration) · Guyana operations and project overview (ExxonMobil)
Oceania
- VUT
Vanuatu · Catastrophe · March 2015
Cyclone Pam devastates the islands
Tropical Cyclone Pam, the most destructive storm in Vanuatu's history, damaged the great majority of buildings and a vast share of national output.
Kastom, Cyclones and Climate Diplomacy
Sources: COVID-19 and Tropical Cyclone Harold create the perfect storm in the Pacific (ReliefWeb (UN OCHA)) · Preparing for the perfect storm — Climate Disaster Risk Insurance in Vanuatu (UN Capital Development Fund)
11 records
Africa
- CMR
Cameroon · Politics & Power · late 2016
Anglophone protests begin
Lawyers and teachers in the North-West and South-West regions launched protests against the marginalisation of English-speaking Cameroonians; a security crackdown followed.
The Biya era and the Anglophone crisis
Sources: Cameroon (country analysis and Anglophone crisis) (International Crisis Group) · Cameroon (Anglophone crisis monitoring) (Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect)
- TCD
Chad · Politics & Power · 30 May 2016
Habré convicted of crimes against humanity
The Extraordinary African Chambers in Senegal sentenced Hissène Habré to life for crimes against humanity, war crimes and torture, a landmark of universal jurisdiction; the verdict was upheld on appeal in 2017.
The Déby era and its legacy
Sources: Hissène Habré (case coverage) (Human Rights Watch) · Hissène Habré convicted: a historic verdict for the victims (International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH))
- GMB
Gambia · Politics & Power · 1 December 2016
Barrow defeats Jammeh
Adama Barrow, backed by an opposition coalition, won the presidential election; Jammeh initially conceded but a week later rejected the result, precipitating a constitutional crisis.
The Jammeh era and the 2017 transition
Sources: Adama Barrow (1965– ) (BlackPast.org) · Yahya Jammeh (Wikipedia) · The Gambia (country overview and history) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Asia
- SAU
Saudi Arabia · Economy & Trade
Vision 2030 is launched
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman unveiled Vision 2030, a program to diversify the economy beyond oil, grow the private sector and tourism, and reshape Saudi society.
Oil, Modernization and Contemporary Saudi Arabia
Sources: Saudi Vision 2030 - Overview (Government of Saudi Arabia) · Vision 2030 reform plan announced (Public Investment Fund (Saudi Arabia))
- THA
Thailand · Politics & Power · 13 October 2016
Death of Bhumibol; accession of Vajiralongkorn
King Bhumibol Adulyadej dies after a 70-year reign and is succeeded by his son Maha Vajiralongkorn (Rama X), who formally accepts the throne in December 2016.
Cold War Ally, Coups, and the Modern Kingdom
Sources: Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX) (Encyclopædia Britannica) · Vajiralongkorn (Rama X) (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- UZB
Uzbekistan · Politics & Power · 2016 CE
Mirziyoyev succeeds Karimov and opens reforms
After Islam Karimov's death, Shavkat Mirziyoyev becomes president and launches a 'New Uzbekistan' programme of economic liberalisation and cautious political opening.
Independent Uzbekistan
Sources: Shavkat Mirziyoyev — Biography, Uzbekistan & Presidency (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
North America
- PAN
Panama · Economy & Trade · 26 June 2016
Expanded canal opens
New Agua Clara and Cocoli locks open, roughly doubling capacity and admitting larger Neopanamax vessels.
The Canal Nation
Sources: Panama Canal: Capital Improvements and Expansion (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Panama (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- PRI
Puerto Rico · Economy & Trade · 2015-2016
Debt crisis and PROMESA
With debt declared unpayable in 2015, Congress passes PROMESA in 2016, installing a federal oversight board over the island's finances.
Vieques, Maria, and the Unresolved Future
Sources: Puerto Rico: The Debate over Political Status (Encyclopædia Britannica)
South America
- BRA
- COL
Colombia · Politics & Power · 2016 CE
Peace accord with the FARC
After four years of talks in Havana, the Santos government and the FARC sign a peace agreement; Santos receives the Nobel Peace Prize.
Armed Conflict and the Search for Peace
Sources: The Nobel Peace Prize 2016 - Juan Manuel Santos (The Nobel Foundation) · History of Colombia (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- VEN
Venezuela · Peoples & Migration · from c. 2016
Economic collapse and exodus
A deep contraction, hyperinflation and shortages drive a mass emigration that, by UN estimates, exceeds 7.7 million people by late 2024.
The Bolivarian Revolution and the Crisis
Sources: Venezuela Situation (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)) · Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations (CRS Report R44841) (Congressional Research Service, U.S. Library of Congress)
18 records
Africa
- AGO
Angola · Politics & Power
Lourenço succeeds dos Santos
After thirty-eight years in power, José Eduardo dos Santos stepped down and João Lourenço became president, with the MPLA retaining control of the government.
Peace and oil-rich modern Angola
Sources: Beyond Mugabe: Angola's Strongman Also Bowed Out in 2017 (The Globalist) · José Eduardo dos Santos (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- CMR
Cameroon · War & Rupture
Escalation into armed conflict
The protests gave way to an armed insurgency as separatists proclaimed the independent state of Ambazonia; the conflict has since killed thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands.
The Biya era and the Anglophone crisis
Sources: Cameroon (Anglophone crisis monitoring) (Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect) · Cameroon (country analysis and Anglophone crisis) (International Crisis Group)
- DJI
Djibouti · Politics & Power · 1 August 2017
China opens its first overseas base
China inaugurates its first overseas military base in Djibouti, joining French, US (Camp Lemonnier), Japanese and other forces and confirming the country's role as a hub of foreign military presence.
Civil War, Guelleh and the Republic of Bases
Sources: People's Liberation Army Support Base in Djibouti (Wikipedia) · China's Engagement in Djibouti (Congressional Research Service (Library of Congress)) · Foreign military bases in Djibouti (Wikipedia)
- GMB
Gambia · Politics & Power · 19–21 January 2017
ECOWAS intervention and transfer of power
Barrow was sworn in at the Gambian embassy in Dakar on 19 January 2017; with ECOWAS troops deployed under UN authorisation, Jammeh agreed to leave and went into exile in Equatorial Guinea on 21 January, completing a peaceful handover.
The Jammeh era and the 2017 transition
Sources: Adama Barrow (1965– ) (BlackPast.org) · Yahya Jammeh (Wikipedia) · History of the Gambia (Wikipedia)
- MOZ
Mozambique · War & Rupture · 2017 onward
Cabo Delgado insurgency
An Islamist insurgency erupts in Cabo Delgado; its 2021 assault on Palma halts the main gas project, and the violence kills thousands and displaces close to a million people.
Civil War, Peace and Modern Mozambique
Sources: War in Mozambique: a natural gas blessing, turned curse (openDemocracy) · Offshore gas finds offered major promise for Mozambique: what went wrong (The Conversation) · Project developers must prioritise human security as gas project restarts in Mozambique (DefenceWeb)
- SDS
South Sudan · Catastrophe · Feb 2017
Famine declared in Unity state
The UN declares famine in parts of Unity state, with millions needing emergency aid; experts warn that famine used as a weapon of war may be an international crime.
A Young Nation at War
Sources: Famine declared in region of South Sudan (United Nations) · 2017 South Sudan famine (Wikipedia)
- ZWE
Zimbabwe · Politics & Power · 21 November 2017
Mugabe forced from power
After a military intervention and the threat of impeachment, Robert Mugabe resigned after thirty-seven years in power, and Emmerson Mnangagwa became president.
Independence, Gukurahundi and the Mugabe years
Sources: Robert Mugabe (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Zimbabwe: History (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · History of Zimbabwe (Wikipedia)
Asia
- IRQ
Iraq · War & Rupture
Liberation of Mosul and defeat of ISIS
Backed by a US-led coalition, Iraqi forces retake Mosul in July 2017 after months of urban warfare, and Iraq declares victory over ISIS in December 2017, ending its territorial control.
Iraq Since 2003 — Invasion, Insurgency and Recovery
Sources: Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) (Encyclopædia Britannica) · Iraq War (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- MMR
Myanmar · Peoples & Migration · August 2017
Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State
Military 'clearance operations' drive more than 700,000 Rohingya into Bangladesh; a UN fact-finding mission later finds evidence of genocidal violence.
Opening, the Rohingya Crisis, and the 2021 Coup
Sources: UN Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar: account of violations in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan States (United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR))
- PRK
North Korea · Politics & Power
Largest nuclear test and ICBM launches
North Korea conducts its most powerful nuclear test and tests intercontinental ballistic missiles, prompting expanded UN Security Council sanctions.
The Kim Jong Un Era
Sources: Kim Jong-Un (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · North Korea's Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs (U.S. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress)
- CYN
Northern Cyprus · Politics & Power
Crans-Montana talks collapse
UN-brokered reunification negotiations at Crans-Montana ended without agreement, after which Turkish-Cypriot leaders increasingly pressed for a two-state solution rejected by the Republic of Cyprus and the UN.
A Divided Island to the Present
Sources: Cyprus - History (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · UNFICYP Mandate (United Nations Peacekeeping)
- QAT
Qatar · Politics & Power · 5 June 2017
Blockade by neighbouring states
Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties and imposed a land, sea and air blockade, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism; Qatar rejected their thirteen demands as a breach of its sovereignty.
Qatar Under Tamim: Blockade and World Stage
Sources: Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Qatar: History (Persian Gulf, Oil, Gas) (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Europe
- HRV
Croatia · Politics & Power · 29 Jun 2017
Piran Bay arbitration award
The Permanent Court of Arbitration issued its Final Award on the Croatia-Slovenia border in the Gulf of Piran; Croatia, which had withdrawn from the process in 2015, declared it did not consider itself bound by the ruling.
Independence, the War and the Modern Republic
Sources: Arbitration (Croatia-Slovenia border, Final Award 29 June 2017) (Government of the Republic of Slovenia (gov.si))
- MNE
Montenegro · Politics & Power · 5 Jun 2017
Accession to NATO
Montenegro became NATO's twenty-ninth member, depositing its instrument of accession in Washington, despite strong Russian opposition and a divided domestic public.
Independent Montenegro, NATO and Europe
Sources: Montenegro joins NATO as 29th Ally (5 June 2017) (NATO) · Montenegro becomes NATO's 29th member (European Western Balkans)
- SVN
Slovenia · Politics & Power · 29 Jun 2017
PCA award on the Piran Bay border
The Permanent Court of Arbitration rendered its Final Award, fixing the land and maritime boundary through Piran Bay and granting Slovenia a junction to the high seas; Slovenia accepted the award, Croatia rejected it.
A European Republic and the Border Arbitration
Sources: Arbitration between the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia (PCA Case No. 2012-04, Final Award 29 June 2017) (Permanent Court of Arbitration) · Arbitration (the border dispute with Croatia) (Government of Slovenia (gov.si))
North America
- PRI
Puerto Rico · Catastrophe · 20 Sept 2017
Hurricane Maria
A devastating hurricane wrecks Puerto Rico's power grid and infrastructure, with an official death toll later estimated near 2,975.
Vieques, Maria, and the Unresolved Future
Sources: Hurricane Maria (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- PRI
Puerto Rico · Politics & Power · 2012-2020
Statehood plebiscites
Votes in 2012, 2017, and 2020 favour statehood, but the 2017 ballot was boycotted and drew only about 23% turnout, and Congress has not acted.
Vieques, Maria, and the Unresolved Future
Sources: Puerto Rico: The Debate over Political Status (Encyclopædia Britannica)
Oceania
- FJI
Fiji · Culture & Ideas
Fiji presides over COP23
Fiji becomes the first small-island developing state to lead a UN climate conference, promoting the Talanoa Dialogue and the 1.5°C target.
New Constitution, Democracy & the Climate Frontline
Sources: Secretary-General's remarks at COP23 (Fiji presidency) (United Nations) · Pacific Island Countries — Overview (Fiji) (World Bank Group) · Fiji (Encyclopædia Britannica)
17 records
Africa
- BDI
Burundi · Politics & Power
Constitutional referendum
A 2018 referendum amends the constitution and resets presidential term limits, potentially allowing Nkurunziza to remain in power until 2034.
Modern Burundi
Sources: We Will Beat You to Correct You: Abuses Ahead of Burundi's Constitutional Referendum (Human Rights Watch) · Burundian unrest (2015–2018) (Wikipedia)
- ERI
Eritrea · Politics & Power · 9 July 2018
Peace with Ethiopia
Isaias Afwerki and Abiy Ahmed sign a declaration formally ending the border war, though internal repression in Eritrea continues largely unchanged.
Independence, Border War and the Closed State
Sources: Eritrea-Ethiopia Peace Deal Offers Hope for Reform (Human Rights Watch)
- SWZ
Eswatini · Politics & Power · April 2018
Swaziland becomes Eswatini
On the fiftieth anniversary of independence, Mswati III renames the country the Kingdom of Eswatini, reviving its siSwati name.
Rule by Decree and the Birth of Eswatini
Sources: Mswati III (Wikipedia) · History of Eswatini (Wikipedia) · A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Eswatini (U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian)
- LBR
Liberia · Politics & Power · January 2018
Peaceful transfer to George Weah
Sirleaf handed power to George Weah, who won the 2017 election — Liberia's first peaceful democratic transfer of power between elected presidents in over seven decades.
Peace, Sirleaf, and the Ebola epidemic
Sources: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Background Note: Liberia (U.S. Department of State)
- SDS
South Sudan · Catastrophe
An estimated 383,000 dead
A London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine study estimates about 383,000 conflict-related deaths by April 2018, roughly half from direct violence.
A Young Nation at War
Sources: Estimates of crisis-attributable mortality in South Sudan (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine) · Civil war in South Sudan: a primer (UK House of Commons Library)
- SDS
South Sudan · Politics & Power · 12 Sep 2018
Revitalised peace agreement (R-ARCSS)
After repeated failed ceasefires, the government and opposition sign the R-ARCSS, providing for a unified army, a new constitution and elections.
A Young Nation at War
Sources: The Formation of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity in South Sudan (ACCORD) · Civil war in South Sudan: a primer (UK House of Commons Library)
Asia
- ARM
Armenia · Politics & Power · April–May 2018
The Velvet Revolution
A peaceful protest movement led by Nikol Pashinyan brought down the governing elite and installed a new reform government, with Pashinyan elected prime minister.
Independent Armenia
Sources: Armenia — Caucasus, Soviet Union, Genocide (Modern Armenia) (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- KHM
Cambodia · Politics & Power · 2018 CE
Opposition dissolved, CPP entrenched
With the main opposition party dissolved by the courts, Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party wins every National Assembly seat, consolidating one-party dominance.
Modern Cambodia: Hun Sen and Hun Manet
Sources: Hun Sen (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Cambodia since 2000 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- MYS
Malaysia · Politics & Power · 9 May 2018
1MDB scandal ends Barisan Nasional rule
Amid the 1MDB corruption scandal, an opposition alliance led by Mahathir defeats Najib Razak, ending more than six decades of Barisan Nasional government; Najib is later convicted and jailed.
The New Economic Policy, Mahathir and Modern Malaysia
Sources: Malaysia's Najib gets 12 years in jail for 1MDB-linked graft case (Al Jazeera) · Timeline: Anwar Ibrahim's long road to Malaysian prime minister (Al Jazeera)
- PRK
North Korea · Politics & Power · 12 June 2018
Singapore summit with the United States
Kim Jong Un becomes the first North Korean leader to meet a sitting U.S. president, signing a joint statement with Donald Trump on working toward denuclearization.
The Kim Jong Un Era
Sources: Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy, 1985-2022 (Arms Control Association) · Kim Jong-Un (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- TLS
Timor-Leste · Economy & Trade · 6 March 2018
Maritime boundary treaty with Australia
Timor-Leste and Australia sign a treaty settling their disputed Timor Sea boundary, the first reached through UN conciliation, resolving claims over the Greater Sunrise gas field.
Asia's Youngest Nation
Sources: East Timor (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
Europe
- MDA
Moldova · Politics & Power · 22 Jun 2018
UN resolution on foreign forces
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution 72/282 by 64 votes to 15, urging Russia to complete the unconditional withdrawal of its Operational Group of Forces from Moldova, in line with the 1999 OSCE Istanbul commitments.
Independence, the Transnistria Conflict and the Road to Europe
Sources: Complete and unconditional withdrawal of foreign military forces from the territory of the Republic of Moldova (A/RES/72/282) (United Nations General Assembly) · Twenty Years of Russian 'Peacekeeping' in Moldova (The Jamestown Foundation)
- MKD
North Macedonia · Politics & Power · 17 Jun 2018
The Prespa Agreement
Greece and the country signed the Prespa Agreement, renaming it the Republic of North Macedonia (used erga omnes), terminating the 1995 accord and distinguishing the modern Slavic state from ancient Macedon.
Independence and the Name Dispute with Greece
Sources: Prespa Agreement (Final Agreement for the Settlement of the Differences), 17 June 2018 (Wikisource (treaty text)) · Application of the Interim Accord of 13 September 1995 (the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia v. Greece), Judgment of 5 December 2011 (International Court of Justice)
North America
- CUB
Cuba · Politics & Power · 2018-2021
Leadership beyond the Castros
Miguel Diaz-Canel becomes president in 2018 and Communist Party leader in 2021, the first non-Castro to hold the top posts since 1959.
Special Period, Thaw, and the Present
Sources: Miguel Diaz-Canel (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- NIC
Nicaragua · Politics & Power · Apr 2018
The 2018 crisis
Protests against social-security cuts become a mass anti-government movement met with deadly force; the UN and IACHR document a death toll estimated upward of 300 (figures are estimates).
Democratic Interlude and Ortega's Return
Sources: Nicaragua: Ortega's return to power (Encyclopædia Britannica) · Nicaragua: Human rights crisis demands action and accountability (UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)) · IACHR Updates Death Toll Records of Human Rights Crisis in Nicaragua (Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (OAS))
South America
- GUY
Guyana · Politics & Power
Guyana takes Essequibo case to the ICJ
Guyana files proceedings at the International Court of Justice seeking to confirm the 1899 arbitral award fixing its boundary with Venezuela.
Oil, the Essequibo Controversy and the Present
Sources: Arbitral Award of 3 October 1899 (Guyana v. Venezuela) (International Court of Justice)
Oceania
- NCL
New Caledonia · Independence · 4 November 2018
First independence referendum
In the first Nouméa Accord referendum, voters chose to remain part of France by about 56.7% to 43.3%, with the independence vote concentrated among the Kanak.
Three Referendums and an Unsettled Future
Sources: New Caledonia — The United Nations and Decolonization (United Nations, Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs) · New Caledonia — History (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
17 records
Africa
- DZA
Algeria · Politics & Power · 22 February – 2 April 2019
The Hirak and Bouteflika's fall
Mass peaceful protests known as the Hirak erupt against Bouteflika's bid for a fifth term; he resigns on 2 April 2019, and Abdelmadjid Tebboune is elected president that December.
Independent Algeria: Revolution, Civil War and Hirak
Sources: Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Hirak (Algeria), 2019–2020 protests (Wikipedia)
- CPV
Cape Verde · Culture & Ideas
Morna inscribed as intangible heritage
UNESCO added morna, the Cape Verdean musical practice of love, parting and sodade, to its list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, honouring the islands' best-known cultural expression.
A stable democracy and a global people
Sources: Morna, musical practice of Cabo Verde (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) · The story of morna: Cape Verde's music of displacement and return (Al Jazeera)
- CAF
Central African Republic · Politics & Power · 6 February 2019
Khartoum peace agreement
President Touadéra's government and fourteen armed groups signed a peace accord in Khartoum, but implementation was partial and fighting soon resumed.
Séléka, Anti-balaka and a Fragile Peace
Sources: Central African Republic Civil War (Wikipedia)
- MUS
Mauritius · Politics & Power
ICJ advisory opinion on Chagos
The International Court of Justice finds Britain's continued administration of the Chagos Archipelago unlawful; the UN General Assembly concurs.
Republic & African Success Story
Sources: Chagos Archipelago (Encyclopædia Britannica) · 2025 treaty on the British Indian Ocean Territory / Chagos Archipelago (House of Commons Library)
- SDN
Sudan · Politics & Power · 11 April 2019
Revolution ousts Bashir
Months of mass protests prompt the military to remove Omar al-Bashir after three decades in power.
Darfur, Secession and the War of the Generals
Sources: 2019 Sudanese coup d'état (Wikipedia) · Sudan: With al-Bashir Ouster, End Authoritarianism (Human Rights Watch)
Asia
- KAZ
Kazakhstan · Politics & Power · March 2019
Nazarbayev resigns; Tokayev succeeds
After nearly three decades in power, Nazarbayev steps down as president, handing office to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev while retaining major influence; the capital is briefly renamed Nur-Sultan in his honour.
Independent Kazakhstan
Sources: Kazakhstan: Independent Kazakhstan (Encyclopædia Britannica)
- LBN
Lebanon · Catastrophe · 2019–present
Economic collapse and the Beirut port explosion
From 2019 Lebanon suffers one of the world's worst economic crises; on 4 August 2020 an ammonium-nitrate explosion at the port of Beirut kills more than 200 people and devastates the capital.
Civil War, Foreign Intervention and Collapse
Sources: Lebanon: How Israel, Hezbollah, and Regional Powers Are Shaping Its Future (Council on Foreign Relations) · Lebanon: Lebanon's Second Republic since 1990 (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- PRK
North Korea · Politics & Power · 27-28 February 2019
Hanoi summit collapses
A second Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi ends without agreement over sanctions and denuclearization, after which diplomacy stalls and weapons testing resumes.
The Kim Jong Un Era
Sources: Chronology of U.S.-North Korean Nuclear and Missile Diplomacy, 1985-2022 (Arms Control Association) · Kim Jong-Un (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
North America
- BHS
Bahamas · Catastrophe · September 2019
Hurricane Dorian devastates Abaco and Grand Bahama
Category 5 Hurricane Dorian stalled over the northern Bahamas, killing scores, leaving hundreds missing and causing about US$3.4 billion in damage — roughly a quarter of GDP.
Tourism, finance and the age of hurricanes
Sources: Damages and other impacts on Bahamas by Hurricane Dorian estimated at $3.4 billion (Inter-American Development Bank) · Bahamas' tourism could be devastated for a long time after Hurricane Dorian (CNN Business)
- BLZ
Belize · Politics & Power · 8 May 2019
Belize votes to go to the ICJ
After Guatemalans approved referral on 15 April 2018, Belizeans voted on 8 May 2019 to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice; the Court was seised of the case on 7 June 2019.
Independent Belize and the Guatemalan question
Sources: Guatemala's Territorial, Insular and Maritime Claim (Guatemala/Belize), Case No. 177 (International Court of Justice) · The Belize–Guatemala Territorial Differendum (Peace Fund) (Organization of American States) · About the Belize–Guatemala Dispute (Government of Belize Referendum Unit)
- SLV
El Salvador · Politics & Power
Bukele wins the presidency
Nayib Bukele, a former mayor of San Salvador, wins the presidency outside the FMLN and ARENA, ending decades of two-party dominance.
Postwar El Salvador and the Bukele Era
Sources: Nayib Bukele (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · El Salvador: The postconflict era (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
South America
- BOL
Bolivia · Politics & Power · Nov 2019
Disputed election and Morales's resignation
After a contested October vote that an OAS audit found marred by irregularities, weeks of protest and the loss of military and police support lead Morales to resign and go into exile.
Democracy and the Indigenous-Majority Era
Sources: Evo Morales (Encyclopaedia Britannica) · Luis Arce (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- CHL
Chile · Politics & Power · October 2019
The 'estallido social' protests
A metro fare rise in Santiago ignites the largest protests since the dictatorship, broadening into demands for reform of pensions, health, education and the constitution.
Return to Democracy and Modern Chile
Sources: History of Chile (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
- GUY
Guyana · Economy & Trade · Dec 2019
First oil production
Production begins in the Stabroek block; within a few years Guyana exceeds 600,000 barrels a day and becomes one of the world's fastest-growing economies.
Oil, the Essequibo Controversy and the Present
Sources: Guyana becomes key contributor to global crude oil supply growth (U.S. Energy Information Administration)
- VEN
Venezuela · Politics & Power · Jan 2019
Disputed interim presidency
Opposition leader Juan Guaido declares himself interim president and is recognised by dozens of states, while Maduro retains control of the government.
The Bolivarian Revolution and the Crisis
Sources: Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations (CRS Report R44841) (Congressional Research Service, U.S. Library of Congress) · A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Venezuela (U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian)
Oceania
- PNG
Papua New Guinea · Politics & Power · 23 November – 7 December 2019
Bougainville independence referendum
Bougainvilleans voted about 98 per cent for independence over greater autonomy; the non-binding result must be negotiated with PNG and ratified by its parliament.
Bougainville and modern Papua New Guinea
Sources: The Bougainville referendum and beyond (University of Melbourne, Laureate Program in Comparative Constitutional Law) · Bougainville votes overwhelmingly for independence from Papua New Guinea (CNN)
- SLB
Solomon Islands · Politics & Power · September 2019
Switch from Taiwan to China
Manasseh Sogavare's government ends recognition of Taiwan and establishes diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.
Tensions, Recovery and Great-Power Attention
Sources: Taiwan Says Solomon Islands Switches Recognition to China (Voice of America)