Modern African History - Middle Africa and Southwest Africa

Question 1

Dictator and later emperor of the Central African Republic / Empire under the MESAN (Movement for the Social Evolution of Black Africa) party. He was cannibalistic and pals with French prez Valery Giscard D’Estaing.

Answer 1

Jean Bedel Bokassa (Bokassa I)

Question 2

After ousting Milton Obote, this guy became a crazy Ugandan dictator, calling himself “King of Scotland” expelling Asians, and executed thousands of people through his misleadingly named “State Research Bureau.”

Answer 2

Idi Amin

Question 3

Idi Amin invaded Nyerere’s Tanzania in this war, named after a region of Tanzania that protrudes North.

Answer 3

Kagera War

Question 4

Benjamin Netanyahu’s brother was killed in this raid, nicknamed “Operation Thunderbolt,” meant to save Israeli hostages from a Ugandan airport. Idi Amin was furious over the success of this raid.

Answer 4

Raid on Entebbe Airport

Question 5

Long-time dictator of Somalia. His war with Ethiopia over the Ethiopian controlled but ethnically Somalian Ogaden Region brought his regime down.

Answer 5

Siad Barre

Question 6

Ongoing war pitting numerous groups against numerous other groups with no well-outlined sides. There’s Al-Shabaab (Al Qaeda affiliate group), UN peacekeepers, the ICU (Islamic Courts Union), and the Somali Government among others all involved.

Answer 6

Somali Civil War

Question 7

Once Italian area north of Ethiopia which has been run by the left wing dictator Isaias Afwerki since it’s gained independence.

Answer 7

Eritrea

Question 8

Once French area north of Ethiopia.

Answer 8

Djibouti

Question 9

Second, current, and long-time leader of Cameroon. Succeeded Ahmadou Ahidjo after serving in the bureaucracy. Very controversial figure for his extreme wealth and authoritarianism.

Answer 9

Paul Biya

Question 10

US-backed Chadian dictator for 8 years who was called “Africa’s Pinochet.” He rose to power after the overthrow of left wing dictator Francois Tombalbaye, and he won the Toyota War against Libya. He has been convicted of Crimes Against Humanity.

Answer 10

Hissene Habre (accented e - Habray)

Question 11

In Sudanese history, there have been three major dictators. Name the first one. This man initially claimed he would only serve with emergency powers to protect the government, but after 6 years of dictatorial rule he was overthrown in 1964.

Answer 11

Ibrahmin Abboud

Question 12

In Sudanese history, there have been three major dictators. Name the second one. This man was a communist and an Islamist who was eventually overthrown after conflict regarding the South.

Answer 12

Gaafar Nimeiry

Question 13

In Sudanese history, there have been three major dictators. Name the third one. This man was an Islamist and a Darfur war criminal, he was ousted from power just last year (2019).

Answer 13

Omar-Al Bashir

Question 14

Conflict where Omar-al-Bashir was accused of genocide against non-Arabs in a certain region, as they were the main supporters of the JEM (Justice and Equality Movement) and SLM (Sudan Liberation Movement) which had formed fight against anti-non-Arab rule in said region.

Answer 14

War in Darfur

Question 15

Country in a civil war between Dinka Prez Salva Kiir and Nuer VP Riek Machar. Recently came to an end with a unity government (for now).

Answer 15

South Sudan Civil War

Question 16

West African country in the region once called “The Slave Coast” formerly organized under the Kingdom of Dahomey before being colonized under the French Dahomey preiod.

Answer 16

Benin

Question 17

Colonized by Germany, then by France, this nation was for a long while run by the dictator Gnassingbe Eyadema, with his son Faure Gnassingbe taking power upon his 2005 death.

Answer 17

Togo

Question 18

Charismatic founding father of Ghana, as well as a communist, socialist, and African nationalist founder of the ideology of African Socialism. He was able to persuade governor general Andrea Arden-Clarke to grant Ghanaian independence, but he was overthrown by a military coup in 1966. He led the Convention People’s Party. This man is sometimes considered the most important leader in post-colonial Africa.

Answer 18

Kwame Nkrumah

Question 19

Former-name of Ghana when it was a British colony.

Answer 19

Gold Coast

Question 20

Revolutionary Thomas Sankara renamed Upper Volta this phrase, which means “Land of the Upright People” after seizing power from Jean-Baptiste Ouedraogo in a coup. Sankara was overthrown by associate Blaise Compaore in a 1987 coup, and Compaore ruled until 2014.

Answer 20

Burkina Faso

Question 21

Name the two late 20th century dictators of Liberia. The first led a coup against True Whig Party leader William Tolbert, and the 2nd led ran on a slogan of “He killed my ma, he killed my pa, but still I’ll vote for him.”

Answer 21

Samuel Doe, Charles Taylor

Question 22

Iron Lady of Liberia who was the first female head of state in African history. She is controversial - opponents accused her of nepotism while supporters praised her for empowerment. Also name her soccer star successor.

Answer 22

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah.

Question 23

Originally lead by the Sage of Africa, sometimes known as the Grand Old Man of Africa, Felix Houphouet Boigny, later by Laurent Gbago who disputed an election won by his successor economist Alassane Ouattarra.

Answer 23

Ivory Coast

Question 24

War during which a West African government fought the rebellious Revolutionary United Front (RUF) which infamously funded their efforts through blood diamonds mined by child soldiers.

Answer 24

Sierra Leone Civil War

Question 25

Country for a while led by military dictator Lassana Conte, now led by Alpha Conde.

Answer 25

Guinea

Question 26

This country, home to Goree Island, once the center of the Atlantic slave trade, was from independence until 2000 run by the centrist Parti Socialiste under founding father Leopold Senghor and his successor Abdou Diouf.

Answer 26

Senegal

Question 27

Country whose founding father and first leader Dawda Jawara was deposed by 21 year military dicator Yahya Jammeh, a man accused of several corruption offenses as well as human rights violations.

Answer 27

The Gambia