Modern African History - Northwest and North Africa

Question 1

Northern region of Mali populated by ethnic Tuaregs which launched a large-scale rebellion against the Malian government following a military coup against democratically elected leader Amadou Toumani Toure by Amadou Sanogo. This region’s rebel leaders were accused of collaborating with Al Qaeda.

Answer 1

Azawad

Question 2

Ruled by Moktar Daddah as a one party state from independence in 1960 to 1978, this country remained authoritarian until the 21st century. This country has a horrifying culture of institutional caste-based slavery, and is generally considered the country with the highest percentage of slaves as well as the most brutal treatment of slaves in the world.

Answer 2

Mauritania

Question 3

Dynasty which ruled Morocco from the mid 16th to mid 17th century. This dynasty defeated the Songhai Empire. Also name the current Moroccan royal dynasty.

Answer 3

Saadi Dynasty, Alaouite Dynasty

Question 4

Mountainous region of Morocco which became an independent republic in the 1920s before being reconquered by Francoist Spain in a namesake war.

Answer 4

Rif

Question 5

Two crises that took place in the early 20th century due to British and German concern over French influence in Morocco. Resolved by the Algeciras Conference and Treaty of Fez respectively.

Answer 5

Tangier Crisis, Agadir Crisis

Question 6

Infamous French name for November 1st, 1954 - the day the Algerian War of Independence Began.

Answer 6

Toussaint Rouge (or Toussaint Sanglante)

Question 7

Major and very important to know war in which the French Government along with far-right nationalist OAS (Secret Armed Organization) fought against the FLN (National Liberation Front). Despite repeated attacks by the OAS which did not want to end this war, this war ended with the 1962 Evian Accords.

Answer 7

Algerian War of Independence

Question 8

Give the names for: European Catholics in Algeria, native Algerians who fought for the French

Answer 8

Pied-Noirs (Black Feet), Harkis

Question 9

Civil war that began after the FIS (Islamic Salvation Front) Islamist party won elections in a certain country, prompting the military to step in.

Answer 9

Algerian Civil War

Question 10

President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019, when his announcement that he’d seek a 5th term led to mass protests that forced him to step down.

Answer 10

Abdelaziz Bouteflika

Question 11

Three main sides in the current Libyan Civil War.

Answer 11

Government of National Accord (GNA) - Interim Government set up to make peace, UN recognized and supported by the West. Based in Tripoli.

Libyan House of Representatives - Government led by General Haftar, secularist legal government before GNA was set up. Supported by Russia. Based in Tobruk.

National Salvation Front - Government formed from radical Islamist members of the former GNC (General National Congress). Opposed by everyone except Turkey and Qatar.

Question 12

Eccentric Libyan dictator who ruled for 40 years after deposing King Idris I while he was seeking medical treatment in Turkey. He also wrote the “Green Book” where he outlined his political philosophy. His country was targeted by the Americans’ Operation El Dorado Canyon’s air strikes.

Answer 12

Muammar Gaddafi

Question 13

From 1977 to 2011, Gaddafi’s Libya was officially this Arab word beginning with a J that means “State of the Masses.” While Gaddafi intended it to be a direct democracy, in practice it was a dictatorship.

Answer 13

Jamahiriya

Question 14

1988 bombing of a Pan-Am flight in Scotland which resulted in significant decreases in international approval of Libya and Gaddafi.

Answer 14

Lockerbie Bombings

Question 15

This leader, who initially led the Free Officers Movement to depose King Farouk along with Mohammed Naguib before deposing Naguib outlined his political ideology in “Philosophy of the Revolution.” He received a lot of arms from Czechoslovakia, which angered the west.

Answer 15

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Question 16

Nasser tried to resign after his general Abdel Amer’s defeat in this war, but backed out after being greeted with popular chants of “We are your soldiers, Gamal!”

Answer 16

Six Day War

Question 17

Sometimes called the Tripartite Aggression, this crisis saw Anthony Eden’s Britain and Guy Mollet’s France ally with Israel to invade Egypt. It began after Nasser used the codewords “de Lesseps” in reference to the architect of a certain building.

Answer 17

Suez Crisis

Question 18

Anglo-French operation to capture the Suez canal that happened in coordination with Israel’s Operation Kadesh. Originally named Operation Hamilcar but changed to this name because of a spelling inconsistency.

Answer 18

Operation Musketeer

Question 19

This successor to Nasser implemented the “Corrective Revolution” which ended many left-wing Nasserite policies and 5 years after the Yom Kippur War shared the Nobel Peace Prize with PM Begin following the Camp David Accords (peace talks).

Answer 19

Anwar Sadat

Question 20

This successor to Sadat resigned in 2011 after Tahrir Square erupted into protests. His VP and likely would-be successor was Omar Suleiman. Egypt returned to the Arab League after being expelled under Sadat for ties to Israel under this man.

Answer 20

Hosni Mubarak

Question 21

Democratically-elected President of Egypt who succeeded Sadat. A member of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Answer 21

Mohammed Morsi

Question 22

Authoritarian leader in Egypt, who launched a coup against Morsi after the Tamarod Movement gained 15 million signatures against him. He remains President of Egypt to this day.

Answer 22

Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Question 23

Succeeding 30 year dictator Habib Bourguiba, this other Tunisian dictator ruled until 2011, when Mohammad Bouazizi’s self immolation sparked the Jasmine Revolution and in turn the Arab Spring.

Answer 23

Zine El Abidine Ben Ali