The following lists events that happened during 2020 in East Africa. The countries listed are those described in the United Nations geoscheme for East Africa: Burundi, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mozambique, Réunion, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The combined population of these 18 independent countries and two dependent territories is 445,405,606.
Countries and territories Burundi
declared its independence from Belgium as a constitutional monarchy on 1 July 1962 and became the Republic of Burundi in 1965. Over the years the country has suffered through political instability including two civil wars and two instances of genocide. The political capital is Gitega and the economic capital is Bujumbura. Chief of state and Head of government: President Pierre Nkurunziza (26 August 2005)The CIA World Factbook: Burundi Retrieved 11 February 2020 to 8 June 2020 (died in office) Évariste Ndayishimiye, starting 18 June. First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo (since 20 August 2015) Second Vice President Joseph Butore (since 20 August 2015)
Comoros
consists of three main islands and several smaller islands in the Indian Ocean. Comoros became independent of France on 6 July 1975. The capital of the Union of Comoros is Moroni. Chief of state and Head of government: President Azali Assoumani (since 26 May 2016)The CIA World Factbook: Comoros Retrieved 11 February 2020
Djibouti
is located at the Bab-el-Mandeb strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. It is Africa's smallest country. Called the French Territory of the Afars and the Issas from 1967 until its independence on 27 June 1977, the capital of the Republic of Djibouti is Djibouti City.
Chief of state: President Ismail Omar Guelleh (since 8 May 1999)The CIA World Factbook: Djibouti Retrieved 11 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed (since 1 April 2013)
Eritrea
became independent on 24 May 1993, after a thirty-year struggle. Sporadic fighting continued over the years, resulting in the Eritrean–Ethiopian War that only ended in 2018. The capital of the State of Eritrea is Asmara.
Chief of state and Head of government: President Isaias Afwerki (since 8 June 1993)The CIA World Factbook: Eritrea Retrieved 11 February 2020
Ethiopia
is one of the world's oldest countries; with a civilisation stretching back to 1000 BC. Even though, it was occupied by Italy for five years, as the Italian Ethiopia in the early 20th century, after a difficult struggle during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, it is regained its independence after World War II. It is thus the only country in Africa to have never been fully colonised. After the downfall of the Monarchy in 1974, it became the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the "Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" in 1991. Ethiopia has gone through costly drought and a bloody war with Eritrea in recent years. The capital is Addis Ababa.
Chief of state: President Sahle-Work Zewde (since 25 October 2018) Sahle-Work is the first female elected chief of state in Ethiopia; she is currently the only female president in Africa.The CIA World Factbook: Ethiopia Retrieved 11 February 2020 Head of government:Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (since 2 April 2018) Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen (since 29 November 2012)
Kenya
became independent of the United Kingdom on 12 December 1963; it became the "Republic of Kenya" a year later. The capital is Nairobi.
Chief of state and Head of government: President Uhuru Kenyatta (since 9 April 2013)The CIA World Factbook: Kenya Retrieved 11 February 2020 Deputy President: William Ruto (since 9 April 2013)
Madagascar
freed itself from the French colonial empire in 1960; its official name is the "Republic of Madagascar" and its capital is Antananarivo.
Chief of state: President Andry Rajoelina (since 21 January 2019)The CIA World Factbook: Madagascar Retrieved 11 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Christian Ntsay (since 6 June 2018)
Malawi
was called Nyasaland until 1953 when it became part of Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. In 1964, Nyasaland became an independent country within the Commonwealth with the new name Malawi. In 1966 it became the "Republic of Malawi". The capital is Lilongwe.
Chief of state and Head of government: President Peter Mutharika (until 6 July 2020)The CIA World Factbook: Malawi Retrieved 12 February 2020 Lazarus Chakwera (starting 6 July 2020) Vice-President Saulos Chilima (since 3 February 2020)
Mauritius
is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean that became independent within the Commonwealth on 12 March 1968. It became the "Republic of Mauritius" on 12 March 1992. The capital is Port Louis.
Chief of state: President Prithvirajsing Roopun (since December 2019)The CIA World Factbook: Mauritius Retrieved 12 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth (since 23 January 2017) Jugnauth also became Defense Minister on 7 November 2019.
Mayotte
Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France.
Chief of state: President of France Emmanuel Macron (since 14 May 2017)The CIA World Factbook: Reunion Retrieved 12 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister of France Édouard Philippe (since 15 May 2017) President of the Departmental Council Soibahadine Ibrahim Ramadani (since 2 April 2015)
Mozambique
was colonized by Portugal from 1505 to 1975. The People's Republic of Mozambique was founded on 25 June 1975; after the Mozambican Civil War it joined the Commonwealth in 1995 and later became the "Republic of Mozambique." The capital is Maputo.
Chief of state: President Filipe Nyusi (since 15 January 2015)The CIA World Factbook: Mozambique Retrieved 12 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário (since 17 January 2015)
Réunion
Réunion is an overseas department and region of France, first colonized in the 17th century. The capital is Saint-Dennis.
Chief of state: President Emmanuel Macron (since 14 May 2017) Head of government: Prime Minister of France Édouard Philippe (since 15 May 2017) President of the Regional Council Didier Robert (since 26 March 2010)
Rwanda
became independent of Belgium on 1 July 1962. The Republic of Rwanda is a member of the AU, the Commonwealth, COMESA, OIF, and the East African Community. Its capital is Kigali.
Chief of state: President Paul Kagame (since 22 April 2000)The CIA World Factbook: Rwanda Retrieved 11 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente (since 30 August 2017)
Seychelles
consists of about 115 islands in the Indian Ocean. The country became independent of the UK on 29 June 1976. The Republic of Seychelles is a member of the UN, the AU, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Commonwealth. The capital, Victoria, is located on the island of Mahé.
Chief of state and Head of government: President Danny Faure (28 October 2016—25 October 2020)The CIA World Factbook: Seychelles Retrieved 12 February 2020 Wavel Ramkalawan (starting 26 October). Vice-President Vincent Meriton (28 October 2016—26 October 2020) Ahmed Afif (starting 26 October 2020)
Somalia
was formed by the merger of British Somaliland and the Trust Territory of Somaliland in 1960. It was the Somali Democratic Republic from 1969 to 1991, when the Somali Civil War broke out. The Federal Republic of Somalia is a member of the UN, the Arab League, AU, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the OIC. The capital is Mogadishu.
Chief of state: President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (since 8 February 2017)The CIA World Factbook: Somalia Retrieved 12 February 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire (1 March 2017 to July 2020) Mohamed Hussein Roble (starting 18 September)
Somaliland
is the self-proclaimed successor to the State of Somaliland and claims independence from Somalia. Its capital is Hargeisa. The Republic does not enjoy international recognition and in 1998 a region in the northeast, the Puntland, declared itself "autonomous."
Chief of state and head of government: President Muse Bihi Abdi Vice President: Abdirahman Saylici Speaker of the House: Bashe Mohamed Farah
South Sudan
Chief of state and Head of government: President Salva Kiir Mayardit (since 9 July 2011)The CIA World Factbook: South Sudan Retrieved 12 February 2020 First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai (since 26 July 2016) Second Vice President James Wani Igga (since 26 April 2016)
Tanzania
Chief of state and Head of government: President John Magufuli (since 5 November 2015)The CIA World Factbook: Tanzania Retrieved 12 February 2020 Vice-President Samia Suluhu (since 5 November 2015) Head of government: Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa (since 20 November 2015)
Uganda
Chief of state: President, Yoweri Museveni (since 26 January 1988)CIA Factbook: Uganda Retrieved 13 February 2020 Vice President: Edward Ssekandi (since 24 May 2011) Head of government: Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (since 19 September 2014) First Deputy Prime Minister: Moses Ali (since 6 June 2016) Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivenjinja (since 6 June 2016)
Zambia
Chief of state and Head of government: President, Edgar Lungu (since 25 January 2015)CIA Factbook: Zambia Retrieved 13 February 2020 Vice-President Inonge Wina (since 26 January 2015)
Zimbabwe
Chief of state: President Emmerson Mnangagwa (since 24 November 2017)CIA Factbook: Zimbabwe Retrieved 13 February 2020 Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga (since 28 December 2017)
Monthly events
January 1 January – New Year's Day 2 January – New Year holiday, Seychelles 7 January – Orthodox Tewahedo Christmas in Ethiopia and Eritrea 8 January – The United States announces sanctions against First Vice President Taban Deng Gai of South Sudan for human rights violations.US sanctions South Sudan's vice president over abuses by Cara Anna, AP, 8 January 2020. Retrieved 15 February 2020 12 January – Zanzibar Revolution Day, Tanzania 13 January Two journalists are arrested in Comoros.Comoros: Two Reporters Arrested in Comoros, Placed Under Judicial Control allAfrica, 16 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020 China promises to strengthen ties with Burundi.Burundi: Chinese, Burundian FMs Hold Talks, Vowing to Strengthen Cooperation allAfrica, 13 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2020 15 January – John Chilembwe Day, Malawi 19 January Timkat, celebration of Epiphany in Ethiopia and Eritrea Djibouti rejects an arbitration agreement that would give United Arab Emirates company DP World complete control over Dolareh Port Terminal.Djibouti Rejects Awarding Port Operations to Dubai Firm retrieved 13 February 2020 2020 Comorian legislative election (first round)Africa Watch: 2020 is election season across Africa by Franck Kuwonu, United Nations.org, Africa Renewal: Dec 2019 to March 2020. Retrieved 22 February 2020Comorians at the polls for the first round of the legislative elections Radio France Internationale, 19 January 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2020 It was a landslide victory for President Azali Assoumani's Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros. 25 January – Chinese New Year, Mauritius 29 January – The East African Community (EAC) announces that it is in the process of developing a common currency by 2024. 31 January – Four journalists are sentenced to 30-month jail sentences in Burundi.Burundi: Four Burundian Journalists Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison all Africa, 31 January 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2020
February 1 February Abolition of Slavery, Mauritius Heroes' Day, Rwanda Kenyan blood banks run dry after the United States cuts off aid.Kenya's blood banks run dry after Trump administration cuts transfusion aid The Independent, 1 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020