The following lists events that happened during 2020 in Middle Africa, also called Central Africa. The countries listed are those described are: Angola , Cameroon , Central African Republic , Chad , Democratic Republic of the Congo , Equatorial Guinea , Gabon , the Republic of the Congo , and São Tomé and Príncipe .
The combined population of the nine countries is 177,533,990 (February 10, 2020)Middle Africa Population (LIVE) World0Meter, Retrieved 10 Feb 2020, 3:25 a.m GMT
Countries
Angola The struggle for independence from Portugal that began in 1961 culminated in the establishment of the independent People's Republic of Angola on November 11, 1975. This was followed by the 26-year Angolan Civil War, becoming the Republic of Angola in 2002. Angola is a member of the African Union (AU), the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPL), the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the United Nations (UN). The capital is Luanda. President of Angola: João Lourenço (since September 26, 2017)CIA Factbook: Angola retrieved 18 Feb 2020 Vice President: Bornito de Sousa (since September 26, 2017)
Cameroon French Cameroon became independent on January 1, 1960, and British Cameroon federated with it in 1961 to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon. This became the United Republic of Cameroon in 1972 and the Republic of Cameroon in 1984. Cameroon is a member of the AU, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and UN. Douala is the economic capital and largest city; Yaoundé is the political capital. President of Cameroon: Paul Biya (since November 6, 1982)CIA Factbook: Cameroon retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Prime Minister of Cameroon: Joseph Ngute (since January 4, 2019) Deputy Prime Minister Amadou Ali (since 2014)
Central African Republic
The Central African Republic (CAR) became independent from France in 1960 and was the Central African Empire from 1976 to 1979. The republic was restored in 1979, but it has undergone two civil wars: the Central African Republic Bush War and the Central African Republic Civil War (2012–present). CAR is a member of the AU, Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), NAM, International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF), and UN. Its capital is Bangui. President: Faustin-Archange Touadéra (since March 30, 2016)CIA Factbook: Central African Republic retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Prime Minister: Firmin Ngrébada (since February 25, 2019)
Chad The Republic of Chad became independent of France on 11 August 11, 1960. It fought the Chadian Civil War (1965–1979), the Chadian–Libyan conflict (1978-1987), and currently is part of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against the Boko Haram insurgency. The capital is N'Djamena. President: Lt. Gen. Idriss Déby (since December 2, 1990)CIA Factbook: Chad retrieved 22 Feb 2020
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) The Belgian Congo gained its independence in 1960 and became the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) or (DRC) in 1964. It was known as the Republic of Zaire from 1919 to 1997. It went through the First Congo War (1996-1997) and the Second Congo War (1998-2003) and has faced insurrection in eastern Kivu since 2015. DRC is a member of the AU, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), NAM, and UN. The capital is Kinshasa. President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Félix Tshisekedi (since January 25, 2019)CIA Factbook: Democratic Republic of Congo retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Prime Minister: Sylvestre Ilunga (since September 7, 2019) Deputy Prime Ministers: Jose Makila, Leonard She Okitundu, Henri Mova Sankanyi (since February 2018)
Equatorial Guinea The former Spanish Guinea gained its independence in 1968 as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. The mainland area is called Río Muni and the Insular Region consists of five islands in three political jurisdictions. The capital is Malabo, located on Bioko Island. The administrative capital of Río Muni is Bata. President: Brig. Gen. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (since August 3, 1979)CIA Factbook: Equatorial Guinea retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Vice President of Equatorial Guinea: Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue (since June 22, 2012) Prime Minister: Francisco Pascual Obama Asue (since June 23, 2016) First Deputy Prime Minister Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguene (since 23 June 2016) Second Deputy Prime Minister Angel Mesie Mibuy (since 5 February 2018) Third Deputy Prime Minister Alfonso Nsue Mokuy (since 23 June 2016)
Gabon
The Gabonese Republic gained its independence from France on August 17, 1960. Gabon is a member of the AU, Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (ECCAS and CEMAC), International Monetary Fund (IMF), NAM, OIC, OPEC, UN, and World Bank. The capital is Libreville. President: Ali Bongo Ondimba (since October 16, 2009)CIA Factbook: Gabon retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Vice President: vacant Prime Minister Julien Nkoghe Bekale (January 12, 2019—July 16, 2020) Rose Christiane Raponda (since July 16)
Republic of the Congo / Congo (Brazzaville) The Republic of the Congo or "Congo (Brazzaville)" gained independence from France on August 15, 1960. It was called People's Republic of the Congo from 1969 to 1992 when it returned to its earlier name but resulted in the Republic of the Congo Civil War (1993–1994). The Republic of the Congo Civil War (1997–1999) brought stability back to the country. The Republic of the Congo is a member of the AU, African Development Bank (AfDB), ECCAS and CEMAC, General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), International Coffee Organization (ICO), NAM, and Group of 77 (G77). The capital and largest city is Brazzaville. President: Denis Sassou Nguesso (since October 25, 1997)CIA Factbook: Republic of the Congo retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Prime Minister: Clément Mouamba (since April 23, 2016)
São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe consists of two main islands—São Tomé Island, where the capital city São Tomé is located and Príncipe—plus several rocky islets. The country gained its independence from Portugal in 1975. It is a founding member of the CPLP. President: Evaristo Carvalho (since September 3, 2016)CIA Factbook: São Tomé and Príncipe retrieved 22 Feb 2020 Prime Minister: Jorge Bom Jesus (since December 3, 2018)
Monthly events
January January 19 – A suspected female Boko Haram suicide bomber detonated her explosives in Kaiga-Kindjiria, western Chad, killing nine civilians. January 24 – The Ministry of Health of the Central African Republic declares a national measles epidemic. 3,600 cases have been infected and 53 people have died between February 2019 and January 2020.Central African Republic: Measles Outbreak - Jan 2020 Retrieved Feb 13, 2020 January 30 – Five new Ebola cases are reported in the Central African Republic.Ebola virus disease – Democratic Republic of the Congo World Health Organization, 30 Jan 2020, retrieved 13 Feb 2020
February February 7 – Twenty-eight people are sentenced to 10 to 15 years of hard labor and five Central African Republic Christian militiamen are sentenced to life terms for war crimes and crimes against humanity.Five CAR militia leaders get life terms for war crimes Al Jazeera, 7 Feb 2020 February 9 – 2020 Cameroonian parliamentary election February 11 – Equatorial Guinea Vice-president Teodorin Obiang, 50, is fined 30 million euros ($32.9m) by a French court for embezzling public funds. His assets are seized but he is given a suspended sentence.French court fines Equatorial Guinea vice president 30m euros Al Jazeera, 11 Feb 2020 February 12 – The World Health Organization extends the emergency health status for eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo related to the Ebola outbreak, although they say the situation is "getting better."WHO extends emergency status of Ebola in DR Congo Al Jaxeera, 12 Feb 2020 February 16 – U.N. peacekeepers and government forces kill twelve members of the Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central Africa in Birao, Vakaga, Central African Republic.CAR says 12 rebels killed in clash with UN troops Al Jazeera, 19 Feb 2020 February (date unknown) – Festival Amani dance festival in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo
March March 12 – At least 18 African countries, including Cameroon, Gabon, and Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) report cases of the novel coronavirus. Most are in single figures, and no deaths have been reported in Sub-Saharan Africa.Coronavirus spreads to more African Al Jazeera, 12 March 2020 March 15 – In a historic first, all Peace Corps volunteers worldwide are withdrawn from their host countries. March 22 – 92 Chadian soldiers are killed by Boko Haram in Lac province. 24 military vehicles are destroyed.92 Chad soldiers killed in 'deadliest' Boko Haram attack Al Jazeera, 24 Mar 2020
April April 8 – The Democratic Republic of the Congo declares is it is Ebola free. However, two days later a new case is reported.Ebola case confirmed in Democratic Republic of Congo Debate/EFE, 10 Apr 2020 April 12 – Easter Sunday in Beni, Democratic Republic of the Congo is somber as the community struggles with both COVID-19 and its second new case of Ebola. The coronavirus is more contagious but Ebola is more often fatal; the struggle against both is hampered by insurrection in the country. April 13 – 14,000 cases of COVID-19 and 788 deaths have been reported across Africa. Cases by country: Cameroon – 820, Central African Republic – 8, Chad – 19, Congo-Brazzaville – 70, DR Congo – 234, Equatorial Guinea – 21, Gabon – 49 April 15 – Finance ministers from the Group of 20 agree to put a hold on debt service by poor countries so they can concentrate their efforts on health service and ending the pandemic. 76 countries will be able to participate in the plan, including 40 from Sub-Saharan Africa. $8 billion in private loans and $12 billion in loans from other countries will be frozen for the remainder of 2020 and possibly beyond. Another $12 billion in multilateral loans from organizations such as the World Bank is also under consideration. April 16 – Forty-four suspected members of Boko Haram are found dead in a cell in a prison in Chad, apparently poisoned. The men were among 58 prisoners placed in a single cell in Ndjamena and were not given anything to eat or drink for two days. April 22 – The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that the number of malaria deaths in Africa may double this year as efforts to curb the disease wind down. April 24 Twelve rangers and at least five others are killed in an ambush near Virunga National Park in DR Congo. The assassins are believed to be FDLR rebels. The park is home to the endangered eastern gorilla (Gorilla beringei). Eight people are killed, 35 injured, and 168 arrested, on a police raid of the Bundu dia Kongo sect that seeks to restore the historical Kingdom of Kongo. Eight officers were seriously injured in the raid. April 30 – At least 25 people are killed and 51 others wounded in clashes in the northeast of the Central African Republic.
May May 8 – Zimbabwe opens its tobacco season after a one-month delay because of the COVID-19 pandemic. May 13 – Six members of Cameroon's opposition party, the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (MRC), are arrested for distributing face masks and hand sanitisers in the capital, Yaoundé. May 19 – At least 40 people are killed by Allied Democratic Forces (ADC) rebels in Samboko, Ituri Province, DR Congo. Seventeen were killed in the nearby village of Makutano the day before. May 20: State Unification Day, Cameroon President Paul Biya, 87, addresses the nation after two months of silence. "The number of people infected rises day after day, bringing proof that the fight against the pandemic is complex and difficult," he said. Cameroon has had 3,500 cases including 140 deaths from COVID-19.
June