The following lists events that happened during 2020 in North Africa. The countries listed are those described in the United Nations geoscheme for Africa: , , , , , , , and
Countries and territories
Algeria
The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria won its independence from France in 1962. It is a member of the African Union (AU), the Arab League, OPEC, and the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU). The capital of Algeria is Algiers.
Chief of state and head of government: President: Abdelmadjid Tebboune (since December 12, 2019)CIA Factbook: Algeria CIA 2020, Retrieved 30 March 2020
Egypt
Modern Egypt gained nominal independence from the British Empire as a monarchy in 1922. In 1952, Egypt ended British occupation, nationalized the Suez Canal, exiled King Farouk, and declared itself a republic. Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic from 1958 to 1961. Egypt is a member the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), the Arab League, the African Union, and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) The capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt is Cairo.
Chief of state: President of Egypt: Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (since June 8, 2014)CIA Factbook: Egypt retrieved 30 March 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister of Egypt: Moustafa Madbouly (since June, 2018)
Libya
The Kingdom of Libya lasted from 1951 to September 1, 1969, when Muammar Gaddafi overthrew King Idris and established the "Libyan Arab Republic," becoming the "Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" in 1977 and the "Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" in 1986. Gaddafi himself was killed during the Libyan Civil War of 2011. Libya is a member of the NAM, the Arab League, the OIC, and the OPEC. The capital of the State of Libya is Tripoli.
Chief of state: Chairman of the Presidential Council and Prime Minister: Fayez al-Sarraj (since December 2015)CIA Factbook: Libya retrieved 30 March 2020 Vice President of the Presidential Council and Deputy Prime Minister: Ahmed Maiteeq (since March 30, 2016)
Morocco
The Alaouite dynasty began its rule in 1631 but in 1912 Morocco was divided between French and Spanish protectorates. The Kingdom of Morocco regained its independence in 1956. Morocco is a member of the Arab League, the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the AU. Rabat is the capital city.
Chief of state: King: Mohammed VI (since July 30, 1999)CIA Factbook: Morocco retrieved 30 March 2020 Head of government: President of the Government: Saadeddine Othmani (since March 17, 2017)
Western Sahara When Spain gave up Spanish Sahara in 1976, Morocco, Mauritania, and Polisario Front fought for control of the territory. Mauritania gave up its claims in 1979. Today the government of Morocco claims sovereignty and controls 3/4 of the territory of Western Sahara, which it calls its Southern ProvincesAfrica: Western Sahara retrieved 30 Mar 2020 The United Nations proposed a referendum on the area's future; Morocco agreed to autonomy in 2007 but no referendum. The largest city is Laayoune.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) controls about of the territory of Western Sahara and is recognized by about 40 countries. It is a member of the African Union. The SADR claims El Aaiún as its capital, but as that is controlled by Morocco, Tifariti in the Liberated Territories east of the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall is the de facto capital.Tifariti, the promised land of a Saharawi state El Mundo (Spain), Dec 12, 2011, retrieved 5 Apr 2020
President: Brahim Ghali (since July 12, 2016) Prime Minister: Mohamed Wali Akeik (since February 4, 2018)
Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was established in 1899, granting Sudan independence on January 1, 1956. Mostly Christian South Sudan broke off from the Muslim Republic of the Sudan in 2011. President Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in April 2019 and by August 20, 2019 the Sovereignty Council of Sudan was established. The 2022 Sudanese general election is scheduled to complete the transition to democracy by November 2022. Khartoum is the capital.
Chief of state and head of government: vacant Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan: Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (since August 21, 2019) Prime Minister: Abdalla Hamdok (since August 21, 2019)
Tunisia
Tunisia threw off its French yoke on March 20, 1956, and the Republic of Tunisia was declared the following year. The Tunisian Revolution of December 2010-January 2011 set off the Arab Spring and led to the democratization of Tunisia. The capital and largest city is Tunis.
Chief of state: President: Kais Saied (since October 23, 2019)CIA Factbook: Tunisia retrieved 30 March 2020 Head of government: Prime Minister Youssef Chahed (August 27, 2016 – February 27, 2020) Elyes Fakhfakh (February 27, 2020 – September 2, 2020)Tunisia: Swearing in of the Fakhfakh government at the Presidential Palace in Carthage Kapitalis, 27 Feb 2020, retrieved 30 Mar 2020 Hichem Mechichi (since September 2, 2020) President of the Assembly of the Representatives by the People: Rached Ghannouchi (since November 13, 2019)
Monthly events
January January 1 New Year's Day Independence Day, Sudan January 5 – Turkey starts to deploy troops in Libya. January 6 – Epiphany, Christian "Feast of the Maji" January 7 Coptic Christmas, Egypt and Sudan Rebel groups commanded by Khalifa Haftar capture the coastal city of Sirte, Libya.Libya: Haftar's forces capture strategic Sirte. Eastern forces, led by Khalifa Haftar, have announced the capture of the coastal city of Sirte, previously controlled by the Tripoli government. The news comes a day after Turkey deployed troops in support of Tripoli. dw.com, Jan 7, 2020 January 8 – Turkish President Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin call for a cease-fire in Libya.Libya conflict: Turkey and Russia call for ceasefire, January 8, 2020, BBC January 14 – Revolution and Youth Day, Tunisia and Sudan January 24 – Several organizations in Ecuador express their support for the rights of the Sahrawi people.Western Sahara: Several Ecuadorian Organizations Reiterate Support for Right of Sahrawi People to Self-Determination allAfrica, 24 Jan 2020, retrieved 11 Feb 2020 January 25 – Egyptian revolution of 2011 and National Police Day (Egypt) January 28: Human Rights Watch denounces the arrests of dozens of peaceful dissidents in since the 2019 Algerian presidential election on December 12, 2019.Algeria: Post Election Repression Human Rights Watch, 28 Jan 2020 January 31: A 12-year-old girl dies during genital mutilation surgery in Egypt.In Egypt, 12-year-old girl dies after genital mutilation by NOHA ELHENNAWY, Associated Press, 31 January 2020
February February 1 – The Grand Mufti of Egypt is to rule on the legality of 37 death sentences for terrorism.Egypt weighs 37 death sentences that include militant leader by SAMY MAGDY, Associated Press, February 1, 2020 February 3: Tunisian President Kais Saied visits Algeria in his first trip outside the country.Tunisian president arrives in Algeria on his first trip abroad Middle East Monitor, 3 Feb 2020 Daesh claims responsibility for a gas pipeline explosion in the Sinai Peninsula.Islamic State claims purported attack on Egypt-Israel gas pipeline in Sinai Times of Israel, 3 Feb 2020 February 9 – Sudanese leader Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman Burhan meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.Sudanese leader says he 'felt comfortable' with Netanyahu during meeting. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan reveals he 'prayed to God' before unprecedented talks in Uganda with Israeli premier. By TOI STAFF and AGENCIES, 9 February 2020. Former deputy Prime Minister Mubarak al Fadil al Mahdi of Sudan states that it would be good to normalize relations with Israel.Mubarak al-Mahdi to Asharq Al-Awsat: Normalizing Ties with Israel Acquits Sudan of Terrorism 9 February 2020 aawsat.com. February 11 The government of Sudan agrees that former president Omar al-Bashir will face war crime charges before the International Criminal Court (ICC), where he is accused of 300,000 deaths in Darfur. The Egyptian population reaches 100 million. The African Union reaffirms its support for self-determination for the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.Western Sahara: South African President Reiterates Support for Right of Sahrawi People to Self-Determination and Independence allAfrica, 11 Feb 2020 February 13 – Sudan says it has reached a settlement in the USS Cole bombing, a first step in being removed from the designation as a state supporter of terrorism.Sudan seeks to end terror designation in USS Cole settlement AP, 13 Feb 2020 February 14 – Thousands of Algerians march against corruption and military participation in politics. February 17 Revolution Day, Libya Morocco tightens its control over the Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla.Morocco strangles Ceuta and Melilla, cutting borders to take advantage of Sánchez El Español, 17 Feb 2020 February 26 – Spain calls for a firm defense of its territorial claims for the Canary Islands in a dispute with Morocco over mineral rights off the coast of Western Sahara.Spain calls for firm defense in maritime dispute with Morocco Africa Times, 26 Feb 2020 February 29 – Egypt says it will use "all means" to defend its interests in a dispute with Ethiopia and Sudan over a dam on the Nile River.Egypt: We'll use 'all means' to defend Nile interests AP/Yahoo! News, 29 Feb 2020
March March 2 – Independence Day, Morocco (1956 from France) March 8 – International Women's Day March 12 – At least 18 African countries, including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia report cases of the novel coronavirus. Most are in single figures, but five deaths have been reported in North Africa.Coronavirus spreads to more African countries Al Jazeera, 12 March 2020 March 20 – Independence Day, Tunisia (1956 from France) March 22 – Isra and Mi'raj, Islamic "Night Journey"
April April 3 Humanitarian groups call upon the government of Morocco to give African migrants the same cash aid it gives to citizens.African migrants in Morocco wait for aid as coronavirus bites Reuters, 3 Apr 2020 Sudan and the United States finalize the settlement of the 2000 USS Cole bombing. The announcement maintained Sudan's position that it was not responsible for the attack on the ship or any other "terrorist" act. April 9 – Martyrs' Day, Sudan April 13 – 14,000 cases of COVID-19 and 788 deaths have been reported across Africa. Cases by country: Algeria – 1,914, Egypt – 2,065, Libya – 25, Morocco – 1,661, Sudan – 19, Tunisia – 707 April 22 – Sudan reports 13 deaths and 140 confirmed cases of COVID-19, but there are fears that the actual number is much higher as people only go to the hospital when they are very sick. The government has increased its health budget by 200%, but $120 million to fight the new virus and $150 million to cover medicines until June is still needed. Importing equipment and medicine is difficult as suppliers prioritize their own countries. April 23 to 23 May 23 – Ramadan April 25 – Sinai Liberation Day, Egypt April 28 – Libyan General Khalifa Haftar is accused of carrying out a coup d'état as he puts the eastern part of the country under direct military rule. April 29 – Representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) visit Sudan to rally support and recruit fighters for Libya's Khalifa Haftar. April 30 Sudan criminalizes female genital mutilation. Ten Egyptian soldiers, including an army officer, died in a bomb attack in Bir al-Abd, North Sinai Governorate. It is suspected this attack was carried out by Islamic State although no one immediately claimed responsibility.
May May 1 Labour Day in Algeria, Egypt, and Tunisia. International Workers' Day in Libya and Morocco. Two civilians are killed when eastern forces under the command of Khalifa Hifter bomb Tripoli, Libya. May 4 – Seventy-eight migrants from Libya are stuck at sea as no European port will accept them.