Tuesday, 10 September 1844
In August 1844 French forces under General Thomas Bugeaud defeated the Moroccan army in the battle of Isly. The battle was a result of the French government’s pursuit of Algerian resistance leader, Abd al-Qadir who had taken refuge in the country.
Following the defeat Sultan Abd ar-Rahman of Morocco was forced to accept French presence in Morocco. He also had to agree to remain neutral and not assist any enemy of France in any way. A peace treaty was signed in Tangier on 10 September 1844 and came to be known as the Treaty of Tangier.
Saturday, 10 September 1938
The South African national rugby team became known as the Springboks on their tour to Britain in 1906. Since those early years, teams from abroad repeatedly toured South Africa while at the same time the Springboks became a team to be reckoned with on tours to other countries. In 1938 the British team (Lions) toured South Africa again, winning more than half of their normal matches, as well as the third test match in Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa, with a score of 21-16. The first two test matches of the tour were easily won by the Springboks. Though the British did not win the series, their victory in the final test match was surprising and historic as it was their first in South Africa since 1910.
Thursday, 10 September 1942
Formerly an independent kingdom, Madagascar became a French colony in 1896. During World War II France and her colonies were ruled by the Vichy, the Fascist puppet government of Nazi Germany.
Following their conquest of South East Asia by early 1942, the Japanese had access to points west, allowing submarines of the Imperial Japanese Navy to move freely through the Indian Ocean. Allied leaders thus believed that ports of Vichy controlled Madagascar might be used by Japan.
Operation Ironclad, or Allied invasion of Madagascar, began in May of 1942, and climaxed with the amphibious landing at the seaport of Mahajanga on 10 September. Full Allied control of the Island was achieved by early November.
Madagascar regained its independence in 1960.
Saturday, 10 September 1960
Ethiopian Abebe Bikila, running barefoot, became the first Black African to win gold in the history of the Olympic Games. In the process Bikila set a new world record at 2:16:2. Explaining later why he ran barefoot, Bikila said, “I wanted the world to know that my country, Ethiopia, has always won with determination and heroism.”
Four years later during the Tokyo Olympics, Abebe’s fame has already reached all corners of the globe. Six weeks before the big race that awaited him, Abebe was taken ill with appendicitis. He underwent surgery amid a public outcry for proper medical counsel to decide on the procedure. The day he arrived in Tokyo, Abebe hadn’t fully recovered from the surgery and limped his way down the stairs. However, the reception Abebe received from the Japanese people helped him to become the first athlete ever to win two Olympic marathons. Bikila died in October 1973.
Thursday, 10 September 1992
African National Congress (ANC) President Nelson Mandela accepted an invitation for urgent talks with State President F.W. de Klerk on political violence. Cyril Ramaphosa said he was prepared to meet Roelf Meyer, Minister of Constitutional Development, immediately, to prepare for a summit between the two leaders. He emphasised that ANC attendance at such a meeting depended on the government meeting certain conditions. The two met on three occasions between 14 and 24 September 1992, discussing three specific ANC preconditions: the surveillance of migrant worker hostels; a ban on the public display of dangerous traditional weapons and the release of political prisoners. It was believed by those close to the discussions that the main stumbling block was the identification of political prisoners. In spite of that Ramaphosa and Meyer issued a joint statement announcing that the talks had progressed well, paving the way for Mandela and De Klerk to meet and sign a record of understanding.
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