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June 2004, Africa
June 1 — Somalia
In southern Somalia, more than 30 people are killed and many more are wounded in clashes between two rival ethnic groups over control of the town of Bula Hawo, which is a commercial gateway to Kenya and Ethiopia. Since the end of the Siad Barre regime in 1991, various warlords have struggled for control in Somalia.
June 4 — Morocco
U.S. President George W. Bush designates Morocco as a major non-NATO U.S. ally, as a reward for assistance in the U.S.-led war on terrorism. This recognition makes it easier for American companies to sell arms to Morocco. The U.S. is also expected to sign a free-trade agreement with Morocco.
June 4 — Libya
U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce William Lash pays a trade visit to Libya, during which he says that Libya has already resumed oil shipments to the U.S. He also says that talks are being conducted regarding the sale of Boeing passenger aircraft to Libya. The visit marks the end of a 20-year period of economic isolation for Libya.
June 9 — Nigeria
Millions of Nigeria's workers go on a three-week nationwide strike to protest rising fuel prices. There are fears that an interruption of Nigerian oil production could hike already record-high world oil prices even higher.
June 11 — Democratic Republic of Congo
President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila, announces on national television that rebel soldiers attempted an unsuccessful coup d'etat overnight. Twelve people are arrested and the coup leader, Major Eric Lenge, is surrounded near the Ndjili airport.
June 11 — Nigeria
Nigeria's largest union calls off a strike after oil prices are lowered significantly. Nigerian oil prices have skyrocketed since June of last year, when the government abolished fuel subsidies and price controls.
June 14 — Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwean government reveals it is purchasing 12 fighter jets and 100 military vehicles worth $200 million from China. The opposition accuses the government of intimidating the population ahead of parliamentary elections due in March next year.
June 14 — Malawi
Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika forms a new cabinet a month after winning disputed elections. Despite the fact that the president's coalition government includes three members of the opposition Republican Party, its leader, Gwanda Chakuamba, who took the election results to court, did not receive a post. Election observers say there were serious problems in the polling.
June 16 — Madagascar
Civil unrest in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, enters its tenth day, resulting in hundreds of injuries. The immediate cause that sparked multiple protests has been the high cost of oil. The long-term cause, however, is an ailing economy and a rising cost of living.
June 16 — Equatorial Guinea
Miguel Mifuno, an advisor to the president of Equatorial Guinea, accuses Spain of sending a warship with 500 marines to help a coup attempt in the former colony. He also accuses Spain of funding opposition groups in exile. Equatorial Guinea put 17 alleged mercenaries on trial.
June 17 — Rwanda
A former Rwandan mayor, Sylvestre Gacumbitsi, is sentenced to 30 years in prison for leading a massacre of 20,000 people hiding in Nyarubuye Church during the 1994 genocide. He also distributed weapons and encouraged ethnic Hutus to kill and rape their Tutsi neighbors.
June 17 — East Africa
Software giant Microsoft agrees to translate its Office software into the Kiswahili language to accommodate a growing number of computer users in Africa. Kiswahili is a language of choice in East Africa.
June 22 — Mozambique
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approves a loan of $16.6 million for Mozambique to support its budget until 2006. The IMF says that it is pleased with Mozambique's attempts to strengthen its financial system and improve its economy overall. Also, the country's anti-poverty policies have decreased the percentage of people living in poverty from almost 70 percent to 54 percent.
June 25 — mocratic Republic of Congo/Rwanda
The presidents of Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Joseph Kabila and Paul Kagame, meet in Nigeria for talks amid renewed conflict between the two countries. Democratic Republic of Congo accuses Rwanda of supporting the rebels. Rwanda denies the accusations and counters that Congo is displaying hostile behavior by sending 10,000 troops to their common border.
June 25 — Kenya
The World Bank approves $200 million in grants and loans to Kenya, rewarding its attempts to fight corruption in civil service. Some of the money will be used to improve airport security and for agricultural projects.
June 28 — Libya
The United States opens a new American liaison office in Libya, thus officially renewing its relations with Colonel Muammar Gaddafi's government. The absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries lasted 24 years.
To read another entry in the timeline, please return to the Timeline page and select a region of the world, month and year.
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