CalEvents:Dec/Dec 5

Notable events for December 5

Date

Event

Significance

December 5, 1931

Jomo Kenyatta leaves Kenya for London

Jomo Kenyatta, who would later become the first president of Kenya, left for London to advocate for Kenyan independence. His activism was pivotal in the eventual decolonization of Kenya and Africa at large.

December 5, 1955

Montgomery Bus Boycott begins

Following Rosa Parks’ arrest, the African-American community in Montgomery, Alabama, launched a year-long boycott of public buses to protest segregation. This boycott became a defining moment in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.

December 5, 1966

UN General Assembly ends South Africa’s mandate over Namibia

The United Nations officially ended South Africa’s mandate over Namibia, recognizing the need for Namibian independence. This marked an important step in the liberation of Namibia from apartheid rule.

December 5, 1977

Egypt breaks diplomatic ties with several Arab nations

Following President Anwar Sadat’s peace initiatives with Israel, Egypt was isolated from other Arab nations. This move had a significant impact on African and Middle Eastern geopolitics, particularly regarding relationships with post-colonial African nations.

December 5, 2005

First parliamentary elections held in Liberia after the civil war

These elections marked a return to democratic governance in Liberia after years of civil war. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected president, becoming the first female head of state in Africa.

December 5, 2013

Nelson Mandela dies

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president and a global icon of the anti-apartheid movement, passed away. His legacy as a freedom fighter and symbol of racial reconciliation continues to inspire generations around the world.

December 5, 2015

Gambia officially declares itself an Islamic republic

Gambian president Yahya Jammeh declared the country an Islamic republic. The decision reflected Jammeh’s increasing authoritarianism, while also shifting the country's identity in the African political and religious landscape.

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