Important Events in some Muslim Nations

Compiled by: Syed Ali Shahbaz

Unification of Yemen
On May 22 in 1990, North Yemen and South Yemen decided to merge into a single state after decades of separation, following the 1914 treaty between the Ottomans and the British. Yemen was ruled intermittently for almost a millennium by descendants of Prophet Mohammad (SAWA), who mostly belonged to the Zaydi sect. The majority of the people of Yemen are Shi’ite Muslims, mostly Zaydis, followed by Ismailis and a minority of Twelver Shi’ites. It is worth noting that parts of Yemen, such as Najran, Jizaan, and Asir are under Saudi occupation, despite the long-expired treaty of 1934 calling for their return after a 40-year period.
On September 26, 1962 AD, a coup led by Colonel Abdullah Sallal and supported militarily by President Jamal Abdun-Nasser of Egypt, ended the monarchic system in North Yemen and declared the country a republic, although with the escape of the Zaidi Imam, Mohammad al-Badr, to Saudi Arabia, the civil war continued to rage till 1970 between the republicans and the royalists. In May 1990, North Yemen and the former British protectorate of South Yemen became united in one single country under the dictatorial rule of Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was finally replaced in February this year by his vice president, Abd Rabbo Mansour al-Hadi. The popular uprising still continues in this country where Shi'ite Muslims belonging to the Zaydi branch make up half of the population of 24 million, and are concentrated mainly in the north. There is sizeable minority of Ismaili and Ithna Ash’ari (Twelver) Shi’ite Muslims amongst the Yemeni people. The ancient land of Yemen with a civilization dating several thousand years ago, embraced the truth of Islam when Prophet Mohammad (SAWA) dispatched his dear cousin and son-in-law, Imam Ali ibn Abi Taleb (AS) to invite the people to the true religion. Yemen, which shares borders with Saudi Arabia and Oman, is strategically situated on the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, opposite the Horn of Africa, guarding entrance to the Red Sea. It has a large coastline on the Indian Ocean as well.

Egypt became a republic
On June 18, 1953, Egypt became a republic, ending the 150-year Khedive Dynasty founded by Mohammad Ali Pasha, the Albanian general of the Ottoman Sultan. Egypt’s failure in its confrontation with the illegal Zionist entity in the 1948 war led to resentment among Egyptians toward King Farouq, leading to formation of a secret organization in the army, known as the Free Officers Movement that opposed British domination. In 1952 a coup led by Major General Mohammad Najib and Colonel Jamal Abdun-Nasser, forced the king to abdicate in favour of his young son Fouad, who was subsequently deposed this day on announcement of the republic and declaration of Najib as president. A year later Najib was ousted by Nasser.

The Suez Canal was nationalized by Egypt
On July 26, 1956 AD, the Suez Canal was nationalized by Egypt. Built in 1896 by French engineer Ferdinand de Lesseps, to shorten the sea route between Europe and south Asia, the revenues of the Suez Canal were monopolized by Britain and France until the nationalization, which brought about a joint British-French-Zionist attack on Egypt. International pressure coupled with the resistance of the Egyptian people, forced the invaders to evacuate their forces and reluctantly agree to Egyptian administration of the Suez.

The British installed monarchy in Iraq overthrown
On July 14, 1958 AD, the British installed monarchy of Iraq was overthrown by popular forces led by the Kurdish general, Abdul-Karim Qassem, who became the nation's new leader. Iraq was declared a republic after the end of the 37-year monarchial system that the British had imposed in 1921, against the wishes of the Iraqi people, by installing Faisal of Mecca as king in Baghdad, after crushing the popular uprising of the Iraqi people led by Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi Shirazi and Ayatollah Kashef al-Gheta. In the military coup, Faisal II, his uncle the former regent Prince Abdullah, and the pro-British premier, Nouri as-Sa'eed were killed, while trying to flee.

Western Sahara
On May 10 in 1973 AD, the Western Saharan Liberation Front (Polisario) was formed for liberation of the northwestern African Muslim region from Spanish colonial rule. Two years later, the Spanish were forced to leave, but instead of granting independence, they handed over the region to Morocco and Mauritania. Pressed by Polisario, Mauritania gave up its claims, but the Moroccans have continued to occupy Western Sahara. With UN mediation, it was decided in 1991 to hold referendum for determining the fate of Western Sahara, but Morocco has continued to stall any such measure. Nonetheless, many countries have recognized Western Sahara as an independent country, and the Polisario as the people’s representative.

Persian Gulf emirate of Kuwait
On June 19, 1961, Britain granted independence to the tiny Persian Gulf emirate of Kuwait, which throughout history, was part of the Iranian Achaemenid, Parthian and Sassanid Empires. With the advent of Islam, this area was classified with Iraq and was subsequently ruled by the Iranian Bouyid dynasty of Baghdad, followed by the vast Iran-based empires of the Seljuqids, the Ilkhanids, the Qara Qoyunlu, and the Safavids.
The Ottoman Turks briefly took over this mostly deserted land, which in the 18th century saw an influx of nomads from the Najd in the Arabian Peninsula who occupied it and called it Kuwait. In 1756, they chose Sabah bin Jaber as tribal chief, whose descendants have continued to rule Kuwait.
In 1899, British colonialists, as part of their policy to curtail the power of the Ottoman Turks, declared Kuwait as a protectorate. With the discovery of oil, tiny Kuwait became rich overnight, and even after independence from Britain, it's foreign and defence policies are controlled by the West, especially the US. From August 1990 to March 1991, it was occupied by Saddam, the Ba'thist dictator of Baghdad, who was forced to evacuate it as a result of the First Persian Gulf War.

The Muslim country of Somalia
On July 1, 1960, with the unity of British controlled Somaliland and Italian-occupied Somalia, the Muslim country of Somalia was formed and became independent after almost 8 decades of European colonial rule. From 1901 to 1920, the Somali people had staged a memorable uprising led by Mohammad ibn Abdullah Hessan. From 1969 to 1991, Mohammad Ziyad Barre took control of Somalia and brought relative stability, despite an eight-month inconclusive war with Ethiopia over the Somali-populated Ogaden region. Somalia is situated in East Africa with coastlines on the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. It covers an area of more than 637,000 sq km and shares borders with Kenya, Djibouti, and Ethiopia.

Maldives
On July 26, 1965, the Maldives Archipelago in South Asia gained its independence. These Muslim populated islands were occupied by the Portuguese in early 16th century, followed by the Dutch, French, and finally in late 19th century, the British. The Maldives archipelago consists of 2,000 islands, covering an area of 298 sq km. These Islands are situated in the Indian Ocean, south of the Subcontinent.

The northwest African Muslim country of Mali
On September 22, 1960 AD, the northwest African country of Mali gained its independence from French colonial rule. Mali, an ancient centre of civilization dating over 2000 years ago, accepted Islam and founded a glorious Muslim empire that lasted till the 16th century. The first attacks were made by Morocco that led to the disintegration of the Mali Empire and in the subsequent centuries paved the way for the French colonialists to penetrate and gradually occupy this Muslim land by 1898.
Mali which was referred to as French Sudan, gained autonomy in 1958 and became independent in 1960. Mali covers an area of over 1.2 million sq km and shares borders with Algeria, Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Guinea, and Senegal.

Muslim nation of Guinea-Bissau in West Africa
On September 24, 1974 AD, Guinea-Bissau in West Africa declared its independence from Portuguese colonial rule. It was part of the Mali Muslim Empire, before its occupation by the Portugal, which enslaved the people and sent hundreds of thousands of them to the Americas as slaves. In the mid-1960s, the uprising of the people against the Portuguese colonialists intensified and in 1970, the independence seekers took control of two-thirds of this land.
Finally, in 1974, Portugal recognized the independence of Guinea-Bissau. Over 65 percent of the people are Muslim in Guinea-Bissau which covers an area of over 36,000 sq km. It lies on the coastlines of the Atlantic Ocean, sharing borders with Guinea and Senegal.

The People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
On September 25, 1962 AD, the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria was formally proclaimed with Ferhat Abbas as the elected President of the provisional government. Abbas had also acted in a provisional capacity during the years 1958 to 1961, while Algeria was still fighting the French occupiers. Algeria became independent on July 5, 1962, following the 8-year war that led to the death of a million and a half Algerian Muslims. From September 25, 1962 to September 15, 1963, Ferhat Abbas was president of the constitutional assembly, but this institution was rapidly sidelined by Ahmad bin Bella, who had gained the presidency.
Abbas resigned in protest at the decision to establish a one-party state under Ben Bella. He was then placed under house arrest from 1964 until Ben Bella’s overthrown in 1965. From 1976 to 1979, he was again placed under house arrest, after signing a statement opposing the country's powerful military-backed President, Col. Houari Boumedienne. He died in 1985.

Nigeria
On October 1, 1960 AD, Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule. Islam entered Nigeria a thousand years ago and various Muslim dynasties emerged in the northern parts culminating in the Fulani Empire or the Sokoto caliphate which the British conquered in 1903.
The southern parts of Nigeria were mostly animists and since the 17th century were used by the Portuguese, the Spanish, the French, and the British as major centres of slave trade to the Americas.
The British merged the north and the south before independence. Some 65 percent of the 155 million population of oil-rich Nigeria is made up of Muslims including 10 million Shi’ites or followers of the Prophet’s Ahl al-Bayt. Nigeria covers an area of 923,768 sq km. it is located in West Africa and has a large coastline on the Atlantic Ocean, sharing borders with Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Benin.

Guinea
On October 2, 1958 AD, Guinea gained independence from the French colonial rule. In late 15th century it was occupied by the Portuguese, followed by the French in early 19th century, becoming a colony in 1849. In 1946, it gained autonomy. Finally, following a referendum, Guinea announced its independence, and Ahmed Sekou Toure was elected the first president of this Muslim majority country.
The Republic of Guinea covers an area of 245875 sq km. It is situated in West Africa and shares borders with Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea Bissau.