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| 1999 |
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| Pres. Charles Taylor of Liberia was internationally exposed by the UN as a supporter of rebels in Sierra Leone's civil war through his illegal diamonds-for-arms trading (See 1999, Feb. 13). Taylor's Liberia was the greatest offender, supplying arms, staging grounds, safe havens, and even training to Sierra Leonese rebels. Other nations implicated as possibly involved were The Gambia, Uganda, Central African Republic, Ghana, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Mali, and Zambia. This widespread international crime led the UN to impose stiff sanctions against Sierra Leone's diamond trade in Dec. 2000 (See 1999, Feb. 13). | 1 |
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| Jan. 13 |
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| In a huge international victory for human rights advocates, Senegal banned female circumcision. | 2 |
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| April 9 |
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| The president of Niger, Gen. Ibrahim Bare Mainassara, was assassinated by members of his own security squad in a military coup led by the National Reconciliation Council (See 1999, April 9). | 3 |
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| May 7 |
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| The Vieira regime in Guinea-Bissau was defeated by rebel troops paying no heed to the peace accord signed on Nov. 1 of the previous year (See 1999, May 7). | 4 |
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| July 18 |
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| Niger ratified a new constitution by legislative vote in an attempt to return its political control to civilian rule. The nation's army had ruled the government for several years. | 5 |
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| Dec. 24 |
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| Ivory Coast president Bedie was overthrown by the forces of Gen. Robert Guei in the country's first military coup since its independence in 1960 (See Dec. 24). | 6 |
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