Awami League wins Pakistan’s national election but power is withheld

Spanish Guinea became the independent Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Independence ended Spain’s colonial administration, but authoritarian rule and political violence soon constrained the new state....

The Organization of African Unity adopted its Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. It recognized that liberation wars, colonial borders, apartheid, and political...

Biafran forces surrendered to the Nigerian federal government, ending nearly three years of war. Blockade and famine killed large numbers of civilians, while relief agencies and journalists drew...

Fiji became independent from Britain after a constitutional settlement between political leaders. The colonial economy had relied on sugar and indentured Indian labor, while colonial policies...

The UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on Principles of International Law concerning Friendly Relations. Newly independent states had pushed the UN to address sovereignty, non-intervention,...

Before a huge gathering in Dhaka, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman called for resistance and outlined a civil-disobedience program after the elected majority was denied power. The speech stopped short of a...

Pakistani forces launched a military crackdown in Dhaka and other cities after the political crisis over the 1970 election. The operation targeted civilians, students, political organizers, and...

Bangladesh’s independence was declared after the military crackdown. The declaration is associated with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and was transmitted and repeated by local resistance leaders and the...

Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered to the joint command of Bangladeshi and Indian forces. The surrender ended the nine-month liberation war and established Bangladesh as an independent...

The Bahamian archipelago became an independent state after a constitutional process led by the Progressive Liberal Party. Independence followed a long struggle over racial equality, labor rights,...