Apr 1961Sierra Leone gainsindependence from UK
8–12 May 1961Moderate African nationsform Monrovia Group
31 May 1961South Africa leavesthe Commonwealth
Jun–Oct 1961Br. Cameroons dividedbtn Nigeria & Cameroon
1 Aug 1961Dahomey annexesFort Ajudá
5 Aug 1961Gizenga recognizesLéopoldville government
27–28 Aug 1961UN arrests mercenariesin Elisabethville
1 Sep 1961Eritrean nationalistsrevolt against Ethiopia
13 Sep–25 Oct 1961UN cracks down onmercenaries in Katanga
18 Sep 1961UN Sec-Gen. Dag Hammarskjöldkilled in plane crash