On this day — June 8 in African history

Nigerian military ruler Sani Abacha died suddenly in office, ending a repressive five-year rule marked by human rights abuses and international sanctions.

Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon for nearly 42 years, one of the longest presidential tenures in modern history, died.

Lena Baker, an African-American woman later exonerated posthumously after being wrongfully executed in Georgia, was born.

Molade Okoya-Thomas, a prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, was born.