On this day — July 27 in African history

Real events, births and milestones from Africa and the diaspora.

1997

An armed group attacked the Si Zerrouk district on the edge of Larbaa, south of Algiers, and killed residents through the night. Counts of the dead range from 36 to about 50. The attackers were never identified, though the government and most outside observers blamed Islamist insurgents. Survivors said the power had been cut that afternoon and that the killing happened less than a hundred metres from an army barracks and a gendarmerie post.

Sources: Justice Commission for Algeria ; Human Rights Watch

Conflict