On this day — August 25 in African history

Tchicaya U Tam'si, a celebrated Congolese poet and novelist regarded as one of the leading voices of Francophone African literature, was born in Mpili, French Equatorial Africa.

Following the death of King Louis IX of France during the Eighth Crusade's siege of Tunis, his brother and successor Charles I of Naples was forced to open peace negotiations with the Hafsid Sultan of Tunis.

Zimbabwe joined the United Nations, five months after gaining independence from Britain.

Mandé Sidibé, a former prime minister of Mali, died.

The World Health Organization certified the African region free of wild poliovirus, a milestone reached four years after the continent's last case, in Nigeria.