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Ceiling of Debre Birhan Selassie church, Gondar, Ethiopia. Photo: Rod Waddington, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence · Source

On this day: September 26 in African history

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

Today
1992

A Nigerian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules crashed shortly after takeoff from Lagos, killing everyone on board; published accounts of the toll range from 158 to 160, and most of those killed were military personnel.

Sources: Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives ; ThisDay

Corrected in September 2026 · see what changed

Tragedy
The Senegalese ferry MV Le Joola capsized in a storm off the Gambian coast on its way from Ziguin… Photo by Yaamboo, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons 2002

The Senegalese ferry MV Le Joola capsized in a storm off the Gambian coast on its way from Ziguinchor to Dakar. It was licensed for 536 passengers and officially carrying more than 1,928. The recorded toll is 1,863 dead and 65 survivors, more than the Titanic, and victims' associations put it above 2,000. Senegal closed its inquiry in 2003 by blaming the captain, who had died in the sinking, and a French investigation that named seven Senegalese officials was dropped for want of jurisdiction. Nobody was prosecuted and the wreck was never raised.

Sources: Africanews ; Daily Sabah

Corrected in September 2026 · see what changed

Tragedy