On This Day: What happened on 16 January?

Here’s a look at what happened on this day, 16 January, throughout history. We remember the news, events, and people that influenced the course of history forever.

ON THIS DAY: 16 JANUARY

2016 | In Burkina Faso 33 of the 126 hostages released were injured and 23 killed in a terrorist attack in Ouagadougou, at a nearby hotel and restaurant.

2001 | Congolese President Laurent-Désiré Kabila is assassinated by one of his bodyguards, Rashidi Kasereka, who was later shot while fleeing the palace.

2006 | On this day Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in as Liberia’s new president of Liberia.  She became the first woman president in Africa to be elected.

2001 | Former  US President Theodore Roosevelt was awarded by Bill Clinton a posthumous Medal of Honour for his service in the Spanish-American War.

1992 | El Salvadoran officials and rebel leaders signed the Chapultepec Peace Treaty in Mexico City, Mexico ending Salvador’s 12-year civil war that claimed the lives of 75 000 people.

ON THIS DAY: DEATHS

2006 | American soldier and physician, Stanley Biber, 83.

2005 | American journalist and author, Marjorie Williams, 47.

2014 | American author and illustrator, Gary Arlington, 76.

1972 | American soldier and politician, 28th Governor of Colorado, Teller Ammons, 77.

2015 | Chinese singer, Yao Beina, 34.

BIRTHDAYS

1964 | Canadian golfer, Gail Graham.

1995 | Australian-Canadian cricketer, Mikaela Turik.

1979 | American singer and movie actress, Aaliyah died in 2001.

1993 | Estonian football player, Hannes Anier.

ALSO READ: What happened on 15 January?

SPORTS

1974 | Wolves striker Derek Dougan was awarded the red book ‘This Is Your Life’ by  Eamonn Andrews on this day.  His football guests on the program were Jimmy Hill, Pat Jennings, Malcolm Allison, and Bill McGarry.

ENTERTAINMENT

1938 | Benny Goodman and his band, along with a quartet, on this day performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

AFRICA FACT

African marriage systems always involve the transfer of property like money, goods, or services from the groom or his family to the bride’s family.