Although offered control of Macau as early as the 1960s, the Chinese deemed the time “not yet ripe” and preferred to wait until December 1999 — the very end of the millennium, two years after the Hong Kong handover—to close this chapter of history. Upon the handover of Macau European colonization of Asia ended.
Portugal cedes control of Macau to China, ending European colonization of Asia Read more
On 29 May 1999, Abubakar transferred power to the winner of the 1999 presidential election, former military ruler General Olusegun Obasanjo as the second democratically elected civilian President of Nigeria heralding the beginning of the Fourth Nigerian Republic.
Democracy emerges in Nigeria after 16 years of military rule Read more
The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is an international treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament.
More than 170 countries agree to extend the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty indefinitely Read more
The European Union was formally established when the Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November 1993. In 1995, Austria, Finland, and Sweden joined the EU.
Austria, Finland, and Sweden join the European Union Read more
The ICRI is an informal partnership among nations, international organizations and non-government organizations to help protect coral reefs globally. It is now the world’s largest body dedicated to coral conservation.
In his inaugural address, Mandela, who spent 27 years of his life as a political prisoner of the South African government, declared that “the time for the healing of the wounds has come.”
Nelson Mandela, first black president of South Africa, is inaugurated Read more
The multilateral treaty recognized for the first time in international law that the conservation of biodiversity is “a common concern of humankind” and is an integral part of the development process.
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity, signed by 168 countries, enters into force Read more
July 23–26, 1993 saw the first multiparty presidential and legislative elections held under the new constitution, as well as a resounding victory for President René.
Seychelles transition to democratic system Read more
In late 1993 a presidential council was formed, the life presidency was abolished and a new constitution was put into place. In 1994 the first multi-party elections were held in Malawi.
The people of Malawi vote overwhelmingly in favor of multi-party democracy Read more
The constitution instituted the first meaningful system of checks and balances the country had ever seen.
Paraguay formalizes a new constitution establishing a democratic system of government Read more
