2021 in East Africa

The following lists events that happened during 2021 in East Africa. The countries listed are those described in the United Nations geoscheme for East Africa: 🇧🇮 Burundi, 🇰🇲 Comoros, 🇩🇯 Djibouti, 🇪🇷 Eritrea, 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇲🇬 Madagascar, 🇲🇼 Malawi, 🇲🇺 Mauritius, 🇫🇷 Mayotte, 🇲🇿 Mozambique, 🇫🇷 Réunion, 🇷🇼 Rwanda, 🇸🇨 Seychelles, 🇸🇴 Somalia, 🇸🇸 South Sudan, 🇹🇿 Tanzania,🇺🇬 Uganda, 🇿🇲 Zambia, 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe.

Burundi
🇧🇮 burundi
 * Chief of state and Head of government: President: Évariste Ndayishimiye, (since 2020).
 * First Vice President Gaston Sindimwo (since 2015)
 * Second Vice President Joseph Butore (since 2015)

Comoros
🇰🇲 comoros
 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Azali Assoumani (since 2016)

Comoros also claims the island of Mayotte.

Djibouti
🇩🇯 djibouti
 * Chief of state: President Ismail Omar Guelleh (since 1999)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed (since 2013)

Eritrea
🇪🇷 eritrea


 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Isaias Afwerki (since 1993)

Ethiopia
🇪🇹 ethiopia
 * Chief of state: President Sahle-Work Zewde (since 2018)
 * Head of government:Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (since 2018)
 * Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen (since 2012)

Kenya
🇰🇪 kenya
 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Uhuru Kenyatta (since 2013)
 * Deputy President: William Ruto (since 2013)

Madagascar
🇲🇬 madagascar
 * Chief of state: President Andry Rajoelina (since 2019)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Christian Ntsay (since 2018)

Malawi
🇲🇼 malawi
 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Lazarus Chakwera (starting 2020)
 * Vice-President Saulos Chilima (since 2020)

Mauritius
🇲🇺 mauritius
 * Chief of state: President Prithvirajsing Roopun (since 2019)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth (since 2017)

Mauritius claims sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago (including Diego Garcia), although this claim is disputed by the UK.

Mayotte
🇾🇹
 * Chief of state: President of France Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister of France Édouard Philippe (since 2017)
 * President of the Departmental Council Soibahadine Ibrahim Ramadani (since 2015)

Mayotte is an overseas department and region of France also claimed by Comoros.

Mozambique
🇲🇿 mozambique
 * Chief of state: President Filipe Nyusi (since 2015)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário (since 2015)

Réunion
🇷🇪 Réunion is an overseas department and region of France.


 * Chief of state: President Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister of France: Édouard Philippe (since 2017)
 * President of the Regional Council: Didier Robert (since 2010)

Rwanda
🇷🇼 rwanda
 * Chief of state: President Paul Kagame (since 2000)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Édouard Ngirente (since 2017)

Seychelles
🇸🇨 seychelles
 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Wavel Ramkalawan (starting 2020).
 * Vice-President: Ahmed Afif (starting October 26, 2020)

Somalia
🇸🇴 somalia
 * Chief of state: President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (since 2017)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister> Mohamed Hussein Roble (starting 2020)

Somaliland
The Republic of Somaliland claims independence from Somalia.
 * President: Muse Bihi Abdi


 * Vice President: Abdirahman Saylici
 * Speaker of the House: Bashe Mohamed Farah
 * Chairman of Elders: Suleiman Mohamoud Adan
 * Chief Justice: Adan Haji Ali

South Sudan
🇸🇸 south sudan


 * Chief of state and Head of government: President Salva Kiir Mayardit (since 2011)
 * First Vice-President Taban Deng Gai (since 2016)
 * Second Vice President James Wani Igga (since 2016)

Tanzania
🇹🇿 tanzania


 * Chief of state and Head of government: President
 * John Magufuli (died March 17)
 * Samia Suluhu (starting March 17)
 * Vice-President
 * Samia Suluhu (until March 17)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister: Kassim Majaliwa (since 2015)

Uganda
🇺🇬 uganda


 * Chief of state: President, Yoweri Museveni (since 1988)
 * Vice President: Edward Ssekandi (since 2011)
 * Head of government: Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda (since 2014)
 * First Deputy Prime Minister: Moses Ali (since 2016)
 * Second Deputy Prime Minister Kirunda Kivenjinja (since 2016)

Zambia
🇿🇲 zambia


 * Chief of state and Head of government: President, Edgar Lungu (since 2015)
 * Vice-President Inonge Wina (since 2015)

Zimbabwe
🇿🇼 zimbabwe


 * Chief of state: President Emmerson Mnangagwa (since 2017)
 * Vice-President
 * Kembo Mohadi (until March 1)

January

 * January 13 – Sudan claims an Ethiopian military plane crossed its border. Ethiopia denies it.
 * January 14
 * The World Food Programme (WFP) says that 1.35 million people in Madagascar are food insecure and need US$35 million in emergency aid.
 * U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deports 100 asylum-seekers from Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya to Nairobi days before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
 * January 18 – Internet service is restored in 90% of Uganda after a five-day blackout; Bobi Wine remains under house arrest since 15 January.
 * January 19
 * Tensions rise along the border between Sudan and Ethiopia days after Sudan accused Ethiopia of violating its airspace. South Sudan has offered to mediate.
 * Cyclone Eloise makes landfall in Madagascar, killing one.
 * January 23
 * Ugandan peace-keeprers in Sigaale, Adimole, and Kayitoy, Somalia, kill 189 Al-Shabaab fighters.
 * Cyclone Eloise: 100,000 people are evacuated when the hurricane hits, but flooding and damage have been slight in Mozambique. Four deaths have been confirmed.
 * January 24
 * COVID-19 pandemic: Four members of the Cabinet of Zimbabwe die in the first two weeks of January.
 * Reverien Ndikuriyo is chosen as the leader of the National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD–FDD) in Burundi.
 * January 25 – Tigray War: Members of the Eritrean Army are accused of widespread looting and weaponizing hunger. Eritrea denies it has soldiers in Ethiopia.
 * January 27 – The United States Department of State demands that Eritrea withdraw from Tigray.

February

 * February 4 – The ICC finds Dominic Ongwen, 45, of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
 * February 7 – DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, new chair of the African Union, says he intends to make settlement of the dispute over Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam a priority.
 * February 9 – The single hospital in Mayotte is overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.
 * February 22 – Fifteen Tigrayans among Ethiopian peacekeepers who were due to return home on Monday ask to remain in South Sudan, citing fears of going back to Ethiopia.
 * February 24 – Egypt endorses Sudan's proposal to internationalize the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam controversy, calling for the participation of the African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, and the United States.

March

 * March 1 – Zimbabwe vice president Kembo Mohadi resigns after allegations of sexual misconduct.
 * March 9 – Workers in Mauritius begin pumping 130 tons of fuel from the Chinese fishing boat Lu Rong Yuan Yu that ran aground on a coral reef.

Elections

 * January 14 – 2021 Ugandan general election: Incumbent Yoweri Museveni was declared the winner with 5.85 million votes (58.64%); the main opposition candidate, Bobi Wine alleged fraud.
 * February 8 – 2021 Somali presidential election: postponed indefinitely; international groups insist a new date be established to prevent violence.
 * 2021 Somali parliamentary election
 * May – 2021 Somaliland municipal elections.
 * May – 2021 Somaliland parliamentary election.
 * June 5 – 2021 Ethiopian general election

January and February

 * January 1 – New Year's Day, (Gregorian calendar)
 * January 7 – Orthodox Christmas, Public holidays in Eritrea and Public holidays in Ethiopia
 * January 12 – Zanzibar Revolution Day, Public holidays in Tanzania.
 * January 15 – John Chilembwe Day, Public holidays in Malawi.
 * January 26 – National Resistance Movement Day, Public holidays in Uganda.
 * January 28 – Thaipusam, Public holidays and festivals in Mauritius (Tamil Hindu holiday).
 * February 1 – Heroes' Day, Public holidays in Rwanda.
 * February 3 – Heroes' Day, Public holidays in Mozambique.
 * February 16 – Janani Luwum Day, Uganda.
 * February 22 – Robert Mugabe National Youth Day, Public holidays in Zimbabwe.

March and April

 * March 2 – Victory at Adwa Day, Ethiopia.
 * March 3 – Martyrs' Day, Malawi.
 * March 8 – International Women's Day.
 * March 11 – Isra and Mi'raj, Public holidays in Djibouti, the Prophet's Night Journey.
 * March 12
 * National Day, Mauritius.
 * Youth Day, Public holidays in Zambia.
 * March 18 – Cheikh Al Maarouf Day, Public holidays in the Comoros
 * March 29 – Martyrs' Day, Public holidays in Madagascar.
 * April 1–3 – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday
 * April 5 – Easter Monday
 * April 7 – Abeid Karume Day, Tanzania.
 * April 19 – Independence Day, Zimbabwe.
 * April 26 – Union Day, Tanzania.

May and June

 * May 1 – Labour Day or International Workers' Day
 * May 5 – Patriots' Victory Day, Ethiopia.
 * May 13 – Eid al-Fitr, Muslim feast of breaking of the Fast.
 * May 16 – Sudan People's Liberation Army Day, Public holidays in South Sudan.
 * May 24 – Independence Day (Eritrea)
 * May 25 – Africa Day
 * June 1 – Madaraka Day, Public holidays in Kenya.
 * June 18 – Constitution Day, Public holidays in Seychelles.
 * June 20 – Martyrs' Day (Eritrea)
 * June 25 – Independence Day, Mozambique.
 * June 26
 * Independence Day, Madagascar.
 * Independence Day, Public holidays in Somalia.
 * June 27 – Independence Day, Djibouti.
 * June 29 – Independence Day, Seychelles.

July and August

 * July 1
 * Independence Day, Public holiday in Burundi (since 1962)
 * Independence Day, Rwanda (since 1962).
 * Republic Day, Somalia.
 * July 4 – Liberation Day (Rwanda).
 * July 5 – Heroes' Day, Zambia.
 * July 6
 * National Day, Comoros.
 * Independence Day, Malawi.
 * July 20 – Eid al-Adha, holiest Islamic feast of the year.
 * July 30 – Martyrs' Day, South Sudan.
 * August 8 – Nane Nane Day, Tanzania.
 * August 15 – Assumption of Mary, Roman Catholic feast celebrated in the Seychelles.

September and October

 * September 7 – Victory Day, Mozambique.
 * October 9 – Independence Day, Uganda.
 * October 11 – Huduma Day, Kenya.
 * October 18 – Day of Prayer, Zambia.
 * October 25 – Independence Day, Zambia.

November and December

 * November 2 – Indian Arrival Day, Mauritius.
 * November 12 – Maore Day, Comoros
 * December 9 – Independence Day, Tanzania.
 * December 13 – Jamhuri Day, Kenya.
 * December 22 – Unity Day, Zimbabwe.
 * December 25 – Christmas Day, Western Christian holiday
 * December 26 – Boxing Day (Utamaduni Day in Kenya)

Culture

 * February 4 – MTV Africa Music Awards, to be held in Kampala, are postponed due to disputes over the 2021 Ugandan general election.

Sports

 * January 16 – It was announced that Madagascar will organize the 2023 Indian Ocean Islands Games since the Seychelles has withdrawn.

January to March

 * January 12 – Sidik Mia, 56, Malawi politician, MP (2004–2014), Minister of Defence (2009–2010), Minister of Transport and Public Works (since 2020); COVID-19.
 * January 18 – Joevana Charles, 66, Seychellois politician, member of the National Assembly (1993–2016).
 * January 20 – Sibusiso Moyo, 61, Zimbabwean politician (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); COVID-19.
 * February 17 – Seif Sharif Hamad, 77, Vice President of Zanzibar (December 7, 2020 – February 17, 2021), Tanzania; acute pneumonia related to COVID-19.
 * March 6 – Nicolas Bwakira, 79, Burundian diplomat. (death announced on this date)
 * March 10 – Ali Mahdi Muhammad, 82, Somali politician, president (1991–1997); COVID-19.
 * March 17 – John Magufuli, 61, Tanzanian politician, president (since 2015), minister of works, transports and communications (2000–2005, 2010–2015) and MP (1995–2015); heart failure.
 * March 29 – Sarah Onyango Obama, 99, Kenyan educator and philanthropist, grandmother of former U.S. President Barack Obama; complications from diabetes and a stroke.

April to June

 * 11 May - Zemi Yenus, 61, Ethiopian businesswoman and autism activist, complications from COVID-19.