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August 18
5 moments across history
Military Coup Overthrows Mali’s President
On August 18, 2020, mutinous soldiers in Mali detained President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who then resigned and dissolved parliament. The coup deepened political instability in Mali and disrupted international efforts to support democratic rule and combat Islamist insurgencies. It followed months of protests over alleged electoral irregularities, corruption, economic hardship, and insecurity, continuing Mali’s history of military intervention after the 2012 coup.
Military Coup Overthrows Mali’s President
Pervez Musharraf Resigns as Pakistan’s President
Pervez Musharraf Resigns as Pakistan’s President
Year: 2008
On August 18, 2008, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf resigned under mounting pressure from the governing coalition, which was preparing to impeach him. His departure ended nearly nine years of rule that began with his 1999 military coup and cleared the way for a new civilian president. A key U.S. ally after the September 11 attacks, Musharraf had lost support amid political unrest, his suspension of judges, emergency rule, and his allies’ 2008 electoral defeat.
Korean Axe Murder Incident
Korean Axe Murder Incident
Year: 1976
On August 18, 1976, North Korean soldiers killed U.S. Army officers Arthur Bonifas and Mark Barrett as a work party tried to prune a poplar tree in the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom. The killings sharply escalated tensions, prompting the United States and South Korea to launch Operation Paul Bunyan, a heavily guarded mission that cut down the tree three days later. The incident occurred amid the Cold War standoff on the Korean Peninsula, which had remained divided and technically at war since the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement.
The Battle of Long Tan
The Battle of Long Tan
Year: 1966
On August 18, 1966, Australian infantry, supported by Australian, New Zealand, and U.S. artillery, fought a much larger Viet Cong and North Vietnamese force near Long Tan in South Vietnam. The battle ended with the communist force withdrawing after heavy losses, making Long Tan a major tactical victory and an enduring symbol of Australian service in the Vietnam War. It occurred amid the wider U.S.-led effort to defend South Vietnam from communist forces, in which Australia and New Zealand contributed troops and military support.
Indonesia Establishes Its National Government
Indonesia Establishes Its National Government
Year: 1945
On August 18, 1945, Indonesia’s Preparatory Committee adopted a constitution and selected Sukarno as president and Mohammad Hatta as vice president. This established the new republic’s constitutional framework and national leadership one day after Indonesia declared independence. The move followed Japan’s World War II surrender and preceded Indonesia’s armed and diplomatic struggle against the returning Dutch colonial government.