1994★★★★★
Hạ Long Bay inscribed by UNESCO
Hạ Long Bay is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its natural value.
Culture· Vietnam
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Events this year
January 1, 1994★★★★★
NAFTA enters into force
The North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico takes effect, creating one of the world's largest trade blocs.
TreatyEconomy· United States, Canada, Mexico
February 3, 1994★★★★★
US lifts trade embargo on Vietnam
President Bill Clinton announces the lifting of the US trade embargo on Vietnam.
EconomyPolitics· Vietnam, United States
April 7, 1994 – July 15, 1994★★★★★
Rwandan genocide
Over about 100 days, Hutu extremist forces killed hundreds of thousands of Tutsi, as well as moderate Hutu and Twa, until the Rwandan Patriotic Front took control of the country.
War· Rwanda
April 27, 1994★★★★★
South Africa's first multiracial election
South Africa held its first election with universal suffrage across all races; the ANC won and Nelson Mandela became president, marking the end of apartheid.
Politics· South Africa
Ongoing
c. 1975 – c. 1995★★★★★
Vietnamese boat people
Hundreds of thousands of people flee Vietnam by sea after 1975; many die at sea and others are resettled, mostly in Western countries.
Politics· Vietnam, United States, Australia, Canada, France, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand
July 23, 1983 – May 18, 2009★★★★★
Sri Lankan Civil War
A 26-year armed conflict between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) ends in the LTTE's defeat.
War· Sri Lanka
1991 – 2001★★★★★
Yugoslav Wars
A series of ethnic conflicts and wars of independence accompany the break-up of Yugoslavia, killing an estimated 130,000–140,000 people and involving numerous war crimes.
War· Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro
April 5, 1992 – February 29, 1996★★★★★
Siege of Sarajevo
Bosnian Serb forces besiege Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, for nearly four years, the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare.
War· Bosnia and Herzegovina