African independence is the liberating attitude of being able to survive alone, freedom from the control of a foreign nation, having the choice to govern your country by your own people after centuries of being a foreign colony.
African independence, which mainly took place in the 1960s, meant indigenous Africans were finally able to exercise self-government over the territory in which their ancestors, ancestors lived riding the continent of the relics of colonization and apartheid.
On September 9, 1999, 54 African countries, in their quest for unity, economic and social development called for the establishment of an African Union.
The vision of the African Union is that of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.
On September 9, 1999, 54 African countries, in their quest for unity, economic and social development called for the establishment of an African Union.
The vision of the African Union is that of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.
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| African Union Flag |
Listing In Order of 54 African Independence Dates
1. Algeria 5 July 1962 from France
2. Angola 11 November 1975 from Portugal
3. Botswana 30 September 1966 from Britain
4. Burkina Faso 5 August 1960 from France
5. Burundi 1 July 1962 from UN trusteeship under Belgian administration
6. Cameroon 1 January 1960 from French-administered UN trusteeship
7. Cape Verde 5 July 1975 from Portugal
8. The Central African Republic 13 August 1960 from France
9. Chad 11 August 1960 from France
10. Congo, the Democratic Republic of the 30 June 1960 from Belgium
11. Congo, Republic of the 15 August 1960 from France
12. Cote d'Ivoire 7 August 1960 from France
13. Djibouti 27 June 1977 from France
14. Egypt 28 February 1922 from UK protectorate status; the revolution that began on 23 July 1952 led to a republic being declared on 18 June 1953 and all British troops withdrawn on 18 June 1956; note - it was ca. 3200 B.C. that the Two Lands of Upper southern and Lower northern Egypt were first united politically
15. Eritrea 24 May 1993 from Ethiopia
16. Ethiopia oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.
17. Gabon 17 August 1960 from France
18. The Gambia 18 February 1965 from Britain
19. Ghana 6 March 1957 from Britain
20. Guinea-Bissau 24 September 1973 declared; 10 September 1974 from Portugal
21. Kenya 12 December 1963 from Britain
22. Lesotho 4 October 1966 from Britain
23. Liberia 26 July 1847
24. Libya 24 December 1951 from UN trusteeship
25. Madagascar 26 June 1960 from France
26. Malawi 6 July 1964 from Britain
27. Mauritius 12 March 1968 from Britain
28. Morocco 2 March 1956 from France
29. Mozambique 25 June 1975 from Portugal
30. Namibia 21 March 1990 from South African mandate
31. Niger 3 August 1960 from France
32. Nigeria 1 October 1960 from Britain
33. Rwanda 1 July 1962 from Belgium-administered UN trusteeship
34. Sao Tome and Principe 12 July 1975 from Portugal
35. Senegal 4 April 1960 from France; note - complete independence achieved upon dissolution of federation with Mali on 20 August 1960
36. Seychelles 29 June 1976 from Britain
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African Union Emblem
·Palm leaves means peace
·Gold circle Africa’s wealth
and bright future
·Green circle African hopes
and aspirations.
·The plain map of Africa
without boundaries
in the inner circle
signifies African unity
· Small red rings African
solidarity and the blood
shed for the liberation of Africa
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37. Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 from Britain
38. Somalia 1 July 1960 from a merger of British Somaliland that became independent from Britain on 26 June 1960 and Italian Somaliland that became independent from the Italian-administered UN trusteeship on 1 July 1960 to form the Somali Republic
39. South Africa 31 May 1910 Union of South Africa formed from four British colonies: Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Orange Free State; 31 May 1961 republic declared; 27 April 1994 majority rule
40. Sudan 1 January 1956 from Egypt and the UK
41. Southern Sudan Formal independence on July 9, 2011, from Sudan
42. Former Swaziland now eSwatini 6 September 1968 from Britain
43. Tanzania 26 April 1964; Tanganyika became independent on 9 December 1961 from UK-administered UN trusteeship; Zanzibar became independent on 19 December 1963 from the UK; Tanganyika united with Zanzibar on 26 April 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar; renamed the United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October 1964
44. Togo 27 April 1960 from French-administered UN trusteeship
45. Tunisia 20 March 1956 from France
46. Uganda 9 October 1962 from Britain
47. Zambia 24 October 1964 from Britain
48. Zimbabwe 18 April 1980 from Britain
Five facts about African independence dates
African independence mainly took place in the 1960s.
Between January and December of 1960, 17 sub-Saharan African nations, including 14 former French colonies, gained independence from their former European colonists.
By 1968 those territories under direct British rule became Lesotho, Botswana, and Swaziland, and Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland became Zambia and Malawi.
The longest, most divided, and bloodiest wars against colonialism in the subcontinent occurred in the Portuguese colonies. War lasted from 1961-1974.
Freedom Day is a South African national day celebrated on April 27 every year celebrating freedom and the first post-apartheid elections held on that day in 1994.
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