Alphabetical List Of African Independence Dates
Africa has a history of earning her independence from forced rule. African independence took place mainly in the 1960’s when her people began to assert the right to independence and self-government.

Alphabetical List Of African Independence Dates
The colonizing of Africa imposed boundaries without regard to culture or heritage of native Africans. With a mix of Arabic, Danish, German, Indian, African, French, Italian, Chinese and European influences Africa is truly a melting pot of language, culture and idea’s.
Africa faced colonization, occupation and aggression from the United Kingdom, Germany, Romans, Arabs, Danish, Berbers, Turkish Ottoman Empire, the French, Portuguese, Italians, the Dutch and countless internal battles.
A
Algeria- After more than a
century of rule by France, Algerians fought through much of the 1950's to
achieve independence in 1962.
Angola- In 1483 Portuguese
arrive to then Luanda; Portuguese is the official language of Angola.
B
Benin- Dahomey achieved
independence in 1960; changed its name to the Republic of Benin in 1975.
Botswana- Formerly the British
protectorate of Bechuanaland, upon independence in 1966 changed its name to
Botswana.
Burkina Faso- Formerly Upper Volta
achieved independence from France in 1960 changed its name to Burkina Faso.
Burundi- In 1962, Urundi is
separated from Ruanda-Urundi and becomes independent kingdom of Burundi under
King Mwambutsa IV.
C
Cameroon- Was under Portuguese,
Germany, British, and French control. In 1960 French Cameroon granted
independence and becomes the Republic of Cameroon, 1961 Northern Cameroon joins
Nigeria.
Central African Republic- In 1960 The Central
African Republic becomes independent from the French.
Chad- In 1960 Chad becomes
independent from the French.
Congo- In 1960 Congo becomes
independent with Fulbert Youlou as president
Cote d'Ivoire- Formally the Ivory
Coast, in 1985 the government requested that the country be known officially as
Côte d'Ivoire.
D
Democratic Republic of
the Congo- 1960 Congo becomes
independent from Belgian. 1997 Rwandan- and Ugandan-backed rebels depose
President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire; Laurent Kabila becomes president of Zaire,
which is renamed the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Djibouti- The French Territory of
the Afars and the Issas became Djibouti in 1977.
E
Egypt- 7000 BC - Settlement of
Nile Valley begins, a unified kingdom arose around 3200 B.C., Assyrians ruled,
then the Persians, and then Rome, the Turks, British and in 1953 Coup leader
Muhammad Najib becomes president as Egypt is declared a republic.
Equatorial Guinea- gained independence in
1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule.
Eritrea- After independence from
Italian colonial control in 1941 and 10 years of British administrative
control, the UN established Eritrea as an autonomous region within the Ethiopian
federation in 1952.
G
Gabon- Occupied by the
Portuguese and French. El Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba was one of the
longest-serving heads of state in the world from 1967-2009 following
independence from France in 1960.
Gambia- Gained its independence
from the United Kingdom in 1965 and is geographically surrounded by Senegal.
Ghana- Formed from the merger
of the British colony of the Gold Coast and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana
in 1957 became the first sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its
independence. Ghana fought and won independence from France.
Guinea- In 1891 France declares
Guinea to be a colony, separate from Senegal. Guinea fought and won
independence from France in 1958.
Guinea-Bissau- 1446-47 Guinea-Bissau
is an important Portuguese slave trade hub, 1879 Guinea-Bissau becomes a
separate colony of the Portuguese, 1951 Guinea-Bissau declared a province
of Portugal, 1951 Guinea-Bissau declared a province of Portugal. 1956
Amilcar Cabral establishes the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and
Cape Verde, 1963-74 - the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape
Verde battles for independence, 1973 Cabral assassinated the African Party for
the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde declares Guinea-Bissau independent
and names their country Guinea-Bissau, 1974 Portugal awards Guinea-Bissau
independence.
K
Kenya- 1963 Kenya gains
independence, with Kenyatta as prime minister. Founding president and
liberation struggle icon Jomo Kenyatta led Kenya from independence in 1963
until his death in 1978.
L
Lesotho- Basutoland was renamed
the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the UK in 1966.
Liberia- July 1847 Liberia
becomes independent and is Africa's oldest republic.
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya
(Libya)- In the 16th century -
Libya becomes part of the Ottoman Empire, 1912 Italy seizes control, 1942
the French and British expel the Italians from Libya which they then
divided. Colonel Gaddafi deposed the king in 1969.
M
Madagascar- From 1880-1960 Madagascar
is under French rule. On June 26, 1960 Madagascar gains independence from
France with Philibert Tsiranana as president.
Malawi- From 1790-1860 Malawi
is a major slave trading region. In 1891 Britain names Malawi British Central
African Protectorate, then in1907 Britain names Malawi Nyasaland. In 1958 Dr.
Hastings Kamuzu Banda, "the black messiah", denounces the federation
and returns from the US and the UK to lead the Nyasaland African
Congress. On July 6, 1966 Banda becomes president of the Republic of
Malawi.
Mali- The14th-15th centuries
Timbuktu was historically important as a focal point of Islamic culture and a
trading post on the trans-Saharan caravan route. In 1960 Mali becomes
independent.
Mauritania- 1904 France establishes
Mauritania as a colonial territory and in 1958 Mauritania gains
independence. In 1976 Mauritania and Morocco divide up Spanish Sahara,
now known as Western Sahara, after Spain pulls out. The Polisario front, aiming
to establish an independent state in the territory, fights the forces of both
countries.
Mauritius- settled by the Dutch
who named it in honor of Prince Maurits van Nassau in the 17th century.
The French assumed control in 1715, the British captured the island in 1810
during the Napoleonic Wars, Mauritius gained independence from the United
Kingdom in 1968.
Morocco- In 788, about a century
after the Arab conquest of North Africa, a series of Moroccan Muslim dynasties
began to rule in Morocco. In the 16th century, the Sa'adi monarchy,
particularly under Ahmad al-MANSUR (1578-1603), repelled foreign invaders and
inaugurated a golden age. The Alaouite Dynasty, to which the current Moroccan
royal family belongs, dates from the 17th century, 1904 France and Spain
carve-up Morocco, 1976 Moroccan and Algerian troops clash in Western
Sahara. Morocco fought and won independence from France. Algeria
announces the formation of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) with a
government-in-exile. Morocco and Mauritania divide-up Western Sahara and 2014
Morocco is disqualified from the 2015 African Cup of Nations after refusing to
host the tournament over concerns about the spread of Ebola.
Mozambique- 18th-19th centuries
becomes major Portugal slave-trading epicenter. In1975 Mozambique becomes
independent from Portugal.
N
Namibia- 1915 South Africa
occupies the country, 1968 South West Africa officially renamed Namibia by UN
General Assembly, and in March 1990 Namibia becomes independent, with Sam
Nujoma as first president.
Niger- 1890 occupied by
France, became independent from France in 1960.
Nigeria- During the16-18th
centuries Nigerians are sold into the slave trade in 1960 received
independence.
R
Republic of Cabo Verde- 1975 Cape Verde becomes
independent
Reunion- Is still currently a
French overseas territory.
Rwanda- 1890 Rwanda becomes
part of German East Africa, 1916 Belgian forces occupy Rwanda, 1962 Rwanda
becomes independent with a Hutu, Gregoire Kayibanda, as president; many Tutsis
leave the country, Forces of the rebel, mainly Tutsi, Rwandan Patriotic Front
(RPF) invaded Rwanda from Uganda, 1994-96 - Refugee camps in
Zaire fall under the control of the Hutu militias responsible for the genocide
in Rwanda. 2001 December - A new flag and national anthem are unveiled to try
to promote national unity and reconciliation.
S
Sao Tome and Principe- In the 16th century
colonized by the Portuguese becomes a post for slave trade. Granted independence
in 1975.
Senegal- The12-14th
centuries the Jolof empire ruled. In 1588 Dutch establish slave port on island
of Goree. In 1960 Senegal becomes independent.
Seychelles- 1976 Seychelles become
independent and are governed by a coalition, with James Mancham as president
and France Rene as prime minister.
Sierra Leone- In 1787 British
abolitionists and sponsors establish a settlement in Freetown for repatriated
and rescued slaves, 1961 becomes independent.
Somalia- Somalia has been under
Egyptian, French, British, and Italian control in 1960 becomes independent.
South Africa- 1816-1826 - Shaka Zulu
founds and expands the Zulu empire.1835-1840 - Boers begin The 'Great Trek'.
1899 -The second Anglo-Boer War begins. 1910 - Formation of Union of South
Africa. 1948 - Policy of apartheid adopted. 1964 - ANC leader Nelson Mandela
sentenced to life imprisonment. 1990 - Mandela released after 27 years in
prison. Namibia becomes independent. Eleven languages are recognized as
official.
South Sudan- Independence was backed
by 99% of South Sudanese in the 2011 referendum spiting from Northern Sudan.
Sudan- Sudan fought and
won independence from France. Sudan, once the largest country in Africa,
split into two countries in July 2011.
Swaziland- KwaZulu-Natal is the
only province with a monarchy specifically provided for in South Africa's
Constitution that was created in 1994 when the Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu and
Natal Province were merged. KwaZulu-Natal is the home to the Zulu monarch, King
Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu who receives a income from the government for
his position. King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is a monarch who holds no
formal political power, but fulfills the spiritual and ceremonial needs of the
Zulu nation. King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu salary is in the range of $6
million a year to cater to the needs of his royal household.
T
Tanzania- Tanzania has been in
Portuguese, Arab, German, and British control. In 1964 Tanganyika and Zanzibar
merge to become Tanzania.
Togo- 1884 German
protectorate of Togoland established. Togo was occupied since the 1700’s
by the Danish, Germans, British and French received independence in
1960 with Sylvanus Olympio elected as first president.
Tunisia- 1100 BC the city of
Carthage, near the site of present-day Tunisia becomes a naval power. Tunisia
has been in Roman, Arab, Berber, Turkish Ottoman Empire, and French control; in
1956 Tunisia becomes independent. Tunisia fought and won independence from
France.
U
Uganda- 1890 Britain and
Germany sign treaty giving Britain rights to what was to become Uganda. The
colonial boundaries created by Britain to delimit Uganda grouped together a
wide range of ethnic groups with different political systems and cultures.
These differences prevented the establishment of a working political community
after independence was achieved in 1962.
Z
Zambia- Was known as the
territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the British 1891-1923 until
it was taken over by the United Kingdom in 1923. The name was changed
from Northern Rhodesia to Zambia upon independence in 1964 from the
United Kingdom.
Zimbabwe- Formerly Rhodesia, UN
sanctions and a revolution finally led to free elections in 1979 and
independence as Zimbabwe in 1980.
Did you know?
Ethiopia- Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of a short-lived Italian occupation from 1936-41.
