First Countries to Gain Independence in Africa forestalls the idea of you claiming ignorance of the decolonization history of Africa and its many sovereignties. The African history is replete with the stains of colonization. Even as it appears unforgettable, no serious African should ever try to dump this epochal event of history into the abyss of forgetfulness.
In the spirit of the need to celebrate the independence of the African states, this article brings to our knowledge the first countries to gain independence in Africa, and by independence, we mean the autonomy that comes with decolonization.
First Countries to Gain Independence in Africa.
The “Scramble for Africa” between 1870 and 1914 was significant period of European imperialism in Africa that ended with almost all of Africa, and its natural resources, being controlled as colonies by a small number of European states. Racing to secure as much land as possible while avoiding conflict amongst themselves, the partition of Africa was confirmed in the Berlin Agreement of 1885, with little regard to local differences.
Following World War II, rapid decolonization swept across the continent of Africa as many territories gained their independence from European colonization. Consumed with post-war debt, European powers were no longer able to afford the resources needed to maintain control of their African colonies. This allowed for African nationalists to negotiate decolonization very quickly and with minimal casualties. Some territories, however, saw great death tolls as a result of their fight for independence.
Given below are the First Countries to Gain Independence in Africa and their dates:
(By first countries, the focus is on dates from 1847 to 1960)
Liberia – July 26, 1847
South Africa – May 31, 1910
Arab Republic of Egypt – Feb. 28, 1922
People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – May 5, 1941
Libya – Dec. 24, 1951
Sudan – Jan. 1, 1956
Morocco – March 2, 1956
Tunisia – March 20, 1956
Morocco (Spanish Northern Zone, Marruecos) – April 7, 1956
Morocco (International Zone, Tangiers) – Oct. 29, 1956
Republic of Ghana – March 6, 1957
Morocco (Spanish Southern Zone, Marruecos) – April 27, 1958
Republic of Guinea – Oct. 2, 1958
Cameroon – Jan. 1 1960
Senegal – April 4, 1960
Togo – April 27, 1960
Mali – Sept. 22, 1960
Madagascar – June 26, 1960
Congo – June 30, 1960
Somalia – July 1, 1960
Benin – Aug. 1, 1960
Niger – Aug. 3, 1960
Burkina Faso – Aug. 5, 1960
Cote D’Ivoire – Aug. 7, 1960
Chad – Aug. 11, 1960
Central Africa Republic – Aug. 13, 1960
Congo (Brazzaville) – Aug. 15, 1960
Gabon – Aug. 16, 1960
Nigeria – Oct. 1, 1960
Mauritania – Nov. 28, 1960
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