Independence for African Nations


 

Southern Sudanese voting in Juba, January 9, 2011

 

Southern Sudanese line up to vote in Juba, January 9, 2011 Focus Question:  When did modern African countries become independent nations and how was independence achieved?

 

CROSS-LINKS:

 

 

 

 

For information, see Egypt South of the Sahara from Stanford University.

 

 

external image 500px-Hebrew_timeline.svg.pngTimeline showing when African countries gained their independence. 

 

Click here for the TED talk "The Leaders Who Ruined Africa and the Generation Who Can Fix It" by Fred Swaniker.

 

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Inauguration as President of Liberia, 2006


Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Inauguration as President of Liberia, 2006

Women and Politics in Africa Today from Democracy in Africa website, December 2013.

 

Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti - was a teacher, political campaigner, women's rights activist, traditional aristocrat and founder of the Nigerian Women’s Union. She was one of the most prominent leaders of her generation. She was Nigeria's first ever representative at a women's international conference (in the USSR in 1963). She was one of the founders of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigerian Students Union.


In 2015, in Africa

 

 

 


See also, Women in National Parliaments, 2014

Does Women's Participation in African Legislatures Encourage Women's Political Participation?

 


For info on each country, visit the CIA Factbook.


Independence from Colonialism

 

Berlin Conference to divide Africa between the European powers.
Berlin Conference to divide Africa between the European powers.


The vast majority of countries in Africa gained independence in the 1960s and 1970s. Some were granted independence by their former occupiers; others fought liberation movements and won their independence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nelson Mandela Meeting His Predecessor, Frederik de Klerk, 1992
Nelson Mandela Meets His Predecessor, Frederik de Klerk, 1992

 

Here is a video about the history of South Africa, one of the highlighted colonies that still is divided because of these issues today.

 

Maps of Africa: 1750-2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Multimedia Links:

 


One example of Colonialism and Imperialism in Africa

 

King Leopold II

King Leopold II


A historical low in colonial abuse, Belgium’s King Leopold II, wanting a piece of Africa for himself personally, sent Lord Stanley to survey the Congo in 1876; Leopold took over the nation in 1885

 

 

 

 

 

 


Click here for information on the Congo from 1885 to 1908.

external image 200px-Paperback_book_black_gal.svg.pngClick here to read "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad


Abstract of the Report of the Commission of Enquiry into the Administration of the Congo Free State (1906).

 

 

Go here for an Influential Literature page on The Heart of Darkness


external image 200px-Paperback_book_black_gal.svg.pngHochschild, Adam; King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror, and Heroism in Colonial Africa; Houghton Mifflin, New York; 1998.


More Independence Information




Libya (1951)

 
Annexed by Italy in 1911 after Italo-Turkish wars. In 1934 becomes Italian colony. Italian and German forces were driven out during World War II and Libya was under the control of Great Britain and France. Italy officially gave up all claims in 1947. At the United Nations General Assembly in 1949 Libya was granted independence. Independence became effective in 1951,when the country became the United Kingdom of Libya.


Sources:

 

 

 


Egypt (1952)
Originally controlled by the Turks and then the British.

Hassan al-Banna, founder of the Muslim Brotherhood
Hassan al-Banna, Muslim Brotherhood founder


Independence was gained in 1922, but Britain still maintained control of government institutions and the Suez Canal. A coup de tat by the Free Officers in 1952 led to the toppling of the British backed monarch in Egypt.

Click here for an Egypt Profile, including a broad historical timeline from BBC News.

For background, see Egyptian Independence, 1919-1922 See also, Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence, 1922.

An Illustrated History of the Muslim Brotherhood from Slate Magazine using a graphic novel format.

For more information on Egypt, see the CIA World Factbook

Sudan (1956)

 
Co-ruled by Egypt (1874) and Britain (1882) until 1953, when granted self government. On January 1, 1956 independence was proclaimed. Since then, the Sudan has been ruled by unstable parliamentary and military governments.
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Tunisia (1956)

 
Was a French protectorate from 1881 until 1956. Supported the Vichy government in France (which collaborated with Hitler once France was over run by Germany) during WWII. When Tunisia was turned over to the Free French, the Tunisian ruler was arrested for aiding the enemy. This sparked unrest against French rule. In 1954, Tunisia was promised full internal autonomy. This meant no control over foreign matters. Eventually, full independence was achieved in March 1956. France, however, did not fully withdraw from the country until 1963.
Sources:

 

 




Morocco (1956)

 
Originally dominated by Spain. In 1912, however, France imposes protectorate. In 1953 France exiled Sultan Muhammad V and replaced him with Mohammad Ben Aaraffa. This sparked public opposition and Muhammad V returned in 1955. Full independence was achieved in 1956.
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Niger (1960)
Became a French colony in 1922. After the establishment of the Fifth French Republic on December 4, 1958, Niger became an autonomous state. Full independence was gained on August 3, 1960.
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Chad (1960)
Part of French Equatorial Africa in 1913. In 1946 become autonomous republic. An independence movement led by Francois (Ngarta) Tombalbaye led to complete independence on August 11, 1960. This was followed by three decades of civil war.
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Mali (1960)
France began to dominate in 1880, but there was resistance until 1898 when France took full control. In 1960, the Sudanese Republic and Senegal became independent of France and formed the Mali Federation. Senegal withdrew from this union and what had once been called the Sudanese Republic became Mali.
Sources:



Mauritania (1960)
Became a French territory in 1904, a French colony in 1920. Gained independence from France in 1960.
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Algeria (1962)

Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella and President John F. Kennedy, 1962

 

Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella and President John F. Kennedy, 1962


Annexed to France in 1830. Nationalist movements sprung up between WWI and WWII. A Revolutionary Committee was formed by Ahmed Ben Bella and 8 others in March of 1954.

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See also Algerian War

 

 


Rwanda (1962)
Was originally under German control. However, the Germans lost control of the country during WWII. At that point, Belgium took over control. In the 1950s, there was violence between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups. By the time independence from Belgium was granted in 1962, over 120,000 Tutsi had fled the country to avoid genocide.
Sources:

 

For more on the genocide:




South Sudan (2011)
On January 9, 2011, a referendum will take place in Southern Sudan to determine whether this area will become its own country, separate from Northern Sudan. Learn more about this initiative and what's at stake here.

South Sudan officially gained independence on July 9, 2011. An overwhelming majority (99%) of Southern Sudanese voted for the split. However, Sudan is now in conflict with South Sudan over the border.
Click here for more on South Sudan.

Click here for a lesson plan on Sudan/South Sudan


 


Click here for a Cholera map of Zimbabwe from the BBC and the World Health Organization


Independence Chart taken from About: African History 


Books:


The Scramble for Africa

The 19th century saw a wholesale dividing of Africa among European nations, primarily by England, France, Belgium and Portugal.

 

 

 

 

 


England
Union of South Africa
Nigeria
North Rhodesia
South Rhodesia
Gold Coast
Uganda
British Somaliland

Gambia
British East Africa
Swaziland
Basutoland
Sierra Leone
Bechuanaland Protectorate

France
Algeria
French Morocco
Senegal
Nigeria
Cote d’Ivoire
French Equatorial Africa
Gabon
Tunisia
Madagascar
French Somaliland

Germany
South West Africa
Kamerun
Togoland
German East Africa

Spain
Rio de Oro
Ifni
Tangier
Rio Muni

Italy
Libya
Italian Somaliland
Eritrea

Portugal
Angola
Mocambique
Cabinda

Belgium
Belgian Congo

Source: Historical Atlas of Africa; Cambridge U. Press; 1985.

Additional Resources: