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Colonialism
Powerful empires like the British started colonizing African countries. -
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Sierra Leone
Initially established as a settlement for freed slaves in 1787, Sierra Leone became a British crown colony in 1808 and achieved independence in 1961. -
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Gambia
Britain established a colony at Bathurst (now Banjul) in 1816, and The Gambia remained under British rule until its independence in 1965. -
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Algeria
Colonized in 1830, Algeria was considered an integral part of France, with significant settlement by French citizens. It remained under French control until its independence in 1962. -
Spanish colonialism
Africa: Spain's colonial presence in Africa included territories such as Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara), Spanish Guinea (now Equatorial Guinea), and parts of Morocco. -
German East Africa
Established in 1885, this colony encompassed present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. It was Germany's largest African colony. The colony was known for the Herero and Namaqua genocide, where thousands of indigenous people were killed. -
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Ghana (Gold Coast)
The Gold Coast became a British colony in 1874, and in 1957, it became the first African nation to gain independence, renaming itself Ghana. -
German colonialism
Africa: Germany entered the colonial race in the 1880s, establishing colonies like German East Africa (now Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi), German South-West Africa (now Namibia), -
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Tunisia
Established as a French protectorate in 1881, Tunisia gained independence in 1956. -
Italian colonialism
Italy's colonial endeavors began in the late 19th century and extended into the early 20th century, focusing primarily on Africa and parts of the Mediterranean. -
Eritrea
Italy established its first colony, Italian Eritrea, in 1882. -
Belgian colonialism
Africa: King Leopold II of Belgium personally controlled the Congo Free State from 1885 until 1908, when it became a Belgian colony known as the Belgian Congo. -
German Southwest Africa
Founded in 1884, this colony covered modern-day Namibia. It was the site of the Herero and Namaqua genocide, where thousands of indigenous people were killed. -
Togo
Founded in 1884, this colony covered present-day Togo and parts of Ghana. The colony was known for the Maji Maji Rebellion, where thousands of indigenous people were killed. -
Cameroon
Established in 1884, this colony included parts of present-day Cameroon and Nigeria. The colony was known for the Maji Maji Rebellion, where thousands of indigenous people were killed. -
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Somaliland
Established as a British protectorate in 1884, British Somaliland gained independence in 1960 and later joined with Italian Somaliland to form Somalia. -
German East Africa
Established in 1885, this colony encompassed present-day Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi. It was Germany's largest African colony. The colony was known for the Herero and Namaqua genocide, where thousands of indigenous people were killed. -
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Congo Free State
Established as the personal property of King Leopold II, the Congo Free State was notorious for its exploitation and atrocities against the indigenous population. In 1908, due to international pressure over human rights abuses, the Belgian government annexed the territory, transforming it into the Belgian Congo. -
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France's Equatorial African colonies included:
Gabon: Established as a French colony in 1885. Republic of the Congo: Known as French Congo, became a French colony in 1903. Chad: Established as a French colony in 1920. Central African Republic: Known as Ubangi-Shari, it became a French colony in 1903. Gabon: Established as a French colony in 1885. Madagascar: Became a French colony in 1897. Comoros: Became a French colony in 1912. Réunion: Overseas department of France since 1946. Mayotte: An overseas department of France since 2011. -
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Congo Free State
Established as the personal property of King Leopold II, the Congo Free State was notorious for its exploitation and atrocities against the indigenous population. In 1908, due to international pressure over human rights abuses, the Belgian government annexed the territory, transforming it into the Belgian Congo. -
Somalia
In 1889, Italy began establishing protectorates over various Somali territories, culminating in the formation of Italian Somaliland. -
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France's West African colonies included:
Mali: Known as French Sudan, it became a French colony in 1890. Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast): Established as a French colony in 1893. Burkina Faso: Formerly Upper Volta, it became a French colony in 1919. Niger: Became a French colony in 1922. Chad: Established as a French colony in 1920. Central African Republic: Known as Ubangi-Shari, it became a French colony in 1903. Gabon: Established as a French colony in 1885. Mauritania: Became a French colony in 1920. -
French colonialism
Africa: France significantly increased its colonial holdings in Africa, particularly in West and Central Africa, including territories like Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Gabon. -
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Sudan
Under joint British-Egyptian rule from 1899, Sudan gained independence in 1956. -
British colonialism
Africa: The British Empire expanded its territories in Africa during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, establishing control over regions such as Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. -
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Malawi (formerly Nyasaland)
Nyasaland was a British protectorate from 1907 until its independence as Malawi in 1964. -
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Belgian Congo
Following its annexation, the Belgian Congo was administered as a colony of Belgium. During this period, the colony experienced significant economic exploitation, with resources extracted for the benefit of Belgium. The legacy of colonialism in the Congo has been marked by profound social and economic challenges. -
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Morocco
Under a French protectorate from 1912, Morocco achieved independence in 1956. -
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Spanish Morocco
Spain established a protectorate in northern Morocco in 1912, which lasted until Morocco's independence in 1956. -
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Nigeria
Formed by the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Nigeria Protectorates in 1914, Nigeria remained under British control until its independence in 1960. -
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Ruanda-Urundi
After World War I, Belgium was granted a League of Nations mandate to administer the former German colonies of Rwanda and Burundi, collectively known as Ruanda-Urundi. Under Belgian rule, the territories were governed through a system of indirect rule, which exacerbated ethnic divisions and laid the groundwork for future conflicts. -
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Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia)
Northern Rhodesia became a British protectorate in 1924 and gained independence as Zambia in 1964. -
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South Africa
The Union of South Africa was formed in 1910, uniting several British colonies. It became a fully sovereign nation within the British Commonwealth in 1931 and left the Commonwealth in 1961. -
Libya
Following the Italo-Turkish War (1911–1912), Italy seized control of Tripolitania and Cyrenaica from the Ottoman Empire, uniting them as Italian Libya in 1934. -
Ethiopia
In 1936, after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, Italy annexed Ethiopia, integrating it with Eritrea and Italian Somaliland to form Italian East Africa. -
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Albania
Italy established a protectorate over Albania from 1917 to 1920 and again from 1939 to 1943. -
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Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia)
Established as a British colony in 1923, Southern Rhodesia declared unilateral independence in 1965, which was not recognized internationally. It became Zimbabwe in 1980. -
Equatorial Guinea
Comprising the territories of Río Muni (on the African mainland) and the island of Bioko (formerly Fernando Po), Equatorial Guinea remained under Spanish control until it gained independence on October 12, 1968. -
Ifni
A small territory on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, Ifni was ceded to Spain in 1860 and remained under Spanish control until it was returned to Morocco in 1969. -
Spanish Sahara
Located in northwest Africa, Spanish Sahara was administered by Spain until 1975. Following the Madrid Accords, Spain withdrew, and the territory was subsequently claimed by Morocco and Mauritania, leading to ongoing disputes.