African Countries' Independence Dates

Most African nations were colonized by European states in the early modern era, including a burst of colonization in the Scramble for Africa from 1880 to 1900. However, this condition was reversed over the next century by independence movements. Here are African countries' independence dates.

Notes:

1. Ethiopia is usually considered to have never been colonized, but following the invasion by Italy in 1935-36 Italian settlers arrived. Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed and went into exile in the UK. He regained his throne on 5 May 1941 when he re-entered Addis Ababa with his troops. Italian resistance was not completely overcome until 27 November 1941.
2. Guinea-Bissau made a Unilateral Declaration of Independence on 24 September 1973, now considered Independence Day. However, independence was only recognized by Portugal on 10 September 1974 as a result of the Algiers Accord of 26 August 1974.
3. Western Sahara was immediately seized by Morocco, a move contested by Polisario (Popular Front for the Liberation of the Saguia el Hamra and Rio del Oro).