What was the last sub-Saharan African country to gain independence?

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Thousands of South Sudanese wave the flag of their new country to celebrate South Sudan's independence from Sudan, Juba, July 9, 2011.

Map of Sudan highlighting the southern region labeled as Southern Sudan, shown as a semiautonomous area prior to independence. The map displays major rivers, neighboring countries, and key cities such as Juba and Malakal, with an inset locating Sudan within Africa.

Map highlighting Eritrea in northeastern Africa, showing its location along the Red Sea coast. Neighboring countries Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti are labeled, as well as nearby regions including the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf of Aden. The capital city, Asmara, is marked within Eritrea.

Map of southern Africa highlighting Namibia in tan, with its capital Windhoek marked. Surrounding countries, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho, are labeled in white. The Atlantic Ocean borders Namibia to the west.

Map of southern Africa highlighting Zimbabwe in tan, with its capital Harare marked by a star. Surrounding countries including Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Madagascar are labeled, along with the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

African Independence Dates

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

What was the last sub-Saharan African country to gain independence?: Media

Images

Thousands of South Sudanese wave the flag of their new country to celebrate South Sudan's independence from Sudan, Juba, July 9, 2011.

Thousands of South Sudanese wave the flag of their new country to celebrate South Sudan's independence from Sudan, Juba, July 9, 2011.

© Roberto Schmidt—AFP/Getty Images

Map of Sudan highlighting the southern region labeled as Southern Sudan, shown as a semiautonomous area prior to independence. The map displays major rivers, neighboring countries, and key cities such as Juba and Malakal, with an inset locating Sudan within Africa.

The semiautonomous region of southern Sudan (2005–11), which became the independent country of South Sudan on July 9, 2011.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map highlighting Eritrea in northeastern Africa, showing its location along the Red Sea coast. Neighboring countries Ethiopia, Sudan, and Djibouti are labeled, as well as nearby regions including the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf of Aden. The capital city, Asmara, is marked within Eritrea.

Eritrea

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of southern Africa highlighting Namibia in tan, with its capital Windhoek marked. Surrounding countries, Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Eswatini, and Lesotho, are labeled in white. The Atlantic Ocean borders Namibia to the west.

Namibia

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Map of southern Africa highlighting Zimbabwe in tan, with its capital Harare marked by a star. Surrounding countries including Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Tanzania, Malawi, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Madagascar are labeled, along with the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

Zimbabwe

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.

Interactives

African Independence Dates

African Independence Dates

Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Colonization of Africa: Maps, Timeline, Decolonization, & Independence

Learn about the colonization of Africa, the process of decolonization that led to...

© Encyclopaedia Britannica