Liberia, the oldest African nation, is celebrating 177 years of independence since July 26, 1847

Age (in years) of African nations since independence (top 10 and bottom 10)

Key takeaways:

Gaining independence in 1847, Liberia has been free for 177 years, long before most African nations began their fight for sovereignty.
With only 13 years of independence, South Sudan remains the newest nation on the continent, still navigating the challenges of nation-building.
The difference between Liberia and South Sudan is 164 years, showing the vast timeline over which African nations gained independence.
The majority of African nations secured sovereignty between the 1950s and 1970s, marking the height of the decolonisation movement.
Countries like Zimbabwe (1980), Namibia (1990), and Eritrea (1993) faced prolonged struggles against colonial rule.
Despite Liberia’s long years of independence, it has faced civil wars and economic instability, showing that the length of sovereignty doesn’t always translate to political or economic strength.
While sovereignty marks a historic milestone, many African nations, especially younger ones like South Sudan, continue to grapple with political, economic, and developmental challenges even decades after gaining independence.

Independence in Africa spans nearly two centuries, from Liberia's declaration in 1847 to South Sudan’s in 2011. The continent’s journey to sovereignty has been marked by resilience, struggle, and transformation, with countries gaining independence at vastly different times. Liberia, celebrating 177 years of independence, stands as the continent’s oldest independent nation, while South Sudan, only 13 years old, is Africa’s youngest.

While some African nations gained independence early, most had to fight against European colonial rule in the mid-to-late 20th century, such as Ghana (1957), Tunisia (1956), and Morocco (1956). In contrast, others, particularly in Southern Africa, had prolonged struggles due to settler colonialism, with Zimbabwe (1980), Namibia (1990), and Eritrea (1993) only securing sovereignty much later.

Source:

Thoughtco

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Period:

2025

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