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African Countries That Were Never Colonised

Did you know that not all African countries were colonised by the Europeans? Let’s take a look at African countries that were never colonised.

1. Ethiopia

Ethiopia was never colonised. Ethiopia has a long history of statehood, dating back thousands of years. It’s one of the world’s oldest nations. In the late 19th century, Italy attempted to colonize Ethiopia. The conflict that ensued is known as the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The Ethiopian forces, under Emperor Menelik II, decisively defeated the Italians at the Battle of Adwa in 1896. This victory ensured Ethiopia’s independence, making it a symbol of African resistance to colonialism.

African Countries That Were Never Colonised

2. Liberia

Liberia’s history is closely tied to the African diaspora. The American Colonization Society, founded in the United States in the early 19th century, aimed to resettle freed African-American and Caribbean slaves in Africa. In 1822, the society established a colony on the west coast of Africa, which eventually became Liberia. The country declared its independence in 1847 and adopted a political system influenced by that of the United States. Liberia’s indigenous population and the descendants of repatriated Africans faced complex dynamics and challenges in their interactions.

3. Morocco

Morocco’s history is marked by a combination of foreign influence and its own resistance to colonization. European colonial powers, primarily France and Spain, established protectorates in parts of Morocco during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, Morocco retained its independence and sovereignty. It eventually regained control of the previously occupied regions in the mid-20th century.

4. Lesotho and Eswatini

Lesotho is a mountainous kingdom located entirely within the borders of South Africa. Its mountainous terrain provided a natural barrier that contributed to its independence. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a small monarchy located between South Africa and Mozambique. Its relatively small size and a degree of autonomy allowed it to maintain independence.

These countries’ histories reflect the diverse range of circumstances that enabled them to resist full colonization or establish independence during the colonial era, and they remain sovereign nations in the present day.

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