Glossary · Africa
Every African territory on the map
Kush, the Maghreb, the Sahel empires, the Swahili coast.
- Entries
- 160
- Span
- AD 1 – today
- Eras
- 6
What this region covers
Nubia and the Nile, the Maghreb and the Barbary coast, the Sahelian empires of the western Sudan, the Horn and the Swahili coast, and the kingdoms of the forest and the veld — from the Kingdom of Kush to the states on the map today.
Nothing matches that.
Antiquity and Christian Nubia
AD 1 – 640 9 entries- c. 785 BC – AD 350Kingdom Kingdom of Kush Nubian kingdom along the Nile in northern Sudan, heir to Kerma, whose kings conquered Egypt as its Twenty-fifth Dynasty.
- AD 1–42 Mauretania Berber Moorish kingdom of the northwestern Maghreb, ruled by Bocchus and Juba, later annexed as a Roman client kingdom.
- AD 261–269 Palmyrene Empire Breakaway state centered on the caravan city of Palmyra, ruled by Odaenathus and then Queen Zenobia against Rome.
- c. 6th century – 1504Kingdom Alodia Southernmost Christian Nubian kingdom on the Gezira plain, capital Soba, the last Nubian realm to convert to Christianity.
- c. 340 – 1518Kingdom Makuria Christian Nubian kingdom at Dongola on the Nile, whose archers repelled an Arab siege and secured centuries of peace.
- c. 400 – 650Kingdom Nobatia Late antique Nubian kingdom of Lower Nubia at Pachoras, founded by migrants settled as a Roman frontier buffer.
- AD 395–632Empire Eastern Roman Empire Eastern half of the Roman Empire ruled from Constantinople, holding Mediterranean Africa until the Arab conquests of the 630s.
- AD 439–533 Vandal Kingdom Germanic successor state ruling North Africa from Carthage under King Gaiseric, whose fleet sacked Rome in 455.
- 330 – 1453Empire Byzantine Empire Medieval Greek continuation of Rome centered on Constantinople, retaining ties to Mediterranean Africa after losing Egypt.
Islam and the Maghreb
640 – 1050 17 entries- 710 – 1019Emirate Emirate of Nekor Small Arab-Berber emirate of the Rif mountains, founded by Salih ibn Mansur as the Maghreb's first autonomous Muslim state.
- AD 750–756 Fihrids Quraysh Arab family that formed Islamic Ifriqiya and al-Andalus's leading clan, ruling both as independent emirs.
- AD 692–874, 884–959Condominium / colony Cyprus Mediterranean island held as a neutral Arab-Byzantine condominium, jointly taxed by caliph and emperor for centuries.
- AD 751–754, 757–762 Kharijites Egalitarian rebel religious movement, not a dynasty, that repeatedly carved out short-lived states across North Africa.
- AD 778–910 Rustamid dynasty Ibadi Muslim theocracy of the central Maghreb ruled from Tahert by an elected imam of Persian descent.
- 744 – 1058Confederation Barghawata Berber tribal confederation of Morocco's Atlantic coast that broke from Islam under its own prophet, Salih ibn Tarif.
- c. 300 – 1240Empire Ghana Empire First great Sahelian empire, the Soninke Land of Gold based in Mauritania and Mali, taxing the trans-Saharan trade.
- 789 – 974Dynasty Idrisid Dynasty Founding Islamic dynasty of Morocco, established at Volubilis by a fugitive descendant of the Prophet Muhammad.
- AD 800–910 Aghlabid Dynasty Nominally vassal Arab emirs of Ifriqiya near Kairouan who conquered Sicily and raided Rome under Abbasid tribute.
- AD 830–960 Emirate of Crete Arab Islamic state on Crete founded by exiled Andalusian pirates, a persistent foe of Byzantium for over a century.
- AD 875–910 Tulunids Turkic dynasty ruling Egypt and Syria as autonomous Abbasid governors, founded by the mamluk's son Ahmad ibn Tulun.
- 909 – 1171Caliphate Fatimid Caliphate Isma'ili Shi'a empire founded in Ifriqiya that conquered Egypt and built Cairo as its new capital in 969.
- 1015–1071 Taifa of Arcos Small Berber taifa kingdom of al-Andalus at Arcos de la Frontera, formed when the Caliphate of Córdoba collapsed.
- 1018–1151 Hammadid Dynasty Sanhaja Berber emirate of the central Maghreb, a breakaway from the Zirids that briefly dominated the whole Maghreb.
- 1028–1065, 1085–1093, 1147–1168 Taifa of Algeciras Muslim taifa kingdom on the Bay of Gibraltar, ruled by Hammudid claimants amid al-Andalus's post-caliphal breakup.
- 1040–1065 Taifa of Ronda Small Berber taifa kingdom perched at Ronda, ruled by the Yafranid family until Seville's conquest in 1065.
- 1040–1235Kingdom Takrur West African kingdom on the middle Senegal River, the first Sahelian state to adopt Islam as its official religion.
The Sahelian empires
1050 – 1500 21 entries- 1040 – 1147Empire Almoravid Dynasty Berber Muslim empire of Saharan nomads that united the western Maghreb and al-Andalus and founded Marrakesh.
- 1056–1151 Zirid dynasty Sanhaja Berber dynasty ruling the central Maghreb and Ifriqiya from Kairouan, founded as the Fatimids' chief military ally.
- 1066–1084 Taifa of Ceuta Minor taifa on the African shore of the Strait of Gibraltar, a contested gateway between the Maghreb and al-Andalus.
- c. 700 – 1380Empire Empire of Kanem Earliest phase of the Kanem-Bornu state northeast of Lake Chad, ruled from lost Njimi by the Duguwa dynasty.
- 1121 – 1269Caliphate Almohad Caliphate Berber Muslim empire spanning the Maghreb and al-Andalus, founded by the self-proclaimed Mahdi Ibn Tumart.
- 1152–1168 Kingdom of Africa Short-lived Norman dominion along the Ifriqiyan coast, held by the kings of Sicily after seizing Mahdia and Tripoli.
- 1192 – 1489Crusader kingdom Kingdom of Cyprus Crusader kingdom ruling Cyprus under the French House of Lusignan, born of Richard the Lionheart's conquest.
- 1202–1235 Sosso Empire West African Soninke kingdom that broke from the Ghana Empire and dominated the western Sudan under Soumaoro Kanté.
- 1206–1249 Domain of Rhodes Independent Byzantine-Greek lordship of Rhodes under Leo Gabalas, formally deferential yet practically autonomous.
- 1229 – 1574Kingdom Hafsid Dynasty Longest-lived Almohad successor state, ruling Ifriqiya from Tunis under a Berber dynasty of Hintata origin.
- c. 1235 – 1670Empire Mali Empire Great West African empire of the upper Niger founded by Sundiata Keita, reaching fame under the wealthy Mansa Musa.
- 1235 – 1556Kingdom Zayyanid Dynasty Zenata Berber kingdom of Tlemcen straddling the Mediterranean-Saharan crossroads, founded by Yaghmurasen ibn Zayyan.
- 1250–1259, 1344–1467 Marinid Sultanate Zenata Berber dynasty ruling Morocco from Fez, briefly holding most of the Maghreb under Sultan Abu al-Hasan.
- 1285–1414 Ifat Sultanate Sunni Muslim sultanate of the Horn of Africa controlling the Zeila trade route, long at war with Christian Abyssinia.
- 1250 – 1487Beylik Beylik of Karaman Turkish Anatolian beylik and Ottoman rival, allied with Mamluk Egypt as a counterweight against Ottoman expansion.
- 1380 – 1893Empire Bornu Empire Western continuation of the ancient Kanem-Bornu state, ruled by the Sayfawa dynasty from the fortress of Ngazargamu.
- 1415 – 1546 Adal Sultanate Sunni Muslim state of the Horn of Africa founded on the Harar plateau, waging a century of war with Christian Abyssinia.
- 1415 – 1518 Makuria Kingdom Late medieval phase of the Christian Nubian kingdom at Dongola, whose Baqt treaty secured centuries of peace with Egypt.
- c. 1390 – 1914Kingdom Kingdom of Kongo Central African kingdom founded by Lukeni lua Nimi, whose king converted to Christianity after contact with Portugal.
- 1464 – 1591Empire Songhai Empire Dominant West African empire of the Niger Bend, ruled from Gao by Sonni Ali and then the Askia dynasty.
- 1468 – 1555 Wattasid dynasty Berber dynasty ruling Morocco from Fez after seizing power from the Marinids amid Portuguese coastal encroachment.
Sultanates, sharifs and the Atlantic trade
1500 – 1830 27 entries- 1504 – 1821Sultanate Funj Sultanate Islamic sultanate of Sudan and the Blue Nile, successor to the Christian Nubian kingdoms, ruled from Sennar.
- 1507 – 1581 Portuguese Africa Trading-post phase of Portugal's African empire, a chain of coastal forts from Morocco to Kongo, Angola and Mozambique.
- 1547 – 1578 Sultanate of Harar Final walled-city phase of the Adal Sultanate, holding out at Harar under Emir Nur amid Oromo migrations.
- 1549 – 1659Sultanate Saadi Sultanate Arab sharifian dynasty ruling Morocco from Marrakesh, briefly extending an empire across the Sahara under Ahmad al-Mansur.
- c. 1300 – 1896Empire Oyo Empire Great Yoruba empire of West Africa centered on western Nigeria, ruled by the sacred Alaafin and famed for its cavalry.
- 1603 – 1874, restored 1898 – 1916Sultanate Sultanate of Darfur Pre-colonial sultanate of western Sudan ruled by the Fur Keira dynasty, stretching once to the White Nile.
- 1635 – 1912Sultanate Wadai Empire Islamic sultanate east of Lake Chad ruled by the Maba Kolak dynasty, a persistent rival of Darfur and Bornu.
- 1653 – 1795 Dutch Cape Coast Period of Dutch control over Cape Coast Castle on Ghana's coast, before it passed to England as a trading headquarters.
- 1659 – 1852 Danish India Danish trading forts on the Indian subcontinent centered on Tranquebar, a small overseas venture of Denmark-Norway.
- 1670–1911, 1956–2024Sultanate, later kingdom Morocco Sultanate and later kingdom of the sharifian Alawi dynasty, which reunified Morocco under Moulay al-Rashid in the 1660s.
- 1701–1901Empire Ashanti Empire Powerful Akan empire centered on Kumasi in Ghana, unified around the sacred Golden Stool of Osei Tutu.
- 1705–1881Beylik Beylik of Tunis De facto independent Husainid beylik of Tunis, nominally loyal to the Ottoman sultan, that pioneered early reforms.
- 1706–1999Colonial empire British Empire African holdings of the largest empire in history, built from slave-trade forts into Cape-to-Cairo colonial dominion.
- 1706–1845 Regency of Algiers Ottoman vassal state of the Barbary Coast founded by the corsair Barbarossa brothers, ruled by deys from Algiers.
- 1709–1889Empire Lunda Empire Confederation of Central African states centered on Katanga, tracing its paramount title to Mwata Yamvo.
- 1713–1756, 1769–1821 Bamana Empire West African Bambara empire on the middle Niger, forged at Ségou by the conscript-army leader Bitòn Coulibaly.
- 1713–1839 Karamanli Dynasty Autonomous hereditary dynasty ruling Ottoman Tripolitania, founded by the janissary officer Ahmed Karamanli.
- 1788–1796 Freetown Colony Abolitionist settlement on the West African coast resettling freed slaves, refounded as Freetown by Nova Scotian loyalists.
- 1792–1897 Merina Kingdom Pre-colonial kingdom of Madagascar's central highlands, reunified by Andrianampoinimerina from the hill of Ambohimanga.
- 1796–1884 British Cape Colony Britain's colony at the southern tip of Africa centered on Cape Town, seized twice from the Dutch by 1806.
- 1803–1872 Napoleonic Batavia Republic Final Batavian phase of the Dutch Cape Colony, briefly ruled by the French-aligned revolutionary Dutch Republic.
- 1805–1865Dynasty Muhammad Ali dynasty Albanian-origin dynasty ruling Egypt and Sudan, founded by Muhammad Ali Pasha after exterminating the Mamluks.
- 1805–1904 Sokoto Caliphate West African Sunni caliphate founded by the Fulani scholar Usman dan Fodio, linking over thirty emirates from Sokoto.
- 1814–1855 Omani Slave Coast East African Swahili dominions of the Omani Empire, taken from Portugal and ruled from Zanzibar under Said bin Sultan.
- 1820–1861 Massina Empire Fulani jihad state of the Inner Niger Delta, founded at Hamdullahi by the preacher Seku Amadu Lobbo.
- 1820–1897 Zululand Territory of the Zulu Kingdom in southeast Africa, forged by Shaka's military reforms after the Mfecane upheavals.
- 1830–1841 French Algiers First narrow phase of French rule in Algeria, confined to Algiers after the 1830 invasion of the Ottoman regency.
Conquest and colonial rule
1830 – 1945 28 entries- 1840–1910 Natalia Republic Short-lived Boer Voortrekker republic on land taken from the Zulu Kingdom, proclaimed after the Battle of Blood River.
- 1840–1911 Ottoman Tripolitania Ottoman province covering western Libya, ruled from Tripoli and later dominated by the hereditary Karamanli dynasty.
- 1842–1847 French Equatorial Africa Federation of France's central African colonies administered from Brazzaville, notorious for concession-company abuses.
- 1846–1957Colonial federation French Africa African possessions of France's second colonial empire, its largest colonial complex, built outward from Algeria and Senegal.
- 1848–2024Republic Republic of Liberia West Africa's oldest republic, founded by freed Black Americans of the American Colonization Society at Monrovia.
- 1856–1899 Free Orange State Boer republic between the Orange and Vaal rivers, capital Bloemfontein, recognized as independent by Britain in 1854.
- 1856–1889 Majeerteen Sultanate Somali sultanate of the northeastern Horn of Africa in today's Puntland, ruled for decades by the shrewd Boqor Osman Mahamuud.
- 1856–1889 People's Republic of Zanzibar Short-lived socialist state on the Zanzibar Archipelago, proclaimed after the 1964 revolution against Arab-elite rule.
- 1856–1876, 1885–1899 South African Republic Landlocked Boer republic north of the Vaal River, commonly called the Transvaal, with an explicitly racialist constitution.
- 1866–1884Khedivate Khedivate of Egypt Autonomous Ottoman vassal state ruled from Cairo by the Muhammad Ali dynasty, pushing Egyptian rule deep into Sudan.
- 1868–1870 Kamerun German colony centered on today's Cameroon, grown from Hamburg trading posts into a plantation and forced-labor economy.
- 1871–1918Colonial possessions German Africa African possessions of the German colonial empire, comprising Namibia, East Africa, Kamerun and Togoland.
- 1880–1894 Sultanate of Hobyo Somali sultanate of central Somalia founded by the exiled Yusuf Ali Kenadid, a rival state to the Majeerteen.
- 1885–1960Colonial possessions British Africa African territories of the British Empire, stretching from Egypt and Sudan to the Cape, Britain's largest colonial holding.
- 1885–1889 Nieuwe Republiek Small Boer republic in KwaZulu-Natal, granted land by the Zulu heir Dinuzulu after the Battle of Tshaneni.
- 1885–1894, 1900–1907 Swaziland Pre-independence Swazi kingdom of Southern Africa that passed under Boer and then British protection before 1968.
- 1890–1962Colony Belgian Congo Belgium's Central African colony succeeding Leopold II's brutal Congo Free State, notorious for its red rubber terror.
- 1890–1943Colonial possessions Italian Africa African possessions of the Italian colonial empire, comprising Eritrea, Somaliland, Libya and occupied Ethiopia.
- 1890–1899 Mahdist State Islamist revolutionary state ruling Sudan from Omdurman, born of Muhammad Ahmad's jihad against Turco-Egyptian rule.
- 1898–1907 Cretan State Autonomous Ottoman-suzerain state governing Crete under Great Power guarantee, born after Christian revolts and massacre.
- 1911–1925 Portuguese Republic Parliamentary regime replacing Portugal's monarchy, which inherited and defended Portugal's vast African empire.
- 1912–1957International zone Tangier International Zone International condominium centered on Tangier at the Strait of Gibraltar, jointly governed by European powers and the Sultan.
- 1922–1952Kingdom Kingdom of Egypt Egyptian kingdom under the Muhammad Ali dynasty after British recognition of independence, nominally sovereign over Sudan.
- 1922–1925 Republic of the Rif Short-lived Berber republic in Morocco's Rif mountains, proclaimed by Abd el-Krim after his victory at Annual.
- 1926–1975, 1979–2024Dictatorship Estado Novo Authoritarian corporatist regime of Salazar ruling Portugal and its vast African empire until the Carnation Revolution.
- 1932–2024Republic South Africa Union turned republic of white-minority rule, formed from four British colonies and long administering Namibia as mandate.
- 1940–1944Government in exile Free France Resistance government-in-exile of Charles de Gaulle, given a territorial base when French Equatorial Africa rallied to it.
- 1942–2024Federal republic Ethiopia Ancient Horn of Africa monarchy never fully colonised, restored under Haile Selassie after Italian occupation ended.
Independence and the modern states
1945 – today 58 entries- 1953–1968Kingdom Kingdom of Libya Constitutional monarchy uniting Tripolitania, Cyrenaica and Fezzan at independence, ruled by the Senussi King Idris I.
- 1953–1957Republic Republic of Egypt Republic proclaimed after Nasser's Free Officers coup abolished the Muhammad Ali monarchy and King Farouk's rule.
- 1956–2024Republic Sudan Independent Sudan ending Anglo-Egyptian condominium rule, heir to Kush, Nubian kingdoms and the Mahdist state.
- 1956–2024Republic Tunisia Smallest Maghreb state, heir to Carthage and the Husainid beylik, gaining independence under Habib Bourguiba.
- 1958–2024Republic French Fifth Republic France's current constitutional regime, born amid the Algerian war, which replaced the French Union with independence.
- 1958–2024Republic Ghana First sub-Saharan African colony to win independence, uniting Gold Coast territories under Kwame Nkrumah.
- 1958–1972Union United Arab Republic Pan-Arab political union of Egypt and Syria under Gamal Abdel Nasser, the first genuine union of modern Arab states.
- 1960–2024Republic Cameroon West-Central African republic dubbed Africa in miniature, uniting former French and British Cameroon mandates.
- 1960–1972, 1996–2024Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Africa's second-largest republic in the Congo Basin, independent from Belgium amid the crisis that killed Patrice Lumumba.
- 1960–2024Republic Guinea West African republic that alone voted no to the French Community, proclaiming independence under Ahmed Sékou Touré.
- 1960–2024Republic Madagascar Island republic off southeast Africa, heir to the Merina Kingdom, independent from France under Philibert Tsiranana.
- 1960–2024Federation Mali Federation Short-lived West African union of Senegal and the Sudanese Republic, Africa's first failed post-colonial federation.
- 1960–2024Federal republic Somalia Horn of Africa republic uniting former British and Italian Somaliland, heir to Muslim sultanates trading the Indian Ocean.
- 1960–2024Republic Togo Narrow West African republic named for Lake Togo, formed from a former German protectorate split by Britain and France.
- 1961–2024Republic Benin West African republic on the Bight of Benin, heir to the Kingdom of Dahomey and its Amazon soldier corps.
- 1961–1972Colonial possessions British East Africa British protectorate in the Great Lakes region roughly matching Kenya, grown from Mackinnon's chartered trading company.
- 1961–2024Republic Burkina Faso Landlocked West African republic bordering six states, heir to the Mossi cavalry kingdoms of Ouagadougou and Yatenga.
- 1961–2024Republic Central African Republic Landlocked country at Africa's geographic heart, formerly Ubangi-Shari, founded by Barthélemy Boganda's MESAN movement.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Chad North-central African republic called the Dead Heart of Africa, heir to the Kanem, Bagirmi and Wadai sultanates.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Côte d'Ivoire West African republic on the Gulf of Guinea named for the ivory trade, ruled long by Félix Houphouët-Boigny.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Gabon Equatorial rainforest republic on the Atlantic coast, heir to the maritime Kingdom of Orungu, independent under Léon M'ba.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Mauritania Western Saharan and Sahelian Islamic republic, heir to Almoravid conquerors, gaining independence at Nouakchott in 1960.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Niger Vast Sahelian republic named for the Niger River, heir to Sahelian empires, independent under Hamani Diori.
- 1960 – presentFederal republic Nigeria Africa's most populous federal republic, heir to Hausa city-states and the Sokoto Caliphate, independent in 1960.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Republic of Cyprus Eastern Mediterranean island republic with a Greek-majority character, independent from Britain under Archbishop Makarios.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Republic of the Congo Central African republic on the equator facing Kinshasa, formerly French Congo, independent under Fulbert Youlou.
- 1960 – presentRepublic Senegal Westernmost mainland African republic around Dakar, heir to the Jolof confederacy, independent after the Mali Federation split.
- 1961 – presentRepublic Sierra Leone West African republic named for its lioness mountains, forged from a freed-slave settlement at Freetown.
- 1964–presentRepublic Tanzania East African republic formed by the union of Tanganyika and the Zanzibar archipelago after the 1964 revolution.
- 1962–presentRepublic Algeria Africa's largest country, mostly Sahara, independent from France in 1962 after a brutal eight-year war.
- 1962–presentRepublic Burundi Small Great Lakes kingdom-turned-republic, independent under Mwambutsa IV after the assassination of Prince Rwagasore.
- 1963–presentRepublic Kenya East African republic centered on Nairobi, independent after the Mau Mau uprising hastened the end of British rule.
- 1962–presentRepublic Rwanda Small Great Lakes republic heir to the Kingdom of Rwanda, independent under Grégoire Kayibanda after a Hutu-led revolution.
- 1963–1966 Sultanate of Zanzibar Omani Al Said sultanate of the East African coast centered on Stone Town, overthrown in the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution.
- 1962–presentRepublic Uganda Great Lakes republic named for the kingdom of Buganda, independent under Milton Obote before the kingdoms were abolished.
- 1966–presentRepublic Botswana Sparsely populated Kalahari republic often cited as Africa's most stable democracy, independent under Seretse Khama.
- 1966–presentKingdom Lesotho Mountain kingdom entirely surrounded by South Africa, forged by Moshoeshoe I and independent from Britain in 1966.
- 1964–presentRepublic Malawi Landlocked republic along Lake Malawi, formerly Nyasaland, independent under Hastings Banda's one-party rule.
- 1964 – presentRepublic Malta Small Mediterranean island republic near Sicily, ruled successively by many powers before independence from Britain.
- 1965 – 1979Unrecognised state Rhodesia Unrecognised white-minority state of Southern Africa, born of Ian Smith's unilateral declaration of independence.
- 1965 – presentRepublic The Gambia Smallest mainland African republic hugging the Gambia River, independent from Britain in 1965 within Senegal's embrace.
- 1964 – presentRepublic Zambia Landlocked Central African plateau republic named for the Zambezi, heir to Lozi and Bemba kingdoms, formerly Northern Rhodesia.
- 1968 – presentRepublic Equatorial Guinea Small Central African republic of Río Muni and Bioko, the only nation where Spanish is the main official language.
- 1968 – presentKingdom Eswatini Small landlocked Southern African kingdom, Africa's last absolute monarchy, unified by the warrior-king Mswati II.
- 1969 – 2011Republic Libyan Arab Republic North African republic proclaimed after Gaddafi's 1969 coup toppled King Idris I, spanning Tripolitania and Cyrenaica.
- 1971 – presentRepublic Arab Republic of Egypt Modern Egyptian republic renamed under Sadat's 1971 constitution, heir to millennia of Nile civilisation.
- 1974 – presentRepublic Guinea-Bissau West African republic on the Bijagós coast, independent after Amílcar Cabral's guerrilla struggle against Portugal.
- 1971 – 1997Republic Zaire Renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo under dictator Mobutu Sese Seko, ruled through his authenticité campaign.
- 1975 – presentRepublic Angola Atlantic-coast Central African republic heir to the Kingdom of Kongo, independent amid civil war among rival movements.
- 1975 – presentRepublic Mozambique Southeast African coastal republic facing Madagascar, heir to Swahili trading towns, independent under FRELIMO's Samora Machel.
- 1983 – presentDe facto state Northern Cyprus De facto state occupying northern Cyprus, recognised only by Turkey after the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island.
- 1975 – presentRepublic São Tomé and Príncipe Africa's second-smallest state, volcanic Gulf of Guinea islands once the world's largest cocoa producer.
- 1977 – presentRepublic Djibouti Small Horn of Africa republic at the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, independent from France under Hassan Gouled Aptidon.
- 1979–1982 Zimbabwe Rhodesia Short-lived unrecognised state resolving the Rhodesian conflict without exiled liberation movements, under Bishop Muzorewa.
- 1980 – presentRepublic Zimbabwe Southern African republic named for the stone city of Great Zimbabwe, born of the Lancaster House Agreement in 1980.
- 1990 – presentRepublic Namibia Arid southwest African republic between the Namib and Kalahari deserts, independent after South African mandate rule ended.
- 2011 – presentRepublic South Sudan World's newest widely recognised state, a Nilotic-peopled republic born of decades of civil war against Khartoum.
- 2011 – presentRepublic State of Libya Name adopted by Libya's recognised authorities after the 2011 revolution ended Gaddafi's 42-year rule.
Common questions
- How many African states are in this glossary?
- 160 — every African territory the atlas draws, from the Kingdom of Kush (c. 785 BC – AD 350) to the states on the map today. Each entry lists its dates, its peak extent and the sources it was written from.
- Which is the oldest African state on the map?
- The Kingdom of Kush, c. 785 BC – AD 350 — the first territory the atlas draws in Africa. The most recent to appear is the State of Libya (2011 – present).
- Which African state covered the most ground?
- Of the territories mapped here, the British Empire reached the largest area — about 13.9M km² at its peak, as drawn by the border data.