History of Africa Since 1960

The unit covers the history of Africa starting from 1960, a pivotal year when over a dozen countries gained independence. Key topics include:

National liberation movements across different regions (North Africa, West Africa, East Africa, South Africa)
The rise of Pan-Africanism and the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), later replaced by the African Union (AU)
Economic characteristics and integration post-independence
Contemporary issues such as ethnicity, poverty, unemployment, and environmental challenges.

By the end of this unit, students will be able to:

Compare different national liberation struggles in Africa
Appreciate the quest for political independence
Outline socio-economic problems faced by independent African nations since the 1960s
Evaluate the successes and limitations of African regional economic integrations.

Students will be able to:

Egypt: Gained independence from British Protectorate following extensive protests and strikes, leading to a declaration on February 22, 1922.
Libya: Achieved independence from Italy on December 24, 1951 under UN Trusteeship.
Sudan: Gained independence from the Anglo-Egyptian condominium on January 1, 1956.
- Key figures included Muhammad Naguib and Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Algeria: Experienced a protracted struggle (1954-1962) against French colonial rule, led by the National Liberation Front (FLN) culminating in independence on July 1, 1962.

Which North African countries got independence in 1956?
The North African country that gained independence after the UN resolution was .
Name the French colony that faced a protracted struggle in North Africa: .
The Neo-Destour Party was to Tunisia as was to Algeria.

Gold Coast (Ghana): The first British colony in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence in 1957.
- Initially led by UGCC; Kwame Nkrumah formed CPP in 1949, leading the struggle.
Nigeria: Political divisions among ethnic groups delayed independence until 1960. Parties such as NCNC (Igbo), AG (Yoruba), and NPC (Hausa) emerged.
Sierra Leone and Gambia: Gained independence in 1961 and 1965, respectively.

French West Africa included territories like Mauritania, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Following growing pressure from National Liberation movements, Guinea declared independence on October 2, 1958 after rejecting French community membership.
Other colonies that gained independence in 1960 include Cameroon, Madagascar, Chad, Senegal, and more.

Portuguese colonies like Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde gained independence by the mid-1970s through violent struggles, unlike the relatively peaceful methods in other regions.

Uganda: Achieved independence in 1962 under Milton Obote.
Kenya: Experienced the Mau Mau uprising (1952-1955), leading to independence in 1963 under Jomo Kenyatta.
Belgian Congo: Gained independence on June 30, 1960, with Patrice Lumumba as Prime Minister.

Southern Africa was characterized by settler colonies and the revolutionary tide of liberation movements.
Key figures include Kenneth Kaunda in Zambia and Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, leading to independence in 1980.

Instituted in 1948 by the National Party, promoting racial segregation and oppression.
Significant events include the Sharpeville Massacre (March 21, 1960) and Nelson Mandela’s rise, culminating in the end of apartheid and his presidency in 1994.

Pan-Africanism sought unity among people of African descent, significantly influencing the formation of the OAU in 1963.
OAU's objectives included promoting unity, safeguarding sovereignty, and coordinating development efforts.

Successes: Key role in decolonization and promoting solidarity among African nations.
Failures: Inability to effectively address internal conflicts and governance issues.

The transition from OAU to AU marked an evolution towards more robust regional cooperation, aiming to address the challenges faced by African nations post-independence. Learn about the distinct functions of regional organizations like ECOWAS, SADC, and COMESA and their relevance in contemporary Africa.