The decolonization of Africa
After World War II went quickly the process of decolonization in Africa. Year of Africa - the year of the release of the greatest number of colonies - was declared in 1960. In this year of independence gained 13 States. Most of them - French colonies and trust territories of the United Nations, had been under French administration: Cameroon, Togo, Malagasy Republic, Congo (formerly French Congo), Dahomey, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African Republic, Gabon, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Mali. Independence was proclaimed the largest country in Africa by population - Nigeria, belonging to the UK, and the largest in the territory - the Belgian Congo. British Somaliland and Somalia Trust, is operated by Italy, were merged and became the Somali Democratic Republic.
1960-th changed the whole situation on the African continent. Dismantling the remaining colonial regimes was already looming. Sovereign states were declared: in 1961 the British ruled Sierra Leone, and Tanganyika, in 1962 - Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda, in 1963 - Kenya and Zanzibar in 1964 - Northern Rhodesia, which called itself the Republic of Zambia (under the name of the Zambezi River), and Nyasaland (Malawi). In the same year, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged, creating a Republic of Tanzania.
In 1965 - The Gambia, in 1966 became the Republic of Botswana, Bechuanaland and Basutoland - Kingdom of Lesotho. In 1968, Mauritius, Equatorial Guinea and Swaziland, in 1973 - Guinea-Bissau.
In 1975, after the revolution in Portugal regained the independence of its ownership of Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Comoros, Sao Tome and Principe in 1977, the Seychelles and Somalia, the French became the Republic of Djibouti.
In 1980, Southern Rhodesia - Republic of Zimbabwe, in 1990, the Trust Territory of South West Africa - Republic of Namibia. The proclamation of the independence of Kenya, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique and Namibia, preceded by war, insurrection, guerrilla warfare. But for most African countries, the final step of the way was passed without major bloodshed, it was the result of mass demonstrations and strikes, negotiations, and in respect of the Trust Territories - decisions of the United Nations.
Due to the fact that the boundaries of African states during the race for Africa "held artificially, without regard to the resettlement of the various peoples and tribes, as well as the fact that traditional African society was not ready for democracy in many African countries after independence, the Civil war. In many countries, came to power dictators. The resulting modes are characterized by disregard for human rights, bureaucracy, totalitarianism, which, in turn, leads to economic crisis and growing poverty.
Currently, under the supervision of European countries are:
Spanish enclaves in Morocco, Ceuta and Melilla, Canary Islands (Spain)
St. Helena, Ascension, Tristan da Cunha and the Chagos Archipelago (UK)
Reunion, Islands Eparse and Mayotte (France)
Madeira (Portugal).