January 1, 1960: The French administered part of Cameroon gains independence after a five year armed struggle led by the outlawed Union of the Peoples of Cameroon and becomes the Republic of Cameroon under President Ahmadou Ahidjo [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 2 Sep 20102 Sep 2010
April 27, 1960: First colonised by Germany in 1894, Togo, is granted independence by France with Sylvanus Olympio as the first president [EPA]
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June 26, 1960: After decades of harsh French rule including the bloody suppression of an uprising, Madagascar(***)s status as a self-governing republic is officially altered to that of a fully independent and sovereign state [GALLO/GETTY]
June 30, 1960: DR Congo gains independence from Belgium, and is renamed Congo-Kinshasa, but Belgian troops were still in use until 1964, helping to put down uprisings [EPA]
July 1, 1960: After a British protectorate and an Italian colony were merged, power is transferred to Somali politicians, and Somalia is created as an independent state [GALLO/GETTY]
August 1, 1960: Benin, formerly known as Dahomey, gains independence from France and after several years of instability becomes one of Africa(***)s most stable democracies [EPA]
August 3, 1960: Niger achieves full independence from France, but endured military rule for much of its post-independence history [GALLO/GETTY]
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August 5, 1960: Burkina Faso, formerly known as Upper Volta, attains full independence from its French rulers, but spends many years under military rule [GALLO/GETTY]
August 7, 1960: Cote d(***)Ivoire becomes independent and under the leadership of its first president, Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the country is conspicuous for its well-developed economy and society [GALLO/GETTY]
August 11, 1960: After an independence movement led by the first premier and president, François (Ngarta) Tombalbaye, Chad achieves full independence [GALLO/GETTY]
August 13, 1960: After a successful 1958 vote to become an autonomous republic within the French Community, President David Dacko proclaims the Central African Republic(***)s independence from France [GALLO/GETTY]
Agust 15, 1960: The Congo gains independence from France, and Fulbert Youlou rules as the country(***)s first president until he is ousted and the military takes over [EPA]
August 17, 1960: Gabon achieves independence from France and with only two presidents since independence (Omar Bongo being in power for over four decades) is viewed as one of West Africa(***)s more stable countries [GALLO/GETTY]
August 20, 1960: Senegal becomes independent from France and is seen as a model for peaceful leadership and democracy in Africa [EPA]
September 22,1960: After being proclaimed the Sudanese Republic in 1958 and uniting with Senegal the following year, Senegal finally secedes and Mali becomes independent [GALLO/GETTY]
October 1, 1960: Nigeria gains independence from the UK and the country(***)s new government is formed from a coalition of several conservative parties[GALLO/GETTY]
November 28, 1960: Mauritania gains independence from France, but Morocco opposes it and tries to absorb it [GALLO/GETTY]
