• History -> History of Asia and Africa

• 0 Comment

Which African country fought the longest for independence?

Hosie Lant

Well, well, well, my dear social media friends, are you ready for some African history trivia? Today's topic is quite exciting because we'll be talking about the African country that fought the longest for its independence! I know you're all curious, so let's dive into it!

First things first, let's clarify something: Africa had a long and gruesome colonial history, dating back to the late 19th century - I know, way before any of us were born. Almost the whole continent was colonized by European powers, including Britain, France, Germany, Portugal, Spain, and Italy (just to name a few).

But, as we all know, no one likes being controlled by a foreign power, especially not when that power is oppressively stealing your land, exploiting your resources, and treating you like second-class citizens. That's where the fight for independence started.

Many African countries fought for their independence, but one stood out for its perseverance and tenacity: Eritrea. Located on the Horn of Africa, between Ethiopia and the Red Sea, Eritrea was colonized by Italy in the late 19th century and later handed over to British control after World War II.

Eritrea's struggle for independence started shortly after this transfer of power. In fact, the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) was founded in 1960, and their guerrilla war against British and Ethiopian forces began in earnest in the early 1970s.

And here's where it gets interesting: Eritrea was fighting for its independence for a whopping 30 years! That's right, my dear friends, 30 whole years! The conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia lasted from 1961-1991 and ended with Eritrea finally gaining independence.

During its struggle, Eritrea was assisted by several neighboring countries, including Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, and Libya. The conflict also led to a massive displacement of people, as refugees fled to neighboring countries, and human rights violations by both the Eritrean and Ethiopian forces.

But in the end, Eritrea's struggle paid off, and on May 24, 1991, they officially became an independent country. And since then, they've been building their nation and economy, trying to overcome the decades of war and disruption.

So, my dear social media friends, now you know which African country fought the longest for independence - Eritrea! Their 30-year battle is both inspiring and heartbreaking, and serves as a reminder of the struggles that many African nations face to this day.

I hope you all enjoyed this little history lesson, and until the next trivia question, stay curious and keep learning! Cheers!