Lesson 1/55 min
Africa at a glance and North Africa
The African continent
- Africa is called the Dark Continent
- The second largest continent by area
- 54 independent countries
- Largest country by area: Algeria; by population: Nigeria
- The old people of the south are the Bushmen
- Two more independent states on the map of South Africa: Lesotho (entirely inside it) and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland)
- Biafra is a region of Nigeria
The 7 countries of North Africa (as in one source)
| Country | Capital | Currency | Ruled by | Independence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egypt | Cairo | Egyptian pound | Britain | 1922 |
| Libya | Tripoli | Dinar | Italy | 24 December 1951 |
| Tunisia | Tunis | Dinar | France | 20 March 1956 |
| Algeria | Algiers | Dinar | France | 5 July 1962 |
| Morocco | Rabat | Dirham | France | 1956 |
| Sudan | Khartoum | Sudanese pound | Britain | 1956 |
| South Sudan | Juba | Sudanese pound (as one source says) | Sudan | 9 July 2011 |
Did you know?: The borders of North African countries are drawn in geometric lines (asked in exams). Libya was an Italian colony.
Sudan
- The Blue Nile and White Nile meet near Khartoum
- The White Nile flows through the middle of Sudan
- Darfur is Sudan's western province, notorious for ethnic violence; it is also known as the “Home of the Fur”
- Since April 2023 Sudan's army and the RSF have been at war; in October 2025 the RSF took El Fasher in Darfur
Watch out: News from late 2025 to early 2026 shows truce proposals but no lasting ceasefire. Later developments could not be checked; see the latest news before your exam.
South Sudan
- Independent on 9 July 2011 from Sudan; the world's newest country
- Independence movement leader: John Garang
- The 193rd UN member, 14 July 2011
Check yourself
Which is the world's newest country, and when did it become independent?
At a glance
- 1
Africa has 54 independent countries; the largest by area is Algeria, by population Nigeria.
- 2
Africa is the second largest continent by area, called the Dark Continent.
- 3
Libya was an Italian colony; independent on 24 December 1951.
- 4
Algeria became independent on 5 July 1962; Tunisia on 20 March 1956.
- 5
South Sudan became independent on 9 July 2011 and is the 193rd UN member.
- 6
The Blue and White Nile meet near Khartoum; Darfur lies in western Sudan.