Lesson 4/55 min
The 16 countries of West Africa
Capital, currency, coloniser and independence
| Country | Capital | Currency | Ruled by | Independence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Verde | Praia | Escudo | Portugal | 1975 |
| Mauritania | Nouakchott | Ouguiya | France | 1960 |
| Senegal | Dakar | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Gambia | Banjul | Dalasi | Britain | 1965 |
| Guinea | Conakry | Franc | France | 1958 |
| Guinea-Bissau | Bissau | CFA franc | Portugal | 1973 |
| Sierra Leone | Freetown | Leone | Britain | 1961 |
| Liberia | Monrovia | Liberian dollar | Never colonised | 1847 |
| Ivory Coast | Abidjan (as one source says) | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Ghana | Accra | Cedi | Britain | 1957 |
| Togo | Lomé | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Benin | Porto-Novo | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Nigeria | Abuja | Naira | Britain | 1960 |
| Niger | Niamey | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
| Mali | Bamako | CFA franc | France | 1960 |
Watch out: The last four independence years in one source's table are cut off at the page edge, and Burkina Faso's coloniser is blank; here all four show 1960 and France. One source gives Abidjan as the capital of Ivory Coast; the official capital is Yamoussoukro and Abidjan is the main city. Benin's official capital is Porto-Novo, with the government seated at Cotonou. Guinea-Bissau declared independence in 1973.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES)
- A bloc of the military rulers of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger; they have left the regional body ECOWAS and ruled out returning
- Leaders: General Assimi Goïta (Mali), Captain Ibrahim Traoré (Burkina Faso), General Abdourahamane Tchiani (Niger)
- At the December 2025 Bamako summit Traoré took over the alliance's rotating presidency; the bloc has set up a joint military force
- On 5 November 2026 Goïta visited Niamey and Ouagadougou
Check yourself
Which West African country was never colonised and became independent in 1847?
At a glance
- 1
West Africa has 16 countries (one source's list).
- 2
Independence: Ghana 1957, Guinea 1958, Nigeria 1960, Sierra Leone 1961, Gambia 1965, Cape Verde 1975, Liberia 1847.
- 3
Capitals: Nigeria Abuja, Ghana Accra, Senegal Dakar, Mali Bamako, Sierra Leone Freetown.
- 4
Currencies: Nigeria naira, Ghana cedi, Gambia dalasi, Sierra Leone leone.
- 5
Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger formed the Sahel alliance and left ECOWAS.