Political history of Eastern Africa
Encyclopedia
Ancient and Medieval history
- 25th century BC: Earliest recorded Egyptian expedition to the Land of PuntLand of PuntThe Land of Punt, also called Pwenet, or Pwene by the ancient Egyptians, was a trading partner known for producing and exporting gold, aromatic resins, African blackwood, ebony, ivory, slaves and wild animals...
in the Horn of AfricaHorn of AfricaThe Horn of Africa is a peninsula in East Africa that juts hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea and lies along the southern side of the Gulf of Aden. It is the easternmost projection of the African continent...
organized by PharaohPharaohPharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
SahureSahure- Etymology :Sahure's birth name means "He who is Close to Re". His Horus name was Nebkhau.- Biography :Sahure was a son of queen Neferhetepes, as shown in scenes from the causeway of Sahure's pyramid complex in Abusir. His father was Userkaf. Sahure's consort was queen Neferetnebty. Reliefs show...
of the Fifth DynastyFifth dynasty of EgyptThe fifth dynasty of ancient Egypt is often combined with Dynasties III, IV and VI under the group title the Old Kingdom. Dynasty V dates approximately from 2494 to 2345 BC.-Rulers:...
. - c. 800 BC: Foundation of the Kingdom of D`mt in northern EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
(capital: YehaYehaYeha is a town in northern Ethiopia, located in the Mehakelegnaw Zone of the Tigray Region. The Central Statistical Agency has not published an estimate for this village's 2005 population.- Archeology :...
) - c. 1 century AD: Periplus of the Erythraean SeaPeriplus of the Erythraean SeaThe Periplus of the Erythraean Sea or Periplus of the Red Sea is a Greco-Roman periplus, written in Greek, describing navigation and trading opportunities from Roman Egyptian ports like Berenice along the coast of the Red Sea, and others along Northeast Africa and India...
reports trade connecting SomalisSomali peopleSomalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
in present-day BerberaBerberaBerbera is a city and seat of Berbera District in Somaliland, a self-proclaimed Independent Republic with de facto control over its own territory, which is recognized by the international community and the Somali Government as a part of Somalia...
and Ras HafunHafunHafun is a 40 km long low-lying peninsula in the Bari region of northern Somalia. The promontory juts out into the Indian Ocean, where it is known as Ras Hafun or Raas Xaafuun...
in northern SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
to other communities along the Indian coast. - c. 250: Foundation of the Kingdom of Aksum, in northern EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
and EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
(capital: AxumAxumAxum or Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Population 56,500 . Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from ca. 400 BC into the 10th century...
) - 7th century: Foundation of the Sultanate of ZeilaZeilaZeila, also known as Zaila , is a port city on the Gulf of Aden coast, situated in the northwestern Awdal region of Somalia.Located near the Djibouti border, the town sits on a sandy spit surrounded by the sea. It is known for its offshore islands, coral reef and mangroves. Landward, the terrain is...
in the AwdalAwdalAwdal is a region in northwestern Somalia. Its capital is Borama.Awdal is bordered by Ethiopia, Djibouti, the Somali region of Woqooyi Galbeed, and the Gulf of Aden...
region of modern-day SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. - c. 825 AD: IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
is first introduced into northern SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
by ArabArabArab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
merchants. - c. 950: Possible conquest of AxumAxumAxum or Aksum is a city in northern Ethiopia which was the original capital of the eponymous kingdom of Axum. Population 56,500 . Axum was a naval and trading power that ruled the region from ca. 400 BC into the 10th century...
by GuditGuditGudit is a semi-legendary, non-Christian, Beta Israel, queen who laid waste to Axum and its countryside, destroyed churches and monuments, and attempted to exterminate the members of the ruling Axumite dynasty...
, continued by the Zagwe DynastyZagwe dynastyThe Zagwe dynasty was an historical kingdom in present-day Ethiopia. It ruled large parts of the territory from approximately 1137 to 1270, when the last Zagwe King Za-Ilmaknun was killed in battle by the forces of Yekuno Amlak... - 957: Foundation of the Sultanate of Kilwa KisiwaniKilwa KisiwaniKilwa Kisiwani is a community on an island off the coast of East Africa, in present day Tanzania.- History :A document written around AD 1200 called al-Maqama al Kilwiyya discovered in Oman, gives details of a mission to reconvert Kilwa to Ibadism, as it had recently been effected by the Ghurabiyya...
, in Tanzania. - c. 11th century - 13th century - founding of numerous Sultanates in Ethiopia (Muslim in the east, Pagan and Muslim in the west), including BaleBale Province, EthiopiaBale is the name of two former polities located in the southeastern part of modern Ethiopia.- The medieval dependency of Bale :...
, DamotDamotDamot was a medieval kingdom in what is now Ethiopia, and tributary to the Ethiopian Empire. Originally located south of the Abay and west of the Muger River, under the pressure of Oromo attacks the rulers were forced to resettle north of the Abay in southern Gojjam between 1574 and 1606.Its...
, Dawaro, Fetegar, HadiyaHadiyaThe Hadiya Kingdom was an ancient kingdom in located in southwestern Ethiopia, south of the Abbay River and west of Shewa. It was ruled by the Hadiya people, who spoke the Cushitic Hadiyya language. The historical Hadiya area was situated between Kembata, Gamo, and Waj, southwest of Shewa...
, Ifat, Mora, Shewa (see also ShewaShewaShewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
), and WagWagWag is a traditional highland district in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia, in the approximate location of the modern Wag Hemra Zone. Weld Blundell described the district as bounded on the south by the mountains of Lasta, on the east and north by the Tellare River, and the west by the Tekezé...
. - c. 1137: A later possible date for the rise of the Zagwe and fall of Aksum.
- 1203: Foundation of the Sultanate of PatePate IslandPate island or Paté island is located in the Indian Ocean close to the northern coast of Kenya, to which it belongs. It is the largest island in the Lamu Archipelago, which lie between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga, close to the border with Somalia....
, in KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, splitting from the Kingdom of Kilwa KisiwaniKilwa KisiwaniKilwa Kisiwani is a community on an island off the coast of East Africa, in present day Tanzania.- History :A document written around AD 1200 called al-Maqama al Kilwiyya discovered in Oman, gives details of a mission to reconvert Kilwa to Ibadism, as it had recently been effected by the Ghurabiyya...
. - c. 1250: Foundation of the Kingdom of WelaytaWelayta peopleWolayta is the name of an ethnic group and its former kingdom, located in southern Ethiopia. According to the most recent census , they number 1.7 million people or 2.31 percent of the country's population, of whom 289,707 are urban inhabitants...
, in Ethiopia. Ruled by the Tegra'i dynasty from the 17th century. - 1250-1300: Foundation of the Sultanate of MogadishuMogadishuMogadishu , popularly known as Xamar, is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital. Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries....
in SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. - 1270: Solomonic dynastySolomonic dynastyThe Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
comes to prominence in Ethiopia, displacing the Zagwe dynasty rulers. - 14th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of MalindiMalindiMalindi is a town on Malindi Bay at the mouth of the Galana River, lying on the Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It is 120 kilometres northeast of Mombasa. The population of Malindi is 117,735 . It is the capital of the Malindi District.Tourism is the major industry in Malindi. The city is...
, in Kenya. Foundation of the Kingdom of Ambohidratima, in MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. Foundation of the Kingdom of BugandaBugandaBuganda is a subnational kingdom within Uganda. The kingdom of the Ganda people, Buganda is the largest of the traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda, comprising all of Uganda's Central Region, including the Ugandan capital Kampala, with the exception of the disputed eastern Kayunga District...
, in UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. - c. 1330: Foundation of the Kingdom of Munhumutapa EmpireMunhumutapa EmpireThe Kingdom of Mutapa, sometimes referred to as the Mutapa Empire was a Shona kingdom which stretched between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers of southern Africa in the modern states of Zimbabwe and Mozambique...
, in Zimbabwe. - 1331: Ibn BattutaIbn BattutaAbu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Battuta , or simply Ibn Battuta, also known as Shams ad–Din , was a Muslim Moroccan Berber explorer, known for his extensive travels published in the Rihla...
visits Sultanate of MogadishuHistory of MogadishuMogadishu is the largest city in Somalia and the nation's capital.Located in the coastal Benadir region on the Indian Ocean, the city has served as an important port for centuries.- Medieval city-state :...
in SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. - 1332: Foundation of the Adal SultanateAdal SultanateThe Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
in present-day northwestern SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, southern DjiboutiDjiboutiDjibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
, and the SomaliSomali RegionSomali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
, OromiaOromia RegionOromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, and AfarAfar RegionAfar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
regions of EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. - c. 1390: Foundation of the Kingdom of KaffaKingdom of KaffaThe Kingdom of Kaffa was an early modern state located in what is now Ethiopia, with its capital at Bonga. The Gojeb River formed its northern border, beyond which lay the Gibe kingdoms; to the east the territory of the Konta and Kullo peoples lay between Kaffa and the Omo River; to the south...
in Ethiopia.
Islam expansion and European explorations
- 15th century: Foundation of the Karemera dynasty in BurundiBurundiBurundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, replaced by the Baganwa dynasty before the end of the 17th century. Foundation of the RwandaRwandaRwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
Kingdom, rules by the Naoro Dynasty from the 16th century. Foundation of the Kingdoms of AnkoleAnkoleAnkole, also referred to as Nkore, is one of four traditional kingdoms in Uganda. The kingdom is located in the southwestern Uganda, east of Lake Edward. It was ruled by a monarch known as The Mugabe or Omugabe of Ankole. The kingdom was formally abolished in 1967 by the government of President...
and Bunyoro-Kitara, in Uganda. - 1420: First mention of the Kingdom of KarangaShona peopleShona is the name collectively given to two groups of people in the east and southwest of Zimbabwe, north eastern Botswana and southern Mozambique.-Shona Regional Classification:...
, in MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. - c. 1450: Foundation of the Kingdom of Innarya, in Ethiopia.
- c. 1480: The Empire of Changamire proclaims independence from Karanga.
- 1485: Foundation of the Sultanate of Angoshe, in Mozambique.
- 1494: First mention of the Kingdom of ManyikaManyikaThe Manyika are a Shona tribe with their own dialect, Manyika. The majority of Manyika come from the eastern region of Zimbabwe. The language is widely spoken in Manicaland Province and in certain areas of Manica Province in neighbouring Mozambique. The Manica dialect somewhat varies from region to...
, in Mozambique, under the Nguruve dynasty. - 1 March 1498: Portugal claims Mozambique.
- 16th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of Pemba.
- c. 1500: Foundation of the Sultanate of Ndzuwani (AnjouanAnjouanAnjouan is an autonomous island, part of the Union of Comoros. The island is located in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population as of 2006 is about 277,500. The total area of the island is 424 sq. kilometers Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous island,...
), in the ComorosComorosThe Comoros , officially the Union of the Comoros is an archipelago island nation in the Indian Ocean, located off the eastern coast of Africa, on the northern end of the Mozambique Channel, between northeastern Mozambique and northwestern Madagascar...
. Foundation of the Sultanate of Maore, in MayotteMayotteMayotte is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre , a smaller island, Petite-Terre , and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and...
. - 10 August 1500: PortugalPortugalPortugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
discovers MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. - 1501: Portugal establishes the Captaincy of SofalaSofalaSofala, at present known as Nova Sofala, used to be the chief seaport of the Monomotapa Kingdom, whose capital was at Mount Fura. It is located on the Sofala Bank in Sofala Province of Mozambique.-History:...
in Mozambique, a dependency of GoaGoaGoa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
, then settles at Mozambique Island in 1507, SenaVila de SenaVila de Sena or more commonly Sena is a town in Mozambique where there is an fundamental bridge over the Zambezi River. This bridge, the Dona Ana Bridge was originally a single track railway bridge, temporarily converted to road operation during the civil war.The town lies on the east bank of the...
in 1531 and QuelimaneQuelimaneQuelimane is a seaport in Mozambique. It is the administrative capital of the Zambezia Province and the province's largest city, and stands 25 km from the mouth of the Rio dos Bons Sinais . The river was named when Vasco da Gama, on his way to India, reached it and saw "good signs" that he was on...
in 1534. - 1502: Foundation of the Sultanate of MombasaMombasaMombasa is the second-largest city in Kenya. Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it has a major port and an international airport. The city also serves as the centre of the coastal tourism industry....
, in Kenya. - 1503: Portugal discovers Comoros and Mayotte, and annexes ZanzibarZanzibarZanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
in TanzaniaTanzaniaThe United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. - 1505: Portugal discovers MauritiusMauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
and names it Ilho de Cerne, then Mascarene IslandsMascarene IslandsThe Mascarene Islands is a group of islands in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar comprising Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Cargados Carajos shoals, plus the former islands of the Saya de Malha, Nazareth and Soudan banks...
from 1513. Portugueses occupy Kilwa Kisiwani until 1512. - 8 September 1507: The Captaincy of Sofala becomes the Captaincy of Sofala and Moçambique.
- c.1520: OromoOromo peopleThe Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
bands raid north across the Shebelle RiverShebelle RiverThe Shebelle River begins in the highlands of Ethiopia, and then flows southeast into Somalia towards Mogadishu. Near Mogadishu, it turns sharply southwest, where it follows the coast. Below Mogadishu, the river becomes seasonal...
, which over following generations leads to a migration into their modern northern and western territories. - 1527: Beginning of invasion of SolomonicSolomonic dynastyThe Solomonic dynasty is the Imperial House of Abyssinia. Its members claim lineal descent from King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, the latter of whom tradition asserts gave birth to the first King Menelik I after her Biblically described visit to Solomon in Jerusalem .-Overview:The dynasty, a...
Ethiopia by Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-GhaziAhmad ibn Ibrihim al-GhaziAhmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi "the Conqueror" was an Imam and General of Adal who invaded Ethiopia and defeated several Ethiopian emperors, wreaking much damage on that kingdom...
of AdalAdal SultanateThe Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
. - 1528: Portugal discovers Ilha Rodriguez, in Mauritius.
- 1530s: Foundation of the Kingdom of Yengar, in Ethiopia, under the Mowa dynasty.
- 21 February 1543: Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-GhaziAhmad ibn Ibrihim al-GhaziAhmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi "the Conqueror" was an Imam and General of Adal who invaded Ethiopia and defeated several Ethiopian emperors, wreaking much damage on that kingdom...
of AdalAdal SultanateThe Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
is defeated and killed in the Battle of Wayna DagaBattle of Wayna DagaThe Battle of Wayna Daga occurred 21 February 1543 east of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Led by the Emperor Galawdewos, the combined army of Ethiopian and Portuguese troops defeated the Muslim army led by Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrihim al-Ghazi. Tradition states that Ahmad was killed by a Portuguese musketeer,...
, ending Muslim rule over Ethiopia. - c. 1550: Foundation of the Kingdom of BulamogiBulamogiBulamogi is one of the five traditional principalities of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. It is located in the Kaliro District.It was founded around 1550 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its current ruler is Zibondo Edward Muloki.Henry Wako Muloki, the former...
, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdom of Bulozi, in ZambiaZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. - 1557: MassawaMassawaMassawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
(in modern-day EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
) occupied by the Ottoman EmpireOttoman EmpireThe Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, which becomes the start of the province of HabeshHabeshHabesh Eyalet was an Ottoman eyalet that bordered the Red Sea. It comprised Massawa, Hergigo, Suakin and their hinterlands. Later it would also incorporate Zeila and western Somaliland... - 1560: Foundation of the Kingdom of Sheka, in Ethiopia.
- 1567: Foundation of the Kingdom of Bosha, in Ethiopia.
- 1569: The Captaincy of Sofala and Moçambique becomes the Captaincy-general of Moçambique and separate from Goa.
- 1577: The Adal SultanateAdal SultanateThe Adal Sultanate or the Kingdom of Adal was a medieval multi-ethnic Muslim state located in the Horn of Africa.-Overview:...
in Ethiopia splits into the Kingdom of HararHararHarar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
, and the Imamate of Aussa. - c. 1590: Foundation of the Kingdom of Imamo, in Madagascar.
- 1593: Portugal occupies Mombasa.
- 1597: Portugal conquers Kilwa Kisiwani.
- 20 September 1598: NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
claim Mascarene Islands. - 17th century: Foundation of the Kingdom of WangaWangaThe ojeda are a tribe of the Luhya people of Kenya. They mainly occupy Butere-Mumias and Kakamega Districts, two of the 8 districts of Kenya's Western Province....
, in Kenya. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Bara and Mananddriana, in Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of MalawiMalawiThe Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, it will ceases to exist at the end of the 19th century under British rule. Foundation of the Kingdoms of Bugama-Kiganda, Buhoma, Bukonya, Bushiru, Bwanamwari, Cyingogo, Kibari, RuhengeriRuhengeriRuhengeri is a city and capital of Musanze District in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Some sources now refer to the city itself as Musanze, after the district in which it lies. It lies near the twin lakes of Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo and is the gateway city to Volcanoes National Park and the...
and Rwankeri, in Rwanda. Portugal conquers Pemba. Foundation of the Kingdom of BembaBemba peopleThe Bemba belong to a large group of peoples mainly in the Northern, Luapula and Copperbelt Provinces of Zambia who trace their origins to the Luba and Lunda states of the upper Congo basin, in what became Katanga Province in southern Congo-Kinshasa...
, in Zambia. First mention of the Kingdom of Torwa, in ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. - c. 1600: Foundation of the Sultanate of Majerteen, in Somalia.
- 1609: The Captaincy-general of Moçambique becomes the colony of Moçambique, Sofala, Ríos de Cuama and Monomatapa, a dependency of Goa.
- 1615: Foundation of the Kingdom of KontaKonta-Location:Konta is connected to Jagdalpur and Vijayawada by National Highway 221. It is near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. Nearest airport is Hyderabad International Airport.-External links:*...
, in Ethiopia. - 1625: Ilha Rodriguez is claimed by France under the name RodriguesRodriguesRodrigues is a common surname in the Portuguese language. It was originally a Patronymic, meaning Son of Rodrigo or Son of Rui. The "es" signifies "son of". The name Rodrigo is the Portuguese form of Roderick, meaning "famous power" or "famous ruler", from the Germanic elements "hrod" and "ric" ,...
, settlements established from 1735. - 1629: Portugal conquers Munhumutapa.
- c. 1635: Foundation of the Kingdom of MaungweMaungweMaungwe was a chiefdom in Zimbabwe. It was founded by the Makoni Dynasty around 1635. It became a part of the British Mashonaland protectorate in 1889 but its royal line lasted until at least 1896....
, in Zimbabwe. - 1638: Portugal establishes a colony in Mombasa, a dependency of GoaGoaGoa , a former Portuguese colony, is India's smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population. Located in South West India in the region known as the Konkan, it is bounded by the state of Maharashtra to the north, and by Karnataka to the east and south, while the Arabian Sea forms its...
. - 7 May 1638: Mascarene Islands become a Dutch colony under the name Mauritius, controlled by the United East India Company. It will be abandoned 17 February 1710.
- 24 September 1642: Foundation of the French colony of Fort-DauphinTôlanaroTôlanaro or Tolagnaro is a city in Madagascar. It is the capital of Anosy Region and of Tôlanaro District. It has a port of local importance, and a new port has been built at Ehoala...
, in Madagascar. It will be abandoned 27 August 1674 and a vain effort to found it again will take place from 1768 to 1771. - 1646: The Kingdom of Harar becomes an Emirate.
- December 1649: RéunionRéunionRéunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
is annexed by France under the name Bourbon Island. - c. 1650: Foundation of the Kingdom of Hadimu, in Tanzania.
- After 1672: End of the Imamate of Aussa
- 1 December 1674: Bourbon Island is under the rule of the French Eastern India Company.
- c. 1675: First mention of the Kingdom of AmbohimangaAmbohimangaThe Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a site of cultural and historical significance located approximately 24 kilometers to the east of the capital city of Antananarivo in Madagascar...
, in Madagascar, under the Imerina dynasty. - c. 1680: Foundation of the Kingdom of Burundi. Torwa is annexer by Changamire.
- 1680: The Sultanate of Kilwa Kisiwani proclaims independence from Portugal.
- c. 1683: Foundation of the Kingdom of BusikiBusikiSee also Namutumba District for Busiki District.Busiki is one of the six traditional chiefdoms of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda.It was founded around 1683 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its ruler is known as the Kisiki....
, in Uganda. - c. 1685: Foundation of the Kingdom of MenabeMenabeMenabe is a region in western Madagascar. It is named for the 18th century Sakalava kingdom of Menabe. The capital is Morondava.-History:Menabe is the southern part of the Sakalava territory. Tradition holds that it was founded by Adriamandazoala . Its territory was increased under the legendary...
, in Madagascar, under the Volamena dynasty. - c. 1690: Foundation of the Kingdom of BoinaBoina KingdomThe Kingdom of Boina was a traditional state situated in what is now Madagascar.The Kingdom was founded ca. 1690 by King Andriamandisoarivo. It was centered around Boina Bay in north-west Madagascar. Some time after 1832 it was occupied by Imerina and was annexed by Madagascar in 1840...
, in Madagascar. - 1695: Changamire conquers Manyika and places the Tembo-Shumba dynasty to govern it.
- 1698: Zanzibar and Pemba are ceded to OmanOmanOman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
. - 12 December 1698: Mombasa is ceded to the Sultanate of OmanOmanOman , officially called the Sultanate of Oman , is an Arab state in southwest Asia on the southeast coast of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the United Arab Emirates to the northwest, Saudi Arabia to the west, and Yemen to the southwest. The coast is formed by the Arabian Sea on the...
, but is occupied again by the Portuguese from 12 March 1728 to 21 September 1729. - 18th century: Foundation of the kingdoms of Andrindrano, Fisakana, IsandraIsandraThe Caves and Cliffs of Isandra are located in the Betsileo cultural region of Madagascar, roughly 30 km to the northwest of the regional capital of Fianarantsoa.- Site Description :...
and Lalangina, in Madagascar. First mention of the Kingdom of Mpororo, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdoms of BugabulaBugabulaBugabula is one of the five traditional principalities of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. It is located in the Kamuli District.It was founded around 1730 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its current ruler is Gabula William Nadiope IV....
, Bugweri Bufutulu, BukonoBukonoBukono is one of the five traditional principalities of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda.It was founded before 1656 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its ruler is known as the Nkono....
, BukooliBukooliBukooli is one of the six traditional chiefdoms of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda.It was founded before 1737 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its ruler is known as the Wakooli....
, Bukwanga KikiBukwanga KikiBukwanga Kiki was a Basoga chiefdom in what is today Uganda. It was founded around 1737 and lasted until the end of the 19th Century, when it came under British rule.-References:**...
, Bunha, BuzaayaBuzaayaBuzaaya was a Basoga chiefdom in what is today Uganda. It was founded around 1720 and lasted until 1906, when it was incorporated into the united Busoga protectorate and its royal line was terminated.-References:*...
, Buzimba-Busoga and LuukaLuukaLuuka is one of the five traditional principalities of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. It is located in the Iganga District.It was founded around 1737 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its ruler is known as the Tabingwa....
, in Uganda. Foundation of the Kingdom of Kazembe, in Zambia. First mention of the Kingdom of BochaBocha ChiefdomBocha was a chiefdom in Zimbabwe. It was founded some time before 1750. It became a part of the British Mashonaland protectorate in 1889....
, in Zimbabwe. - c. 1700: The Kingdom of Kafa becomes an Empire.
- c. 1710: Foundation of the Kingdom of Tananarive, in Madagascar. First mention of the Kingdom of Nhowe, in Zimbabwe, under the Mangwende Dynasty.
- 1712: Foundation of the Kingdom of BetsimisarakaBetsimisarakaThe Betsimisaraka make up approximately fifteen percent of the Malagasy people and are the second largest ethnic group in Madagascar after the Merina....
, in Madagascar by RatsimilahoRatsimilahoRatsimilaho was a ruler of an east coastal region of Madagascar. He is said to be the son of an English pirate and a Malagasy queen, Antavaratra Rahena. The region, known as the Betsimisaraka confederation covered 400 hundred miles of coast and this legacy was created by Ratsimilaho...
. - 6 September 1718: MauritiusMauritiusMauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
is claimed by France under the name Île de France, controlled by the Compagnie des Indes from 23 September 1721. - March 1721: Netherlands settles at Fort LijdzaamheidFort LijdzaamheidFort Lijdzaamheid is a Dutch-built fort located in the township of Apam, in the Central Region of Ghana.Commenced as a stone trading lodge in 1697, the lodge was later fortified to secure the Dutch state of Acorn, which was tenuously held between the two British-held territories of Fante & Agona...
, in Mozambique, a dependency of CapeCapeCape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
. The settlement will be abandoned 27 December 1730. - 1734: Mudaito dynastyMudaito dynasty-History:The Aussa Sultanate or Afar Sultanate succeeded the earlier Imamate of Aussa. The latter polity had come into existence in 1577, when Muhammed Jasa moved his capital from Harar to Aussa with the split of the Adal Sultanate into Aussa and the Harari city-state...
founds the Aussa Sultanate in Ethiopia. - 4 June 1735: Île de France is part of the colony of Mascarene Islands, until 23 March 1746.
- c. 1740: First mention of the Kingdom of Antakarana, in Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Mbire, in Zimbabwe.
- 19 November 1742: SeychellesSeychellesSeychelles , officially the Republic of Seychelles , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, some east of mainland Africa, northeast of the island of Madagascar....
are claimed by France under the name La Bourdonnais Islands, the Séchelles from 27 August 1770. - c. 1744: Foundation of the Kingdom of Shavasha, in Zimbabwe, under the Chinamhora Dynasty.
- 1746: The Sultanate of Mombasa, in Kenya, proclaims independence from Oman.
- c. 1750: Pemba gains autonomy from Oman.
- 1750: First mention of the Sheikhdom of Kitangonya, in Mozambique.
- 26 July 1750: Betsimisaraka cedes Sainte-Marie de Madagascar to France.
- 1752: The colony of Moçambique, Sofala, Ríos de Cuama and Monomatapa becomes the colony of Moçambique, Zambesi and Sofala. Dissolution of the Kingdom of Mpororo into the Kingdoms of Igara, KajaraKajaraKajara was one of the six independent kingdoms which was established after the fall of the Kingdom of Mpororo in 1752. It was ruled by an Omukama. It became a part of the Kingdom of Ankole in 1901....
, NshenyiNshenyiNshyeni was one of the six independent kingdoms which was established after the fall of the Kingdom of Mpororo in 1752. It was ruled by an Omukama. It became a part of the Kingdom of Ankole in 1901....
, ObweraObweraObwera was one of the six independent kingdoms which was established after the fall of the Kingdom of Mpororo in 1752. It was ruled by an Omukama. It became a part of the Kingdom of Ankole in 1901....
, RujumburaRujumburaRujumbura was one of the six independent kingdoms which was established after the fall of the Kingdom of Mpororo in 1752. It was ruled by an Omukama. It became a part of the Kingdom of Ankole in 1901....
, Rukiga. - 1753: Foundation of the Sheikhdom of Sankul, in Mozambique.
- c. 1760: Foundation of the Kingdom of Walo, in Ethiopia, under the Mamadoch dynasty.
- 1764: Bourbon Island becomes a crown colony of France.
- 14 July 1767: Île de France becomes a crown colony.
- 1771: Hadimu is under Omani suzerainty.
- 11 February 1774: Foundation of the Kingdom of Antogil, in Madagascar, by an Hungarian adventurer.
- 1780s: First mention of the Kingdom of Ufipa, in Tanzania.
- 23 May 1786: Antogil is annexed to France.
- c. 1788: Foundation of the Kingdom of GoveraGoveraGovera was a chiefdom in Zimbabwe. It was founded some time around 1788 and persisted into the late 19th century. It became a part of the British Mashonaland protectorate in 1889.-References:...
, in Zimbabwe. - c. 1790: Foundation of the Kingdom of JimmaKingdom of JimmaThe Kingdom of Jimma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its western border with Limmu-Ennarea, its eastern border with the Sidamo kingdom of Janjero, and was separated from the Kingdom of Kaffa to the south by the Gojeb River. Jimma...
, in Ethiopia - 19 March 1793: Bourbon Island is renamed Réunion Island.
- 1794: Tananarive is annexed to Ambohimanga.
- 17 May 1794: Séchelles are occupied by the United Kingdom.
- c. 1795: Foundation of the Kingdom of Nkamanga, in Malawi.
- 1797: Ambohidratima is annexed to Ambohimanga.
- 25 October 1797: Île de France and Réunion become départements, until 19 April 1801.
- 19th century: Andrindrano, Bara, Fisakana, Imamo and Mananddriana are annexed to Madagascar. Foundation of the Kingdom of Maseko, in Malawi. First mention of the Kingdoms of Buddu, Buhindi, Bukome, Ilole, KimwaniKimwaniThe Mwani language, or Kimwani , is spoken on the coast of the Cabo Delgado Province of Mozambique, including the Quirimbas Islands. Although it shares high lexical similarity with Swahili, it is not intelligible with it. It is spoken by around 120,000 people...
, Lungemba, Udongwe and Usangu, in Tanzania. Foundation of the Kingdom of TumbatuTumbatuTumbatu Island is the third-largest island making up Zanzibar, part of Tanzania in east Africa. The island is located off the northwest coast of Zanzibar's main island, Unguja....
, in Tanzania. First mention of the Kingdoms of BuhwejuBuhwejuBuhweju was a kingdom in what is Uganda today. It was incorporated into the British Ankole protectorate in 1901. It was ruled by an Omukama....
, BunyaruguruBunyaruguruBunyaruguru was a kingdom in what is today Uganda. It became a part of the British Ankole protectorate in 1901.Bunyaruguru is one of the counties in Uganda endowered with many natural resources, there are many creater lakes in Uganda than any other part in Uganda.Bunyaruguru has now become a...
and KiguluKiguluKigulu is one of the five traditional principalities of the kingdom of Busoga in Uganda. It is located in the Iganga District.It was founded around 1737 and became a part of the British protectorate in Busoga in 1896. Its ruler is known as the Ngobi. From 1809 to 1899, part of its territory was...
, in Uganda. - c. 1800: Ennarea is known as Limmu-EnnareaLimmu-EnnareaThe Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its eastern border with Jimma, its southern border with Gomma, and its western border with Gumma. Beyond its northern border lay tribes of the Macha Oromo...
. Foundation of the kingdoms of GeraGeraGera, the third-largest city in the German state of Thuringia , lies in east Thuringia on the river Weiße Elster, approximately 60 kilometres to the south of the city of Leipzig and 80 kilometres to the east of Erfurt...
, GomaGomaGoma is a city in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the northern shore of Lake Kivu, next to the Rwandan city of Gisenyi. The lake and the two cities are in the western branch of the Great Rift Valley, and Goma lies only 13 to 18 km due south of the crater of the active...
and Kingdom of GummaKingdom of GummaThe Kingdom of Gumma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 18th century. Its eastern border was formed by the bend of the Didessa River, which separated it from Limmu-Ennarea to the northeast, and Gomma and Gera to the south. Beyond its northern border were...
, in Ethiopia. The Kingdom of Lyangalile proclaims independence from Ufipa.
European colonization
- 3 February 1803: Île de France and Réunion are parts of the colony of French East India, until 2 September 1810. Séchelles are also nominally part of it, despite the British occupation.
- 15 August 1806: Réunion Island is renamed Bonaparte Island.
- 4 August 1809: The United Kingdom occupies Rodrigues.
- 1810: Isandra and Lalangina are annexed to Ambohimanga. First mention of the Kingdom of Buzinja, in Tanzania.
- 17 May 1810: Séchelles are annexed by the United Kingdom, under the name Seychelles, as a colony subordinated to Mauritius, confirmed 30 May 1814 by the Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris (1814)The Treaty of Paris, signed on 30 May 1814, ended the war between France and the Sixth Coalition, part of the Napoleonic Wars, following an armistice signed on 23 May between Charles, Count of Artois, and the allies...
. - 9 July 1810: Bonaparte Island is occupied by the United Kingdom.
- 7 August 1810: Bonaparte Island is renamed Bourbon Island.
- 3 December 1810: Île de France is ceded to the United Kingdom, and becomes the colony of Mauritius. This possession is confirmed 30 May 1814 by the Treaty of Paris.
- December 1813: northern Ethiopia (modern day northern Eritrea) is occupied by EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
until 1826. - 30 May 1814: Rodrigues is annexed by the United Kingdom as a dependency of Mauritius.
- 1815: Foundation of the Kingdom of Jere, in Malawi. Fist mention of the Kingdom of Shambalai, in Tanzania.
- April 1815: Bourbon Island is ceded back to France.
- 23 October 1817: The Kingdom of AmbohimangaAmbohimangaThe Royal Hill of Ambohimanga is a site of cultural and historical significance located approximately 24 kilometers to the east of the capital city of Antananarivo in Madagascar...
becomes the Kingdom of Madagascar. Betsimisaraka becomes later its vassal. - c. 1818: First mention of the Kingdom of BuimaBuimaBuima was a Basoga chiefdom in what is today Uganda. It was founded before 1818 and lasted until the end of the nineteenth century.-References:**...
, in Uganda. - 15 October 1818: Sainte-Marie de Madagascar is a dependence of Bourbon Islande, then of Mayotte from 2 March 1843.
- c. 1820: Foundation of the Kingdom of Mhari, in Zimbabwe.
- 1820: First mention of the Kingdom of KaragweKaragweKaragwe is one of the 6 districts of the Kagera Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the North by Uganda, to the East by the Bukoba Rural District, to the Southeast by the Muleba District, to the South by the Ngara District and to the West by Rwanda, which is divided by the River Kagera.According...
, in Tanzania. - 1821: The Kingdom of Ndebele proclaims independence from the Kingdom of ZuluZulu KingdomThe Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
, installing themselves in Zimbabwe from November 1837. - 1822: Foundation of the Kingdom of Tooro, in Uganda.
- 20 March 1822: Foundation of the Kingdom of TanibeTanibeTanibe is a town and commune in Madagascar. It belongs to the district of Mananara Nord, which is a part of Analanjirofo Region. The population of the commune was estimated to be approximately 10,000 in 2001 commune census....
, in Madagascar. - 9 February 1824: The United Kingdom establishes a protectorate over Mombasa.
- 1825: Foundation of the Kingdom of AmaGaza, in Mozambique.
- 25 July 1826: Oman puts an end to the secession of Mombasa.
- 1828: Betsimisaraka and Tanibe are annexed to Madagascar.
- 1830: The Sultanate of Mwali (MohéliMohéliMohéli, also known as Mwali, is one of the three islands which make up the nation of Comoros. Mohéli is located in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is by far the smallest of the Comoros islands. Its population, as of 2006, is about 38,000. Its capital city is Fomboni...
) splits from the Sultanate of Ndzuwani (AnjouanAnjouanAnjouan is an autonomous island, part of the Union of Comoros. The island is located in the Indian Ocean. Its capital is Mutsamudu and its population as of 2006 is about 277,500. The total area of the island is 424 sq. kilometers Anjouan (also known as Ndzuwani or Nzwani) is an autonomous island,...
), created by migrants from MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. - 1832: Boina is occupied by Madagascar.
- 1833: Maore (MayotteMayotteMayotte is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre , a smaller island, Petite-Terre , and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and...
) is annexed by Mohéli. - 1834: Menabe is annexed to Madagascar.
- 19 November 1835: Maore is annexed from Mohéli by Anjouan.
- 1836: Maore proclaims independence from Anjouan.
- March 1836: The colony of Moçambique, Zambesi and Sofala is now known as Moçambique, also called Portuguese East AfricaPortuguese East AfricaMozambique or Portuguese East Africa was the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in East Africa was known across different periods of time...
. - 24 June 1837: Mombasa is annexed to Zanzibar.
- 1839: The Kingdom of Shewa proclaims independence from Ethiopia.
- 1840s: Foundation of the Kingdom of NandiNandi peopleThe Nandi people are a number of Kenyan tribes living in the highland areas of the Nandi Hills in Rift Valley Province who speak the Nandi languages. They are a sub-group of the Kalenjin people....
, in Kenya. First mention of the Sultanate of Geledi, in Somalia. - 1840: Boina is annexed to Madagascar.
- 14 July 1840: Foundation of the French colony of Nossi-Bé, in Madagascar, a dependence of Bourbon Island, then of Mayotte from 25 March 1843.
- 25 March 1841: FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
establishes a protectorate over Maore under the name MayotteMayotteMayotte is an overseas department and region of France consisting of a main island, Grande-Terre , a smaller island, Petite-Terre , and several islets around these two. The archipelago is located in the northern Mozambique Channel in the Indian Ocean, namely between northwestern Madagascar and...
as a dependency of Île Bourbon, officially from 13 June 1843, and abolishes the monarchy. - 1842: Zanzibar annexes Kilwa Kisiwani.
- 1843: Antakarana is under a French protectorate until 1891.
- 6 September 1848: Bourbon Island is renamed Réunion Island.
- c. 1850: First mention of the Kingdom of Ussuwi, in Tanzania.
- 1853: Sainte-Marie de Madagascar becomes a separate colony until 27 October 1876 when it becomes a dependency of RéunionRéunionRéunion is a French island with a population of about 800,000 located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about south west of Mauritius, the nearest island.Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas departments of France...
, then of Diégo Suarez 4 May 1888. - 1855: Reunification of Ethiopia after a century of decentralization during the Zemene MesafintZemene MesafintThe Zemene Mesafint was a period in Ethiopian history when the country was rent by conflicts between warlords, the Emperor was reduced to little more than a figurehead confined to the capital city of...
. - 1856: Zanzibar annexes Tumbatu.
- 1857: The United Kingdom annexes Changamire, under the administration of the British South Africa Company.
- c. 1858: First mention of the Kingdom of BuheraBuheraBuhera is a district in the province of Manicaland, Zimbabwe about 82 km south east of Chivhu. It serves as the administrative and commercial centre for the Sabi communal lands....
, in Zimbabwe. - 1858: France settles in ObockObockObock is a small port town in Djibouti. It is located on the northern shore of the Gulf of Tadjoura, where it opens out into the Gulf of Aden. The population in 2003 was about 8,300 inhabitants....
, in DjiboutiDjiboutiDjibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. Foundation of the Sultanate of WituWituWitu may refer to*Wituland*Vitu language *Wiru :**Wiru people**Wiru language...
, in Kenya. - c. 1860: First mention of the Kingdoms of Bugabo, Bukwara, Nguluhe, Ubena and UnyanyembeUnyanyembeUnyanyembe is a town in Tanzania . It was one of the locations visited by Henry Morton Stanley during his search for Dr Livingstone. The town is located in the Shinyanga Region.-See also:Vicariate Apostolic of Unyanyembe...
in Tanzania. - 6 April 1861: Zanzibar proclaims independence from Oman, annexes Pemba and abolishes its autonomy from c. 1865.
- 1865: Egypt invades northern Ethiopia, temporarily occupying parts of what is now northern Eritrea. The Kingdom of Bwina proclaims independence from Kimwani.
- 1866: Anjouan is annexed to Mayotte.
- 1867: First mention of the Kingdom of Bugando, in Tanzania.
- 1870s: Foundation of the Kingdom of Maasai, in Kenya, after the union of the clans.
- c. 1870: First mention of the Kingdom of Kitagwenda, in Uganda.
- 1870: Pate is annexed to Witu. First mention of the Kingdom of Wiziba, in Tanzania.
- 1871: Mogadisho is annexed to Zanzibar. The Kingdom of UnyamweziUnyamweziUnyamwezi, a region of German East Africa, lying South of Victoria Nyanza and East of Lake Tanganyika. It is mentioned as early as the 16th century by the Portuguese and by Antonio Pigafetta, under the name Munemugi or " Land of the Moon," which is the exact equivalent of the name Wu-nya-mweziby...
proclaims independence from Unyanyembe. - 1873: Monarchy is abolished in Hadimu.
- c. 1875: First mention of the Kingdom of Ihangiro, in Tanzania. First mention of the Kingdom of BuzimbaBuzimbaBuzimba was a kingdom in what is today Uganda. It was incorporated into the British Ankole protectorate in 1901. It was ruled by an Omukama.-References:**...
, in Uganda. - 11 October 1875: Harar is occupied by Egypt until 1884.
- 7 September 1877: Northern SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, then part of the Ottoman Empire, is annexed by Egypt under the name Egyptian Somaliland. - 1878: Nossi-Bé becomes a separate colony. The Sultanate of HobyoHobyoHobyo is an ancient harbor city in the Mudug region of Somalia. Hobyo literally means "here, water", and the plentiful fresh water to be had from the wells in and around the town has been the driving force behind Hobyo's ancient status as a favorite port-of-call for sailors.-Establishment:Hobyo's...
proclaims independence from Majerteen. - 1879: AsmaraAsmaraAsmara is the capital city and largest settlement in Eritrea, home to a population of around 579,000 people...
, in Eritrea, is recaptured by Ethiopia. - 1882: The kingdoms of Leqa Qellam and Gera are annexed to the Ethiopian vassal kingdom of Shewa in Ethiopia.
- 5 July 1882: Asseb, part of the vassal Ethiopian Afar sultanate (in modern Eritrea), is conquered by ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. - 1883: Bosha is annexed to Ethiopia.
Era of colonies and protectorates
- 1884: First mention of the Kingdom of KookiKookiThe Kingdom of Kooki is a traditional chiefdom in the Rakai District of Uganda.It was first mentioned in 1884 and was incorporated into the kingdom of Buganda in 1896. Its royal line has continued to the present day, and it is currently led by Kamuswaga Apollo Sansa Kabumbuli II....
, in Uganda. - February 1884: The United Kingdom annexes the Egyptian Somaliland.
- 24 June 1884: Foundation of the French Protectorate of Obock, recognized by the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
8 February 1888. - August 1884: Burundi and Rwanda become GermanGerman EmpireThe German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
protectorates. - 17 February 1885: The Sultanate of Zanzibar is under a German protectorate, a part of it is ceded to the German East African Company and will be known under the name German East AfricaGerman East AfricaGerman East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
from 27 May 1885, - 27 May 1885: The Kingdom of WituWituWitu may refer to*Wituland*Vitu language *Wiru :**Wiru people**Wiru language...
, in KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
is under a German protectorate under the name of WitulandWitulandWituland was an approximately territory in East Africa centered on the town of Witu just inland from Indian Ocean port of Lamu north of the mouth of the Tana River in what is now Kenya.-History:Founded in 1858 by the former ruler of the insular Pate sultanate after several abortive moves to the...
, not recognized by the United Kingdom. - 1886: Grande ComoreGrande ComoreGrande Comore is an island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Africa. It is the largest island in the Comoros nation. Most of its population is of the Comorian ethnic group. Its population as of 2006 is about 316,600. The island's capital is Moroni, which is also the national capital...
, in the Comoros, is united under the sultan of BambaoBambaoBambao is a village on the island of Anjouan in the Comoros.* Sultanate of Bambao...
. Goma is annexed to Ethiopia. Diégo SuarezAntsirananaAntsiranana , named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar.Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region.-Transports:...
, in Madagascer, becomes a French colony. First mention of the Kingdom of KomeKOMEKOME was a radio station in San Jose, California, heard at 98.5 FM from 1971 thru 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX .-Beginnings:...
, in Tanzania. - 21 April 1886: Anjouan becomes a French protectorate.
- 26 April 1886: Mohéli becomes a French protectorate.
- 24 June 1886: Grande Comore becomes a French protectorate.
- 26 January 1887: Harar is annexed to Shewa.
- 25 May 1887: The Sultanate of ZanzibarZanzibarZanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
cedes Mombasa to the British East Africa Association. - 20 July 1887: Egyptian Somaliland becomes a protectorate under the name British Somaliland, subordinated to the colony of AdenAdenAden is a seaport city in Yemen, located by the eastern approach to the Red Sea , some 170 kilometres east of Bab-el-Mandeb. Its population is approximately 800,000. Aden's ancient, natural harbour lies in the crater of an extinct volcano which now forms a peninsula, joined to the mainland by a...
until 1905. - 5 September 1887: Anjouan, Grande Comore and Mohéli are united under the name Protectorate of the Comoros.
- 1888: Maasai, Nandi and Wanga are annexed to the territory of the British East Africa Association, but the monarchies remains. First mention of the Kingdom of Kyamutwara, in Tanzania.
- 11 February 1888: Ndebele becomes a British protectorate as MatabelelandMatabelelandModern day Matabeleland is a region in Zimbabwe divided into three provinces: Matabeleland North, Bulawayo and Matabeleland South. These provinces are in the west and south-west of Zimbabwe, between the Limpopo and Zambezi rivers. The region is named after its inhabitants, the Ndebele people...
, under the administration of the British South Africa Company. - 3 September 1888: The territory of the becomes the colony of East AfricaEast AfricaEast Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
, under the Imperial British East Africa CompanyImperial British East Africa CompanyThe Imperial British East Africa Company was the administrator of British East Africa, which was the forerunner of the East Africa Protectorate, later Kenya. The IBEAC was a commercial association founded to develop African trade in the areas controlled by the British colonial power...
. - December 1888: Hobyo become an Italian protectorate.
- 9 December 1888: Foundation of the Italian Protectorate of Assab.
- 1889: The kingdoms of Dawaro, KontaKonta-Location:Konta is connected to Jagdalpur and Vijayawada by National Highway 221. It is near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. Nearest airport is Hyderabad International Airport.-External links:*...
are annexed to Ethiopia and ShewaShewaShewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
ceases to exist as a vassal kingdom of Ethiopia as its ruler becomes Emperor of all of Ethiopia. Bulozi becomes a British protectorate under the name Barotseland. - 7 April 1889: Majerteen becomes an Italian protectorate.
- 2 May 1889: The Treaty of Uccialli is signed. The Ethiopian version states that Ethiopia may conduct foreign relations through Italy, while the Italian version states that Ethiopia is Italy's protectorate, later resulting in the First Italo-Abyssinian WarFirst Italo-Abyssinian WarThe First Italo-Ethiopian War was fought between Italy and Ethiopia from 1895 to 1896. Ethiopia's military victory over Italy secured it the distinction of being the only African nation to successfully resist European colonialism with a decisive show of force.-Background:On March 25, 1889, the...
. - 3 August 1889: Italy establishes a protectorate over Benadir Coast, in Somalia.
- 21 September 1889: The United Kingdom establishes a protectorate over Jere, Malawi, Maseko and Nkamanga, under the name Shiré RiverShire RiverThe Shire is a river in Malawi and Mozambique. The river has been known as the Shiré or Chire River. It is the outlet of Lake Malawi and flows into the Zambezi. Its length is 402 km; including Lake Malawi and the Ruhuhu, its headstream, it has a length of about 1200 km...
. - 29 October 1889: The United Kingdom establishes a protectorate over the Kingdoms of Bocha, Buhera, Govera, Maungwe, Mbire, Mhari, Nhowe and Shavasha under the name Mashonaland, administered by the British South Africa Company.
- c. 1890: First mention of the Kingdom of Kiyanja, in Tanzania.
- 1 January 1890: The Protectorate of Assab becomes the colony of Eritrea.
- 18 June 1890: The United Kingdom establishes a protectorate over Witu, Germany renounces his claims 1 July 1890.
- 1 July 1890: Burundi and Rwanda are parts of the German East AfricaGerman East AfricaGerman East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
. The Burundian king is forced to recognize German authority 24 May 1903. The United Kingdom declares a protectorate over Buganda and occupies it under the British East Africa Company from 18 December. - 7 November 1890: Zanzibar becomes a British protectorate.
- 1891: Limu-Innarya is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 1 January 1891: German East Africa becomes a colony.
- 15 May 1891: Shiré River is now known as Nyasaland Districts.
- 1892: The German Empire sends expeditions to RwandaRwandaRwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. Mogadisho is under an Italian protectorate. - 6 January 1892: The sultanates of Bajini, Hamahame, Hamamvu, Hambu, ItsandraItsandraItsandra was one of the two major sultanates on the island of Grand Comore before the French colonization of the Comoros. It was taken over by the Sultanate of Bambao in 1886 and became a part of the united Sultanate of Ngazidja.-References:**...
, La Dombe, Mbaku, Mbude, Mitsamihuli and Washili, in Grande Comore, are suppressed by France. The Sultanate of Grande Comore is suppressed 19 September 1893. - 23 February 1893: Nyasaland Districts is now known as British Central AfricaBritish Central AfricaThe British Central Africa Protectorate existed in the area of present-day Malawi between 1893 and 1907.-History:The Shire Highlands south of Lake Nyasa and the lands west of the lake had been of interest to the British since they were first explored by David Livingstone in the 1850s, and...
, under the administration of the British South Africa CompanyBritish South Africa CompanyThe British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
. - 1894: Yengar is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 23 January 1894: Foundation of the North ZambesiaZambiaZambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
protectorate by the union of Barotseland and the new protectorate of Bemba. Foundation of the South ZambesiaZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
protectorate by the union of the protectorates of Mashonaland and Matabeleland. - 11 April 1894: The British protectorate over Buganda is effective, and extended to Ankole, Bunyoro-Kitara and Tooro on 30 June 1896.
- November 1894: Walayta is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 1895: Antakarana is annexed to Madagascar. First mention of the Kingdom of Bukerewe, in Tanzania.
- 3 May 1895: Foundation of the British protectorate of Rhodesia by the union of North Zambesia and South Zambesia, under the administration of the British South Africa CompanyBritish South Africa CompanyThe British South Africa Company was established by Cecil Rhodes through the amalgamation of the Central Search Association and the Exploring Company Ltd., receiving a royal charter in 1889...
. - 1 July 1895: The British colony of East Africa is expanded from territories of Zanzibar and becomes the British East Africa Protectorate.
- c. 1896: First mention of the Kingdom of Butundwe, in Tanzania.
- 1896: A German military station is established at Kajaga, in Burundi, rendering effective the control of the region. The German Empire creates the military districts of Tanganyika-Kivu (comprising Rwanda) and UjijiUjijiUjiji is the oldest town in western Tanzania, located about 6 miles south of Kigoma. In 1900, the population was estimated at 10,000 and in 1967 about 4,100. Part of the Kigoma/Ujiji urban area, the regional population was about 50,000 in 1978....
(comprising Burundi) inside the German East Africa. The next year the station is relocated to Usumbura. - 28 January 1896: Sainte-Marie de Madagascar is annexed to Madagascar.
- 1 March 1896: Ethiopian victory over Italians at Battle of AdowaBattle of AdowaThe Battle of Adwa was fought on 1 March 1896 between Ethiopia and Italy near the town of Adwa, Ethiopia, in Tigray...
during the First Italo-Abyssinian war ensures its independence. - 30 March 1896: Mayotte is a dependency of Madagascar.
- 20 May 1896: The Protectorate of Obock becomes French SomalilandFrench SomalilandFrench Somaliland was a French colony in the Horn of Africa. Established after the French signed various treaties between 1883 and 1887 with the then ruling Somali Sultans, the colony lasted from 1896 until 1946, when it became an overseas territory of France....
. - 30 June 1896: Ankole, Bunyoro-Kitiara and Tooro become British protectorates.
- 6 August 1896: Diégo Suarez and Nossi-Bé are annexed to Madagascar, whose statute is now a French protectorate.
- 26 October 1896: Italy cease to claim a protectorate over Ethiopia.
- 14 November 1896: Kooki is annexed to Buganda.
- 28 February 1897: Madagascar becomes a colony.
- 20 July 1897: Monarchy is abolished in AmaGaza, after attempts beginning from 28 December 1895.
- 10 September 1897: Kafa is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 1898: Sheka is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 19 July 1898: Foundation of the Sultanate of Uhehe by the union of the Kingdoms of Ilole, Lungemba, Nguluhe, Udongwe and Usangu.
- 1899: The military district of Usumbura, including Burundi and Rwanda, is created within the German East Africa. Kazembe becomes a British protectorate administered by the British South Africa Company.
- 20th century: The monarchy is abolished in Kitangonya and Nkamanga. The Kingdom of Ruhangeri is annexed to Rwanda.
- 29 January 1900: Rhodesia is divided into two autonomous entities: Northern RhodesiaNorthern RhodesiaNorthern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
and Southern RhodesiaSouthern RhodesiaSouthern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
. - 1901: The Kingdom of Nyamutureza proclaims independence from Buzinja.
- 25 October 1901: Buhweju, Bunyaruguru, Buzimba, Igara, Kitagwenda, Kajara, Nshenyi, Obwera, Rujumbura and Rukiga are annexed to Ankole.
- 1902: Guma is annexed to Ethiopia. The monarchy is abolished in Karanga.
- 31 August 1903: Seychelles are a crown colony of the United Kingdom.
- 1904: Kazembe is annexed to North Rhodesia.
- 1905: Monarchy is abolished in Nandi.
- 16 March 1905: Benadir Coast and Mogadisho become a colony under the name Italian SomalilandItalian SomalilandItalian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
, a crown colony from July 1910. - 1 April 1905: Uganda becomes a colony.
- 1906: Burundi becomes a military residency of the German Empire.
- July 1906: Foundation of the Kingdom of Busoga from the union of the Kingdoms of Bugabula, Bugweri Bufutulu, Buima, Bukono, Bukooli, Bukwanga Kiki, Bulamogi, Bunha, Busiki, Buzaaya, Buzimba-Busoga, Kigulu and Luuka.
- 1907: Bukome is annexed to Ussuwi.
- 6 July 1907: British Central Africa is now known as NyasalandNyasalandNyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
. - 15 November 1907: The military residency of Burundi is split between the civil residencies of Ruanda and Urundi.
- 9 April 1908: Comoros is a dependency of MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
. - 3 September 1908: Geledi is annexed to Italian SomalilandItalian SomalilandItalian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
. - 1910: The monarch is abolished in Angoshe and Sankul.
- 25 July 1912: Comoros is annexed to Mayotte. In the same time the sultanates of Anjouan and Mohéli are abolished.
Colonies and mandates
- 23 February 1914: Comoros become a dependency of Madagascar.
- 1916: The Kingdoms of Bugama-Kiganda and Cyingogo are annexed to Ruanda. Bukwara is annexed to Kyamutwara.
- 19 May 1916: Belgium begins conquest of German East Africa, completed 18 September 1916, except for the area that will be known as TanganyikaTanganyikaTanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
. - 9 October 1916: The United Kingdom begins conquest of Tanganyika, completed 14 November 1918.
- 1918: Monarchy is abolished in Maasai.
- 1919: The Kingdoms of Bushiru and Bwanamwari are annexed to Ruanda.
- 30 May 1919: Following the Orts-Milner Convention, Ruanda and Burundi remains under Belgian administration.
- 1920s: Awsa is annexed to Ethiopia, but the monarchy remains.
- 10 January 1920: The Kionga TriangleKionga TriangleThe Kionga Triangle was a tiny territory on the border between German East Africa and the Portuguese colony of Portuguese East Africa , totalling just 1000 km² .Originally, the Germans established this as their outpost south of the Rovuma River, and there was a settlement...
is ceded from TanganyikaTanganyikaTanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
to Moçambique. - 23 July 1920: The British East Africa Protectorate becomes the Kenya Colony and Protectorate.
- September 1921: The Kingdom of Bushiru is independent of Ruanda.
- 20 July 1922: Burundi and Rwanda are under a Belgian mandate from the League of NationsLeague of NationsThe League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
under the name Ruanda-UrundiRuanda-UrundiRuanda-Urundi was a Belgian suzerainty from 1916 to 1924, a League of Nations Class B Mandate from 1924 to 1945 and then a United Nations trust territory until 1962, when it became the independent states of Rwanda and Burundi.- Overview :...
. Tanganyika is under a British mandate from the League of Nations. - 21 September 1923: Changamire is annexed to Southern Rhodesia.
- 1924: The Kingdom of Buhoma is annexed to Ruanda-Urundi.
- 1 May 1924: Rhodesia is dissolved into the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia and the colony of Southern Rhodesia.
- 15 July 1924: Britain cedes JubalandJubalandJubaland , also known as Azania or the Juba Valley and formerly as Trans-Juba , is an autonomous region in southern Somalia. Its eastern border lies 40–60 km east of the Jubba River, stretching from Gedo to the Indian Ocean, while its western side flanks the North Eastern Province in...
, part of Kenya, to Italy. - 1925: The Kingdom of Bushiru is annexed to Ruanda-Urundi, but the monarchy remains.
- October 1925: Hobyo is annexed to Italian SomalilandItalian SomalilandItalian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
. - 1926: Monarchy is abolished in Wanga.
- 1 March 1926: Ruanda-Urundi is a dependency of the Belgian Congo.
- 1 July 1926: Jubaland is annexed to Italian SomalilandItalian SomalilandItalian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
. - 1927: Majerteen is annexed to Italian Somaliland.
- 1931: The Kingdoms of Bukonya, Kibari and Rwankeri are annexed to Ruanda-Urundi.
- 1932: Kingdom of JimmaKingdom of JimmaThe Kingdom of Jimma was one of the kingdoms in the Gibe region of Ethiopia that emerged in the 19th century. It shared its western border with Limmu-Ennarea, its eastern border with the Sidamo kingdom of Janjero, and was separated from the Kingdom of Kaffa to the south by the Gojeb River. Jimma...
is annexed to Ethiopia. - 15 January 1935: Foundation of the Italian East AfricaItalian East AfricaItalian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
from the union of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland. - 3 October 1935: Italian invasion of Ethiopia (First Italo-Abyssinian WarFirst Italo-Abyssinian WarThe First Italo-Ethiopian War was fought between Italy and Ethiopia from 1895 to 1896. Ethiopia's military victory over Italy secured it the distinction of being the only African nation to successfully resist European colonialism with a decisive show of force.-Background:On March 25, 1889, the...
). - 9 May 1936: Ethiopia is occupied by Italy (Second Italo-Abyssinian WarSecond Italo-Abyssinian WarThe Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
). - 1 June 1936: Ethiopia is added to Italian East AfricaItalian East AfricaItalian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
, now divided in six provinces: Addis AbabaAddis AbabaAddis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, Amhara, Eritrea, Galla-Sidamo, HararHararHarar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
and SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. - August 1938: Monarchy is abolished in the Kingdom of Bushiru.
- 1 January 1939: The province of Scioa is created in Italian East Africa from Addis Ababa and parts of Amhara and Galla-Sidamo.
- 19 August 1940: Italian occupation of British Somaliland until 16 March 1941.
- February 1941: British occupation of Italian Somaliland until 21 November 1949.
- March 1941: British occupation of OgadenOgadenOgaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
in Ethiopia until 23 September 1948. - 5 May 1941: British occupation of Eritrea.
- 27 November 1941: Ethiopia is completely liberated by the AlliesAlliesIn everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
- 1942: British occupation of Réunion, until 1946.
- 5 May 1942: Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa from exile, exactly 5 years after having fled from it.
- 5 May 1942: British occupation of Madagascar, until 13 October 1946.
- 2 July 1942: British occupation of Mayotte, until 1946.
- 25 September 1942: BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
occupation of Comoros. - December 1942: British occupation of French Somaliland.
Autonomy
- 19 March 1946: Réunion becomes an overseas département of France.
- 13 October 1946: End of the British occupation of Comoros.
- 27 October 1946: Comoros, Madagascar and French Somaliland become overseas territories of France.
- 11 December 1946: Tanganyika is under a British trust territory mandate from the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. - 13 December 1946: Ruanda-Urundi is under a Belgian trust territory mandate from the United Nations.
- 1 April 1950: Italian Somalilant is under an Italian trust territory mandate from the United Nations.
- 19 February 1951: Eritrea is under a British trust territory mandate from the United Nations.
- 11 June 1951: Moçambique becomes an overseas province.
- 15 September 1952: Eritrea federated with Ethiopia as an autonomous State.
- 1 August 1953: Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland and Southern Rhodesia are parts of the Federation of Rhodesia and NyasalandFederation of Rhodesia and NyasalandThe Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, also known as the Central African Federation , was a semi-independent state in southern Africa that existed from 1953 to the end of 1963, comprising the former self-governing colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia,...
, until 31 December 1963. - 1955: The Kingdom of Chako is annexed to Ethiopia.
- 14 October 1958: Madagascar gains autonomy from France under the name Malagasy Republic.
- 20 June 1960: Ruanda-Urundi is separated from the Belgian Congo.
- 26 June 1960: Madagascar proclaims independence from France. British Somaliland proclaims independence from the United Kingdom under the name State of Somaliland.
- 1 July 1960: Creation of the Somali Republic by the unification of the State of Somaliland with the Italian Somaliland.
- 18 October 1960: Rwanda gains autonomy from Belgium, then becomes the Rwandan Republic from 28 January 1961.
- 31 December 1960: Buganda proclaims independence from the United Kingdom.
- 1 May 1961: Tanganyika gains autonomy from the United Kingdom, then proclaims independence on 9 December.
- 21 December 1961: Burundi gains autonomy from Belgium.
- 22 December 1961: Comoros gains autonomy from France under the name State of Comoros.
- 1 March 1962: Uganda gains autonomy from the United Kingdom.
Independence
- 1 July 1962: Burundi (as the Kingdom of Burundi) and the Rwandan Republic proclaim their independence from Belgium.
- 9 October 1962: Uganda proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, taking back Buganda in the process, and becomes the Republic of Uganda from 9 October 1963.
- 14 November 1962: Autonomy of Eritrea is dissolved by Eritrean parliament (with possible interference by the Emperor of Ethiopia).
- 9 December 1962: Tanganyika is renamed Republic of Tanganyika, while the traditional monarchies of the countries are abolished, except for the Kingdom of Shambalai.
- 13 February 1963: The Kingdom of Rwenzururu proclaims independence from Tooro as an autonomous part of Uganda.
- 9 May 1963: Nyasaland gains autonomy from the United Kingdom, followed by Kenya on 1 June and Zanzibar on 24 June.
- 10 December 1963: The Sultanate of Zanzibar proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, followed by Kenya on 12 December.
- 12 January 1964: The Sultanate of Zanzibar is renamed People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba.
- 18 January 1964: Pemba People's Republic proclaims independence from Zanzibar and Pemba, with reintegration before the end of the month.
- 22 January 1964: Northern Rhodesia gains autonomy from the United Kingdom.
- 27 April 1964: Creation of the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar from the union of the Republic of Tanganyika and the People's Republic of Zanzibar and Pemba. Its name changes to United Republic of Tanzania on 29 October.
- 6 July 1964: Nyasaland proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, under the name Malawi.
- 24 October 1964: Northern Rhodesia proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, under the name Republic of Zambia, but local monarchies are recognized until October 1969. Southern Rhodesia changes its name to Rhodesia.
- 12 December 1964: The monarchy is abolished in Kenya and it is known as the Republic of Kenya.
- 11 November 1965: Rhodesia proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, renamed Republic of Rhodesia from 2 March 1970, then Zimbabwe Rhodesia on 1 June 1979.
- 24 May 1966: Monarchy is abolished in Buganda, then in Ankole, Bunyoro-Kitara and Tooro from 8 September 1967.
- 6 July 1966: The monarchy is abolished in Malawi and it is known as the Republic of Malawi.
- 28 November 1966: The Kingdom of Burundi becomes the Republic of Burundi.
- 5 July 1967: French Somaliland becomes the French Territory of Afars and Issas.
- 12 March 1968: Mauritius proclaims independence from the United Kingdom.
- 21 October 1969: The Somali Republic becomes the Somali Democratic Republic.
- 12 November 1970: Seychelles gains autonomy from the United Kingdom.
- 1 May 1972: The Republic of MartyazoMartyazoThe Republic of Martyazo was a secessionist state proclaimed by Hutu rebels in Burundi on 1 May 1972. The state was located inside the mountainous Vuzigo commune, between the Makamba and Lake Nyanza...
is proclaimed by HutuHutuThe Hutu , or Abahutu, are a Central African people, living mainly in Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern DR Congo.-Population statistics:The Hutu are the largest of the three peoples in Burundi and Rwanda; according to the United States Central Intelligence Agency, 84% of Rwandans and 85% of Burundians...
rebels in Burundi. - 9 May 1972: Burundi puts an end to the secession of Martyazo.
- 12 September 1974: The Emperor of Ethiopia is overthrown and Ethiopia, resulting in a 17-year long civil war.
- 20 September 1974: Moçambique gains autonomy from Portugal.
- 21 March 1975: The monarchy is abolished in Ethiopia and is ruled by a military junta called the DergDergThe Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
. - 2 June 1975: The monarchy is abolished in Awsa, Ethiopia.
- 25 June 1975: Moçambique proclaims independence from Portugal under the name People's Republic of Mozambique, a civil war goes from March 1976 to 9 October 1992.
- 6 July 1975: Comoros proclaims independence from France, recognized 31 December 1975, while Mayotte remains a French territory following a 22 December 1974 referendum.
- 30 December 1975: The Malagasy Republic becomes the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.
- 29 June 1976: Seychelles proclaims independence from the United Kingdom as the Republic of Seychelles.
- 24 December 1976: Mayotte becomes a collectivité territorialeCollectivité territorialeA Territorial collectivity within the French Republic is the generic name for all subnational entities and dependent areas which have an elected local government and a "certain freedom of administration".- Categories :* Regions: There are 22 regions in metropolitan France and 5 ROM...
- 27 June 1977: The French Territory of Afars and Issas proclaims independence from France under the name Republic of Djibouti.
- 24 May 1978: The State of Comoros becomes the Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros.
- 11 April 1979: Tanzanian occupation of Uganda until 1 July 1981.
- 12 December 1979: Zimbabwe Rhodesia renounces to its independence to become a colony of the United Kingdom.
- 17 April 1980: Zimbabwe proclaims independence from the United Kingdom, renamed Republic of Zimbabwe from 17 April 1991.
Era of troubles
- 10 September 1987: Ethiopia becomes the People's Democratic Republic of EthiopiaPeople's Democratic Republic of EthiopiaThe People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was the official name of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991, as established by the Communist government of Mengistu Haile Mariam and the Workers' Party of Ethiopia...
. - 1 December 1990: The People's Republic of Mozamnbique is now known as Republic of Mozambique.
- 18 May 1991: SomalilandSomalilandSomaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state that is internationally recognised as an autonomous region of Somalia. The government of Somaliland regards itself as the successor state to the British Somaliland protectorate, which was independent for a few days in 1960 as the State of...
proclaims independence from the Somali Democratic Republic. - 27 May 1991: The People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is simply known as Ethiopia with the overthrow of the DergDergThe Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
. - 21 July 1991: The Somali Democratic Republic becomes the Somali Republic.
- 12 March 1992: The monarchy is abolished in Mauritius and it is known as Republic of Mauritius.
- 12 September 1992: The Democratic Republic of Madagascar becomes the Republic of Madagascar.
- 24 May 1993: Eritrea proclaims independence from Ethiopia.
- 24 July 1993: The autonomous Kingdoms of Buganda, Bunyoro-Kitara and Tooro are created inside the Republic of Uganda.
- 20 November 1993: Proclamation of the autonomous Kingdom of Ankole, inside the Republic of Uganda.
- 22 August 1995: Ethiopia becomes the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Nine autonomous regions and two chartered cities were created: Afar RegionAfar RegionAfar is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, and is the homeland of the Afar people. Formerly known as Region 2, its current capital is Asayita; a new capital named Semera on the paved Awash - Asseb highway is under construction....
, Amhara RegionAmhara RegionAmhara is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, containing the homeland of the Amhara people. Previously known as Region 3, its capital is Bahir Dar....
, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Gambela RegionGambela RegionGambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
, Harari RegionHarari RegionHarari or officially, Harari People's National Regional State is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, covering the homeland of the Harari people...
, Oromia RegionOromia RegionOromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, Somali RegionSomali RegionSomali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's RegionSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and People's RegionSouthern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of the former Regions 7-11 following the 1994 elections...
, Tigray RegionTigray RegionTigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
, Addis AbabaAddis AbabaAddis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
and Dire DawaDire DawaDire Dawa is one of two chartered cities in Ethiopia . This chartered city is divided administratively into two woredas, the city proper and the non-urban woreda of Gurgura....
. - 3 August 1997: Anjouan proclaims independence from Comoros, endorsed by a referendum 26 October 1997.
- 11 August 1997: Mohéli proclaims independence from Comoros, ending in 1998.
- 23 July 1998: Proclamation of the autonomous Puntland State inside the Somali Republic, followed by the State of Jubaland on 3 September 1998.
- 11 July 2001: Mayotte becomes a collectivité départementaleCollectivité départementaleDepartmental collectivity is a legal designation used to describe the particular status of French overseas collectivity of Mayotte between 2001 and 2011. The term is used to indicate that Mayotte at the time was similar to a French Department but not yet an overseas department. The term was made...
. - 23 December 2001: The Federal and Islamic Republic of Comoros becomes the Union of Comoros, following a constitutional referendum. On 10 March 2002 Anjouan ends its secession and becomes, with Mohéli, autonomous regions, followed by Grande Comore on 7 April.
- 1 April 2002: Proclamation of the autonomous State of Southwestern SomaliaSouthwestern SomaliaSouthwestern Somalia was an ostensibly autonomous self-proclaimed state in Somalia founded by Hasan Muhammad Nur Shatigadud, leader of the Rahanweyn Resistance Army on April 1, 2002...
inside the Somali Republic. - 30 April 2002: The province of AntsirananaAntsirananaAntsiranana , named Diego-Suarez prior to 1975, is a city at the northern tip of Madagascar.Antsiranana is the capital of Diana Region.-Transports:...
proclaims independence from Madagascar under the name Confederation of Madagascar (until 1 July), followed by ToamasinaToamasinaToamasina , meaning "like salt" or "salty", unofficially and in French also Tamatave, is a city on the east coast of Madagascar on the Indian Ocean. The city is the chief seaport of the country, situated northeast of its capital and biggest city Antananarivo, near the centre of the eastern coast...
from 1 May to 5 July, ToliaraToliara-References:...
from 2 May to 14 June, MahajangaMahajangaMahajanga is a city and a district on the north-west coast of Madagascar.- City :The City of Mahajanga is the capital of the Boeny region. Population: 135,660 ....
from 3 May to 13 June. - 12 October 2002: Rodrigues becomes an autonomous part of Mauritius.
- 5 June 2003: The Rwandan Republic becomes the Republic of Rwanda.
- 14 August 2006: Proclamation of the autonomous State of GalmudugGalmudugGalmudug is an autonomous region in central Somalia. It is bordered to its north by the Puntland region, to the west by Ethiopia, and to the south by other regions of Somalia.Galmudug's name is derived from a conflation of the Galguduud and Mudug provinces...
inside the Somali Republic.