- Europe
Independence of the Congo
The Belgian Congo became the independent Democratic Republic of the Congo, ending Belgium's central African colony amid turmoil and a swift descent into crisis.
Era: A Federal Kingdom at the Heart of Europe
Sources: Belgian Congo · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence as the Republic of Dahomey
Dahomey became a fully independent state on 1 August 1960, with Hubert Maga as its first president, ending French colonial rule.
Era: Behanzin, the French conquest, and colonial Dahomey
Sources: Benin — History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hubert Maga (1916–2000) · BlackPast.org
- Africa
Independence of Upper Volta
Upper Volta gains full independence from France; Maurice Yaméogo becomes its first president.
Era: Independence and the Cycle of Coups
Sources: Background Notes: Burkina Faso · U.S. Department of State, Maurice Yaméogo · Wikipedia, List of heads of state of Burkina Faso · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence of French Cameroun
The UN trusteeship administered by France ended and French Cameroun became an independent republic, with Ahmadou Ahidjo as its first president.
Era: Independence, reunification and the Ahidjo years
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Cameroon · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Ahmadou Ahidjo · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cameroon (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence from France
The Central African Republic became fully independent, with David Dacko as its first president and Bangui as its capital.
Era: French Equatorial Africa to Independence
Sources: Central African Republic — Independence · Encyclopaedia Britannica, David Dacko · Wikipedia, Central African Republic — Country Profile · CIA World Factbook
- Africa
Independence under Tombalbaye
Chad gained full independence from France, with François Tombalbaye as first president; his southern-centred, authoritarian rule soon stoked northern grievances.
Era: Independence and civil war
Sources: Chad — Independence, Civil War, Lake Chad · Encyclopaedia Britannica, François Tombalbaye · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence under Fulbert Youlou
The Republic of the Congo became independent on 15 August 1960 with the Abbé Fulbert Youlou as its first president, a pro-Western leader who kept close ties to France.
Era: Independence, Youlou, and the Marxist People's Republic
Sources: Fulbert Youlou · Wikipedia, Republic of the Congo · Encyclopædia Britannica, The Republic of the Congo Gains Independence From France · African American Registry
- Asia
Independence and the Treaty of Guarantee
The Republic of Cyprus became independent under a Greek-Turkish power-sharing constitution; the Treaty of Guarantee bound Britain, Greece and Turkey to its independence and territorial integrity, and Britain kept two Sovereign Base Areas.
Era: Independence, the Breakdown of Power-Sharing and UNFICYP
Sources: Treaty of Guarantee, signed at Nicosia, 16 August 1960 · United Nations Peacemaker, A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic and Consular Relations: Cyprus · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Independence from Belgium
The Congo becomes independent with Lumumba as prime minister and Kasa-Vubu as president.
Era: Belgian Congo & Independence
Sources: Patrice Lumumba · Wikipedia, Congo, Democratic Republic of the · CIA World Factbook
- Africa
Independence under Léon M'ba
Gabon became an independent republic on 17 August 1960, with Léon M'ba as its first leader; he was formally elected president in February 1961, maintaining close ties to France.
Era: Independence, oil, and the Bongo era
Sources: Léon M'ba · Wikipedia, History of Gabon · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Africa
Independence under Houphouët-Boigny
After choosing autonomy within the French Community in a 1958 referendum, Côte d'Ivoire became a fully independent republic on 7 August 1960, with Félix Houphouët-Boigny as its first president.
Era: Colony, forced labour, and the road to independence
Sources: Côte d'Ivoire gains independence from France · South African History Online, History of Côte d'Ivoire · Encyclopædia Britannica, History of Ivory Coast · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence from France
Madagascar becomes a sovereign republic; Philibert Tsiranana is its first president.
Era: Independence & the Republics
Sources: Madagascar · Encyclopædia Britannica, Madagascar Gains Independence From France · African American Registry
- Africa
Independence of the Republic of Mali
The former French Soudan becomes the independent Republic of Mali; Modibo Keïta becomes its first president the following day.
Era: French Soudan and Independence
Sources: Modibo Keita (1915–1977) · BlackPast.org, Modibo Keita — 1st President of Mali · Encyclopædia Britannica, Mali Federation · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence of the Islamic Republic
Mauritania gains full independence from France; Moktar Ould Daddah leads the new state and becomes its first president in 1961.
Era: Independence and the Daddah Republic
Sources: Moktar Ould Daddah · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Moktar Ould Daddah (1924–2003) · BlackPast.org, Mauritania · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Niger gains independence
Niger became a sovereign republic on 3 August 1960 with Hamani Diori as its first president; the United States recognised it the same day. Diori established a one-party state closely tied to France.
Era: Independence, uranium and the long droughts
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Niger · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Hamani Diori · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hamani Diori (1916–1989) · BlackPast.org
- Africa
Nigeria gains independence
Nigeria became an independent state within the Commonwealth on 1 October 1960, with Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa as its first prime minister; it became a republic in 1963.
Era: British conquest, amalgamation and colonial Nigeria
Sources: Nigeria (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the History of Recognition: Nigeria · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Nigeria gained independence from the United Kingdom · South African History Online
- Asia
Independence of the Republic of Cyprus
Cyprus became an independent bicommunal republic under a power-sharing constitution, with Makarios III as president and Fazıl Küçük as Turkish-Cypriot vice-president, and Britain retaining sovereign base areas.
Era: The Bicommunal Republic and Its Breakdown
Sources: Cyprus - History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Cyprus: A Country Study · U.S. Library of Congress (Federal Research Division)
- Africa
Independence within the Mali Federation
France grants the Mali Federation independence, transferring power on 4 April 1960; full independence follows on 20 June.
Era: Independence and the Senghor Republic
Sources: Mali Federation · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mali Federation · Wikipedia
- Africa
Senegal proclaims separate independence
After the federation collapses, Senegal secedes and proclaims its own independence; Senghor is elected first president.
Era: Independence and the Senghor Republic
Sources: Mali Federation · Wikipedia, Léopold Sédar Senghor (web dossier) · African Studies Centre Leiden
- Africa
Birth of the Somali Republic
British Somaliland (independent 26 June) and the former Italian Somaliland unite on 1 July 1960 to form the independent Somali Republic, with Aden Abdullah Osman Daar as first president.
Era: Independence, Union and the Siad Barre Era
Sources: Somalia (country and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Background Notes: Somalia · U.S. Department of State, Trust Territory of Somaliland · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence of the State of Somaliland
The British Somaliland Protectorate became the independent State of Somaliland on 26 June 1960, briefly receiving diplomatic recognition from a number of governments before its planned union with the south.
Era: Five Days of Statehood and the Union of 1960
Sources: State of Somaliland · Wikipedia, British Somaliland · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence of the Republic of Togo
French Togoland became the fully independent Republic of Togo, ending UN trusteeship; the United States recognised the new state the same day, and Olympio was elected its first president in 1961.
Era: Independence and the killing of Olympio
Sources: Sylvanus Olympio · Wikipedia, French Togoland · Wikipedia, A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Togo · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Togo Gains Independence From France · African American Registry, Togo (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
The British Cameroons plebiscite
In a UN-supervised vote the Northern Cameroons chose to join Nigeria while the Southern Cameroons chose to reunite with the Republic of Cameroon.
Era: Independence, reunification and the Ahidjo years
Sources: 1961 British Cameroons referendum · Wikipedia, Cameroon (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Asia
Independence from Britain
Kuwait and Britain ended the 1899 protectorate agreement and Kuwait declared full sovereignty under Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salim Al-Sabah, despite an immediate Iraqi claim.
Era: Oil, Independence, and the Welfare State
Sources: Kuwait: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Remembering the Father of Democracy in the Gulf, Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem · Middle East Institute
- Africa
Independence from the United Kingdom
Sierra Leone became an independent state within the Commonwealth under Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai, ending British colonial rule begun in 1808.
Era: Protectorate, the Hut Tax War, and independence
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Sierra Leone · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Milton Augustus Margai (1895–1964) · BlackPast.org
- Africa
Tanganyika gains independence
Mainland Tanganyika becomes independent from Britain under Nyerere and TANU; it becomes a republic with Nyerere as president on 9 December 1962.
Era: Independence, Revolution and the Union
Sources: Julius Nyerere · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Tanganyika (1961–1964) · Wikipedia
- Africa
Évian Accords
France and the FLN sign the Évian Accords, agreeing a ceasefire and a self-determination referendum that will lead to Algerian independence.
Era: The War of Independence
Sources: Algerian War · EBSCO Research Starters, The Algerian War of Independence · Lumen Learning / SUNY World History
- Africa
Independence proclaimed
After a referendum on 1 July and French recognition on 3 July, Algeria proclaims its independence on 5 July 1962, ending 132 years of French rule.
Era: The War of Independence
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Algeria · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Ahmed Ben Bella · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence under the monarchy
Burundi becomes independent from Belgium as a constitutional monarchy under Mwami Mwambutsa IV, separating from Rwanda and retaining its throne.
Era: Ruanda-Urundi: German and Belgian Rule
Sources: History of Burundi · Wikipedia, Burundi: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Mwambutsa IV of Burundi · Wikipedia
- North America
Independence
Jamaica becomes an independent nation within the Commonwealth, with Alexander Bustamante as its first prime minister.
Era: Self-Government and Independence
Sources: Jamaica: The independent country · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Independence · Jamaica Information Service
- Africa
Independence from Belgium
Rwanda becomes a sovereign republic with Grégoire Kayibanda as first president, ending Belgian rule of Ruanda-Urundi; Burundi gains independence the same day.
Era: Revolution, Independence and Exile
Sources: History of Rwanda · Wikipedia, Rise of Rwanda · EBSCO Research Starters
- North America
Independence from Britain
Trinidad and Tobago became an independent state within the Commonwealth, with Eric Williams as first prime minister; the United States recognised the nation the same day.
Era: Eric Williams, independence, and the republic
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Trinidad and Tobago · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Eric Williams · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Trinidad and Tobago: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Uganda gains independence
Uganda becomes independent from the United Kingdom with Milton Obote as prime minister; the constitution preserves a federal status for Buganda and the other kingdoms.
Era: Independence and the First Obote Era
Sources: History of Uganda · Encyclopaedia Britannica, U.S. Relations With Uganda / History · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Milton Obote (1925–2005) · BlackPast.org
- Africa
Internal self-government (Madaraka)
Kenya attains internal self-government under a KANU government led by Kenyatta, six months before full independence.
Era: Mau Mau and the Road to Independence
Sources: History of Kenya · Wikipedia, U.S. Relations With Kenya / History · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Kenya becomes independent
Kenya gains independence from the United Kingdom with Jomo Kenyatta as prime minister; one year later, on 12 December 1964, it becomes a republic.
Era: Mau Mau and the Road to Independence
Sources: Mau Mau Rebellion · Encyclopaedia Britannica, U.S. Relations With Kenya / History · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Jomo Kenyatta · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Malawi independent
Nyasaland became the independent state of Malawi within the Commonwealth, with Hastings Kamuzu Banda as prime minister; the United States recognised the new nation the same day.
Era: Federation, Banda and independence
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Malawi · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Malawi (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Hastings Kamuzu Banda · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Independence
Malta became an independent sovereign state within the Commonwealth on 21 September 1964, ending more than a century and a half of British colonial rule.
Era: The George Cross Island and the European Republic
Sources: Malta: Modern history (British rule and independence) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence of Zambia
Northern Rhodesia became the independent Republic of Zambia, named after the Zambezi, with Kenneth Kaunda as its first president.
Era: Federation, nationalism and independence
Sources: Kenneth Kaunda · New World Encyclopedia, Kaunda Becomes Zambia's First President · EBSCO Research Starters, Northern Rhodesia · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence from the United Kingdom
The Gambia became independent within the Commonwealth as a constitutional monarchy, with Dawda Jawara as prime minister; the United States acknowledged independence the same day at ceremonies in Bathurst.
Era: Independence, republic and the Jawara years
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: The Gambia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, The Gambia (country overview and history) · Encyclopaedia Britannica, History of the Gambia · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence of Botswana
The protectorate becomes the Republic of Botswana with Seretse Khama as first president, entering nationhood as one of the world's poorest states.
Era: Independence, Diamonds and Democracy
Sources: History of Botswana · Wikipedia, Sir Seretse Khama · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Bechuanaland Protectorate · Wikipedia
- South America
Independence of Guyana
British Guiana becomes the independent nation of Guyana within the Commonwealth, with Forbes Burnham as first prime minister and Cheddi Jagan as opposition leader.
Era: Jagan, Burnham and the Road to Independence
Sources: Guyana — Independence, Ethnicity, Politics · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Guyana · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Africa
Independence as the Kingdom of Lesotho
Basutoland becomes the independent Kingdom of Lesotho under King Moshoeshoe II and Prime Minister Leabua Jonathan, ending British rule.
Era: High Commission Territory to Independence
Sources: History of Lesotho · Wikipedia, Leabua Jonathan · Wikipedia, 1966: Lesotho Becomes Independent · History Central
- Asia
Independence of South Yemen
After the British withdrawal, the People's Republic of Southern Yemen declared independence with Aden as its capital, later becoming the Marxist People's Democratic Republic of Yemen.
Era: The Two Yemens: Revolution and Independence
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country, since 1776: Yemen · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Yemen: History (ancient kingdoms, Islam, the imamate, unification and war) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence from Spain
After a 1968 constitutional referendum and September elections won by Francisco Macías Nguema, the Republic of Equatorial Guinea became independent from Spain on 12 October 1968, uniting Bioko, Río Muni and Annobón.
Era: Spanish Guinea and the road to independence
Sources: History of Equatorial Guinea · Encyclopædia Britannica, History of Equatorial Guinea · Wikipedia, Spanish Guinea · Wikipedia, Equatorial Guinea · New World Encyclopedia
- Africa
Independence of Swaziland
Swaziland becomes an independent kingdom, free of British rule, with Sobhuza II as head of state under a Westminster-style constitution.
Era: British Territory and the Road to Independence
Sources: Background Note: Swaziland · U.S. Department of State, Sobhuza II · Encyclopaedia Britannica, History of Eswatini · Wikipedia
- Africa
Independence from the United Kingdom
Mauritius becomes an independent state within the Commonwealth, with Seewoosagur Ramgoolam as first prime minister.
Era: The Road to Independence
Sources: Mauritius — Independence, Economy, Culture · Encyclopædia Britannica, Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900–1985) · BlackPast.org
- Asia
Britain announces withdrawal from the Gulf
The British government declared it would withdraw its forces and end its treaty role in the Gulf by the end of 1971, prompting the Trucial rulers to plan a federation.
Era: The Fall of Pearls, the Rise of Oil, and Federation
Sources: History of the United Arab Emirates · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Sheikh Rashid ibn Saeed Al Maktoum · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Independence in the 1960s
Every event in the Terralore archive tagged independence — declarations, recognitions and transfers of sovereignty, narrowed to the 1960s — 47 of them, drawn from 43 nations, running from 1960 to 1968. Each entry keeps the sources it was verified against and links back to the chronicle it came from.
- Events
- 47
- Nations
- 43
- Earliest
- 1960
- Latest
- 1968
- Africa
- 37
- Asia
- 5
- Europe
- 2
- North America
- 2
- South America
- 1
Every entry below is the same record, with the same sources, as the one on its nation’s chronicle.