- Europe
Declaration on the Restoration of Independence
The Supreme Council of Latvia adopted the declaration restoring independence, reaffirming the 1918 constitution and declaring the 1940 Soviet occupation illegal.
Era: Soviet Rule, Restoration and the Return to Europe
Sources: May 4th: Latvia's Path to Independence · Latvia.eu (Latvian Institute), About the Museum · Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
- Europe
Restoration of independence
The Supreme Council adopted the Act on the Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania, making Lithuania the first Soviet republic to declare the restoration of its independence.
Era: Restoration of Independence and a European Lithuania
Sources: March the 11th: path to the restoration of the independent State of Lithuania · Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (lrs.lt), History of Lithuania · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Independence and Nujoma's inauguration
At midnight on 21 March 1990 the Namibian flag was raised in Windhoek, ending South African rule, and Sam Nujoma was sworn in as the first president of the independent Republic of Namibia.
Era: Independent Namibia since 1990
Sources: Namibia · Wikipedia, Namibia (country, history and government) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Asia
Independence from the Soviet Union
Armenians approved independence by referendum and the Supreme Council declared secession from the U.S.S.R.; the United States recognised Armenia on 25 December 1991.
Era: Independent Armenia
Sources: A Guide to the History of Recognition: Armenia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Armenia — Caucasus, Soviet Union, Genocide (Modern Armenia) · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Asia
Independence restored
Azerbaijan adopted the Constitutional Act on State Independence, declaring itself successor to the 1918 republic; the US recognised it on 25 December 1991.
Era: Independence, the Aliyev era and Karabakh
Sources: Azerbaijan: Russian suzerainty and the road to independence · Encyclopædia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Azerbaijan · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Europe
Independence of Belarus
After declaring sovereignty on 27 July 1990, the Supreme Soviet gave the declaration constitutional force on 25 August 1991 in the wake of the Moscow coup, proclaiming the independent Republic of Belarus.
Era: Chernobyl, Independence and the Lukashenka Era
Sources: Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus (1990) · International Constitutional Law / University of Bern, Belarus: The emergence of the Belorussian S.S.R. · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Declaration of independence
The Croatian Sabor declared independence from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991; rebel Serbs backed by the Yugoslav army seized nearly a third of the country and proclaimed the Republic of Serbian Krajina, igniting war.
Era: Independence, the War and the Modern Republic
Sources: Franjo Tudjman · Encyclopaedia Britannica, The Conflicts (former Yugoslavia) · International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
- Africa
EPLF captures Asmara
As the Derg regime collapses in Ethiopia, EPLF forces enter Asmara, winning de facto independence and forming a provisional government.
Era: Federation, Annexation and the Thirty-Year War
Sources: Eritrean People's Liberation Front · Wikipedia, Eritrean War of Independence · Wikipedia
- Europe
Restoration of independence
The Supreme Council voted to restore Estonian independence on the basis of legal continuity with the 1918 republic during the failed Moscow coup; recognition and UN membership swiftly followed.
Era: The Singing Revolution, Restoration and the Return to Europe
Sources: Taking back what was theirs: the restoration of Estonia's independence in August 1991 · ERR (Estonian Public Broadcasting), What Made the Restoration of Estonian Independence Possible? (non-recognition and state continuity) · International Centre for Defence and Security (ICDS)
- Asia
Independence restored
Following a referendum on 31 March, the Supreme Council adopted the Act restoring Georgia's independence on 9 April 1991, two years after the April 9 tragedy.
Era: Republic, Soviet Conquest and the Georgian SSR
Sources: Georgia: Independent Georgia · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country: Georgia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Asia
Kazakhstan declares independence
Kazakhstan proclaims itself a sovereign, independent state, the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence, with Nursultan Nazarbayev as president; the USSR formally dissolves days later.
Era: Independent Kazakhstan
Sources: Kazakhstan: Independent Kazakhstan · Encyclopædia Britannica, History of Kazakhstan · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Asia
Kyrgyzstan declares independence
As the Soviet Union collapsed, the Supreme Soviet of the republic declared Kyrgyzstan's independence; Askar Akayev became the first president of the sovereign state, with its capital at Bishkek.
Era: Independence and the Akayev Years
Sources: Kyrgyzstan: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Askar Akayev · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Full restoration of independence
After the collapse of the Moscow coup, the Supreme Council adopted a constitutional law fully restoring the independence of the Republic of Latvia, soon recognised internationally.
Era: Soviet Rule, Restoration and the Return to Europe
Sources: May 4th: Latvia's Path to Independence · Latvia.eu (Latvian Institute), History of Latvia · Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia
- Europe
Declaration of Independence
Moldova's parliament declared independence from the Soviet Union on 27 August 1991, in the wake of the failed Moscow coup, with Mircea Snegur as the new state's first president.
Era: Independence, the Transnistria Conflict and the Road to Europe
Sources: Mircea Snegur, Who Led Moldova's Independence Drive and Became President, Dies at 83 · Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Moldova: History · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Independence referendum
Citizens voted by some 96 percent for independence, and the republic seceded peacefully from Yugoslavia under President Kiro Gligorov, alone among the Yugoslav republics in avoiding war.
Era: Independence and the Name Dispute with Greece
Sources: North Macedonia: Independence · Encyclopaedia Britannica, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: North Macedonia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Europe
Moldova's independence and the Romanian bond
As the Soviet Union dissolved, the former Bessarabia declared independence as the Republic of Moldova, immediately recognised by Romania, with which it shares the Romanian language and a common history.
Era: Revolution, democracy and the European turn
Sources: Moldova · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Moldova and Romania: A Long and Complicated Relationship · Origins (Ohio State University / Miami University)
- Europe
Dissolution of the Soviet Union
Weakened by economic stagnation, nationalist movements, and a failed August coup, the USSR is dissolved; Mikhail Gorbachev resigns on 25 December 1991 and the Soviet flag is lowered over the Kremlin for the last time.
Era: The Soviet Union
Sources: The collapse of the Soviet Union · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Soviet Union · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Birth of the Russian Federation
As the USSR dissolves, the Russian Federation becomes its principal successor state, inheriting the Soviet UN Security Council seat and nuclear arsenal, with Boris Yeltsin as its first president.
Era: Post-Soviet Russia
Sources: Russia · Encyclopaedia Britannica, The collapse of the Soviet Union · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
Independence and the Ten-Day War
Slovenia declared independence on 25 June 1991; the Yugoslav army's intervention sparked the Ten-Day War, which the Slovenes won, leading to the Brioni Declaration of 7 July and the withdrawal of federal forces.
Era: Socialist Yugoslavia and the Road to Independence
Sources: Independence and Unity Day (the 1990 plebiscite) · Government of Slovenia (gov.si), Slovenia since 1918 · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Brioni Agreement and the end of the Ten-Day War · Zentrum fur Osteuropa- und internationale Studien (ZOiS)
- Africa
Declaration restoring Somaliland's independence
Meeting at Burao as Somalia collapsed, clan elders and the SNM declared the north's withdrawal from the 1960 union and the restoration of its independence — a declaration that won no international recognition.
Era: Restoration and the Building of a State
Sources: Somaliland Declaration of Independence · Wikipedia, Somaliland at 30: Still unrecognised, but alive and well · African Arguments
- Asia
Declaration of independence
As the Soviet Union disintegrates, the Supreme Soviet of the Tajik SSR declares the state independence of the Republic of Tajikistan — the country's founding moment and national day.
Era: Russian Conquest and the Soviet Republic
Sources: Tajikistan — Independence · Encyclopædia Britannica, History of Tajikistan · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Asia
Independence declared
Turkmenistan declared independence from the Soviet Union, with Saparmurat Niyazov as its first president; the United States recognised the new state in December 1991 and opened relations in 1992.
Era: Independence and the Neutral Republic
Sources: A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations, by Country: Turkmenistan · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Turkmenistan · Encyclopædia Britannica
- Europe
Declaration of independence
Amid the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's parliament declared independence on 24 August 1991, confirmed by referendum on 1 December with over 90 percent voting in favour.
Era: Soviet Ukraine, the Holodomor and the Second World War
Sources: History of Ukraine · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Asia
Uzbekistan declares independence
The Supreme Council of the Uzbek SSR declares independence on 31 August 1991; 1 September becomes Independence Day, and a December referendum confirms it with Islam Karimov as first president.
Era: Independent Uzbekistan
Sources: Uzbekistan — Countries (U.S. recognition and relations) · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Islam Karimov — Central Asian leader · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Africa
Return to multiparty democracy
After food riots and mounting pressure, Kaunda lifted the ban on opposition parties; Frederick Chiluba and the Movement for Multiparty Democracy won the elections, and Kaunda handed over power peacefully.
Era: The republic: Humanism, multiparty politics and modern Zambia
Sources: Kenneth Kaunda · New World Encyclopedia, Zambia Politics: Kaunda · GlobalSecurity.org
- Europe
Independence referendum
Bosnians voted overwhelmingly for independence in a referendum largely boycotted by Serbs; the country was recognised internationally and joined the UN on 22 May 1992.
Era: Independence, the Bosnian War and the Srebrenica Genocide
Sources: The Breakup of Yugoslavia, 1990–1992 · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, Siege of Sarajevo (1992–96) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
International recognition
Croatia won international recognition as a sovereign state in 1992; the United States recognised it on 7 April 1992, and the country was admitted to the United Nations.
Era: Independence, the War and the Modern Republic
Sources: A Guide to U.S. History of Recognition, Diplomatic, and Consular Relations: Croatia · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian, The Conflicts (former Yugoslavia) · International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
- Europe
Admission to the United Nations
On the recommendation of Security Council Resolution 744 (25 February 1992), San Marino was admitted to the United Nations on 2 March 1992 as a full member state.
Era: The Modern Republic: the UN, Europe and the Euro
Sources: Growth in United Nations Membership · United Nations, Security Council Resolution 744 (1992): Admission of San Marino · United Nations Security Council, San Marino · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Europe
The first written constitution
Andorrans approved by referendum a constitution that made Andorra a sovereign parliamentary democracy, with the two co-princes reduced to constitutional heads of state and power vested in an elected government and council.
Era: A Sovereign Democracy in the Heart of Europe
Sources: Andorra's Constitution of 1993 · Constitute Project, Andorra: History, Facts & Points of Interest · Encyclopaedia Britannica, Andorra: Countries · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Europe
Admission to the United Nations
Andorra was admitted as a member state of the United Nations, taking its place in the international community as a fully recognised sovereign state.
Era: A Sovereign Democracy in the Heart of Europe
Sources: Member States (Andorra admitted 28 July 1993) · United Nations, Andorra: Member state · Council of Europe
- Africa
Independence referendum
Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-monitored referendum, with near-unanimous approval on a high turnout.
Era: Independence, Border War and the Closed State
Sources: 1993 Eritrean independence referendum · Wikipedia, A Guide to the United States' History of Recognition: Eritrea · U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian
- Europe
Monaco joins the United Nations
Monaco was admitted as the 183rd member state of the United Nations, an unambiguous international recognition of its full sovereignty.
Era: Sovereignty Tied to France and the Making of the Modern Principality
Sources: United Nations Member States (Monaco admitted 28 May 1993) · United Nations, The history of Monaco's accession · Permanent Representation of Monaco to the Council of Europe (gouv.mc), Monaco: 1815 to Present · GlobalSecurity.org
- Europe
The Velvet Divorce
Czechoslovakia split peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on 1 January 1993, creating, after more than a thousand years, the first fully independent Slovak state.
Era: Communism, the Velvet Revolution and the Velvet Divorce
Sources: Czechoslovakia · Encyclopaedia Britannica, U.S. Relations With Slovakia · U.S. Department of State
- Africa
First democratic election
South Africans of all races voted together for the first time; the ANC won about 62.65 percent of the vote on an 86.9 percent turnout, ending apartheid rule. The main polling day, 27 April, is marked as Freedom Day.
Era: Democratic South Africa since 1994
Sources: The South African general elections: 1994 · South African History Online, 1994 Election · Apartheid Museum, South Africa (country, history and government) · Encyclopaedia Britannica
- Asia
Independence referendum
In a UN-supervised popular consultation, 78.5 per cent of Timorese reject autonomy within Indonesia and choose a transition to independence.
Era: The Referendum and UN Transitional Administration
Sources: UNTAET Background · United Nations Peacekeeping, East Timor · Encyclopaedia Britannica
Independence in the 1990s
Every event in the Terralore archive tagged independence — declarations, recognitions and transfers of sovereignty, narrowed to the 1990s — 35 of them, drawn from 30 nations, running from 1990 to 1999. Each entry keeps the sources it was verified against and links back to the chronicle it came from.
- Events
- 35
- Nations
- 30
- Earliest
- 1990
- Latest
- 1999
- Europe
- 20
- Asia
- 9
- Africa
- 6
Every entry below is the same record, with the same sources, as the one on its nation’s chronicle.