Name: olaonipekun Joy olawunmi

Matric number:24/14651

Department : international relations

Course code: CUL IRS215

Course name: Introduction To International Relations

African and Asian countries that gained independence and sovereignty since
1945.

ASIA

1. Indonesia – 1945 (from the Netherlands and Japan)

After centuries of Dutch colonial rule and a brutal Japanese occupation

during World War II, Sukarno and Mohammad Hatta proclaimed Indonesia’s
independence on August 17, 1945. The Dutch resisted, leading to four years
of armed struggle before officially recognizing Indonesia’s sovereignty in
1949.

2. Vietnam – 1945 (from France and Japan)

Ho Chi Minh declared independence on September 2, 1945, forming the

Democratic Republic of Vietnam after Japan’s surrender. However, France
tried to reassert control, sparking the First Indochina War (1946–1954),
ending with Vietnam’s full independence in 1954

3. The Philippines – 1946 (from the United States)

After being a U.S. colony since 1898 and suffering Japanese occupation, the
Philippines achieved full sovereignty on July 4, 1946. Manuel Roxas became
the first president of the independent Republic of the Philippines.

4. India – 1947 (from Britain)

Led by Mahatma Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance and the Indian National

Congress, India gained independence from Britain on August 15, 1947. The
partition created Pakistan, marking one of the largest migrations in history.

5. Pakistan – 1947 (from Britain)

Pakistan became a separate dominion for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent
on August 14, 1947, led by Muhammad Ali Jinnah. It later became an Islamic
Republic in 1956.

6. Myanmar (Burma) – 1948 (from Britain)

After British and Japanese occupation, Burma gained independence on

January 4, 1948, under Prime Minister U Nu, becoming a sovereign republic.

7. Sri Lanka (Ceylon) – 1948 (from Britain)

Sri Lanka gained peaceful independence on February 4, 1948, retaining

Commonwealth membership. It became a republic in 1972, changing its
name from Ceylon to Sri Lanka.

8. Laos – 1953 (from France)

Following French withdrawal from Indochina, Laos achieved independence on

October 22, 1953, under King Sisavang Vong.

9. Cambodia – 1953 (from France)

King Norodom Sihanouk negotiated peaceful independence from France,

formally achieved on November 9, 1953.

10. Vietnam (North and South) – 1954–1955

After the Geneva Accords (1954), French colonial rule ended, splitting
Vietnam into North Vietnam (communist) and South Vietnam (anti-
communist). Full reunification occurred in 1975

11. Malaysia – 1957 (from Britain)

Led by Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaya gained independence on August 31,

1957. Later, in 1963, Malaysia was formed, uniting Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak,
and (briefly) Singapore.

12. Singapore – 1965 (from Malaysia)

Singapore separated from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, becoming a fully

independent republic led by Lee Kuan Yew.

13. Kuwait – 1961 (from Britain)

Kuwait ended its British protectorate status on June 19, 1961, establishing
sovereignty under Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah.

14. Bangladesh – 1971 (from Pakistan)

After a brutal war of independence supported by India, East Pakistan became
Bangladesh on December 16, 1971.

15. Brunei – 1984 (from Britain)

Brunei gained full independence on January 1, 1984, under Sultan Hassanal

Bolkiah, after almost a century as a British protectorate.

AFRICA

1. Libya – 1951 (from Britain/France, formerly Italian colony)

Libya became Africa’s first post-WWII independent nation on December 24,

1951, under King Idris I.

2. Egypt – 1952 (from Britain)

Though nominally independent since 1922, true sovereignty came after the
1952 revolution led by the Free Officers Movement, ending British influence
and the monarchy.

3. Sudan – 1956 (from Britain and Egypt)

Sudan gained independence on January 1, 1956, after decades of Anglo-

Egyptian rule.

4. Morocco – 1956 (from France and Spain)

Morocco regained sovereignty on March 2, 1956, after nationalist movements

led by King Mohammed V.

5. Tunisia – 1956 (from France)

Under Habib Bourguiba’s leadership, Tunisia achieved independence on

March 20, 1956, later becoming a republic.

6. Ghana – 1957 (from Britain)

Ghana, under Kwame Nkrumah, became the first sub-Saharan African

country to gain independence on March 6, 1957.

7. Guinea – 1958 (from France)

Guinea boldly voted “No” to continued French rule in a 1958 referendum and
declared independence on October 2, 1958, led by Sékou Touré.

8. Cameroon – 1960 (from France)

French Cameroon became independent on January 1, 1960. British Southern
Cameroon later joined to form the Federal Republic of Cameroon in 1961.

9. Senegal – 1960 (from France)

After a short federation with Mali, Senegal became fully independent on

August 20, 1960, under President Léopold Sédar Senghor.

10. Nigeria – 1960 (from Britain)

Nigeria achieved independence on October 1, 1960, becoming Africa’s most

populous independent nation.

11. Somalia – 1960 (from Britain and Italy)

British Somaliland and Italian Somaliland united to form the independent

Somali Republic on July 1, 1960.

12. Congo (Democratic Republic) – 1960 (from Belgium)

After harsh colonial rule, the Congo gained independence on June 30, 1960,
led by Patrice Lumumba.

13. Tanzania (Tanganyika & Zanzibar) – 1961 & 1963

Tanganyika became independent from Britain on December 9, 1961;

Zanzibar followed on December 10, 1963. They united in 1964 to form
Tanzania.

14. Algeria – 1962 (from France)

Following a long and bloody war (1954–1962), Algeria won independence on

July 5, 1962.

15. Kenya – 1963 (from Britain)

After the Mau Mau uprising and negotiations, Kenya gained independence on
December 12, 1963, with Jomo Kenyatta as leader.

16. Malawi – 1964 (from Britain)

Formerly Nyasaland, Malawi became independent on July 6, 1964, led by Dr.

Hastings Banda.

17. Zambia – 1964 (from Britain)

Northern Rhodesia became Zambia on October 24, 1964, with Kenneth

Kaunda as president.
 18. Botswana – 1966 (from Britain)

Botswana achieved peaceful independence on September 30, 1966, under

Seretse Khama.

19. Lesotho – 1966 (from Britain)

Lesotho gained independence on October 4, 1966, remaining a constitutional

monarchy.

20. Mauritius – 1968 (from Britain)

Mauritius became an independent state on March 12, 1968, later becoming a

republic in 1992.

21. Swaziland (Eswatini) – 1968 (from Britain)

Swaziland gained independence on September 6, 1968, maintaining a

traditional monarchy.

22. Equatorial Guinea – 1968 (from Spain)

Equatorial Guinea became independent on October 12, 1968.

23. Mozambique – 1975 (from Portugal)

After a decade-long war led by FRELIMO, Mozambique gained independence

on June 25, 1975.

24. Angola – 1975 (from Portugal)

Angola’s independence came on November 11, 1975, following the

Portuguese withdrawal and internal conflict among liberation movements.

25. Seychelles – 1976 (from Britain)

The island nation became independent on June 29, 1976, joining the
Commonwealth.

26. Zimbabwe – 1980 (from Britain)

After years of conflict under white-minority rule, Zimbabwe gained

independence on April 18, 1980, with Robert Mugabe as its first leader.

27. Namibia – 1990 (from South Africa)

After a long liberation struggle led by SWAPO, Namibia achieved

independence on March 21, 1990.

28. Eritrea – 1993 (from Ethiopia)

Following a 30-year war, Eritrea became an independent nation on May 24,
1993.

29. South Sudan – 2011 (from Sudan)

After decades of civil war, South Sudan gained independence on July 9, 2011,
becoming the world’s newest sovereign state

The year 1945 is one of the most significant turning points in the study and
practice of International Relations (IR). It marks the end of the Second World
War and the beginning of a new international order. Below is a detailed
discussion of its importance:

1. End of the Second World War

The war ended in 1945, leaving much of the world in ruins and millions dead.

The devastation demonstrated the catastrophic consequences of global

conflict and the failure of previous systems (like the League of Nations) to
maintain peace.

This led to a strong global desire to prevent future wars, shaping the post-
war international order.

2. Establishment of the United Nations (UN)

In October 1945, the United Nations was officially established, replacing the
League of Nations.

Its main goal was to promote international peace, security, and cooperation.

The creation of the UN represented a major institutional framework for

collective security, diplomacy, and international law — all central themes in
IR.

3. Beginning of the Cold War

1945 also marks the emergence of the Cold War rivalry between the United
States (capitalist bloc) and the Soviet Union (communist bloc).

This ideological, political, and military competition shaped global politics for
the next 45 years.

The bipolar world order that emerged influenced IR theories such as Realism,
Liberalism, and later Constructivism.
 4. The Nuclear Age

The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 introduced

nuclear weapons into international politics.

This development changed the nature of war and peace, leading to new
concepts in IR such as deterrence, mutually assured destruction (MAD), and
arms control.

5. Decolonization and the Rise of New States

1945 marked the beginning of decolonization, as European empires

weakened after the war.

Many nations in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East gained independence in the
following decades.

This expanded the international community and diversified global political

interests, influencing IR toward issues of development, sovereignty, and
global inequality.

6. Economic Reconstruction and Cooperation

The Bretton Woods Conference (1944) and post-war arrangements in 1945

established key economic institutions like the International Monetary Fund
(IMF) and the World Bank.

These institutions aimed to rebuild the global economy and prevent

economic crises that could lead to war — reinforcing the link between
economics and international stability.

7. Evolution of International Relations as an Academic Discipline

After 1945, the study of IR became more systematic and theoretical.

Scholars sought to understand causes of war, peace, and cooperation

through scientific and theoretical approaches.

Prominent IR theories such as Classical Realism, Behavioralism, and later

Neo-Realism and Neo-Liberalism developed in response to post-1945 world
dynamics.

Conclusion

The year 1945 stands as a watershed moment in International Relations. It

reshaped the global political, economic, and security landscape and laid the
foundation for the modern international system. The institutions, alliances,
and theoretical frameworks that emerged after 1945 continue to influence
how states interact and how scholars analyze global affairs today