Which African Countries Did Britain Rule?

Britain has a long and complicated history with the African continent.

For centuries, Britain was involved in the slave trade, as well as in colonizing and ruling many African countries, and in this post we will explore some of the most notable African countries that Britain ruled. 

Egypt

British rule in Egypt began in 1882, when British troops occupied the country to protect British interests during the so-called Urabi Revolt against the incumbent Khedive Tewfik Pasha. The revolt was led by Colonel Ahmed ‘Urabi, who had gained a reputation as a nationalist leader after his role in suppressing an earlier uprising by Egyptian army officer Orabi Pasha.

During the First World War, Egypt was formally declared a British protectorate, and ‘Urabi was arrested and exiled. In 1922, Britain unilaterally declared Egypt to be an independent sovereign state, although in reality it remained under firm British control. The country was plagued by political instability and economic problems throughout the interwar period.

In 1952, a group of young Egyptian military officers overthrew the monarchy and established a republic. Britain responded by withdrawing its troops from the Suez Canal Zone, but retained a close relationship with the new Egyptian regime. This came to an end following the outbreak of war between Egypt and Israel in 1956, when Britain sided with Israel and France against Egypt.

Since then, relations between Britain and Egypt have been largely cordial, although there have been periods of tension over such issues as the continued presence of British troops in the Canal Zone and Western support for Israel during various Arab-Israeli wars.

Sudan

Sudan is a country located in Northeast Africa. The majority of the population is Muslim, and the official language is Arabic. Sudan was under British rule from 1885 until 1956, when it gained independence.

During British rule, Sudan was used as a base to launch military campaigns against rebellious tribes in neighboring countries, such as the Mahdists in present-day South Sudan. The British also developed the infrastructure of Sudan, including building a railroad system and expanding the irrigation system in the Nile Valley.

However, British rule was not without its problems. The policy of using Sudan as a base for military campaigns led to resentment among the Sudanese people. There were also tensions between Muslims and Christians in Sudan, which erupted into violence on several occasions.

In 1956, after years of simmering tensions, Sudan finally gained independence from Britain. 

Kenya

Kenya was a British colony from 1895 until 1963, when it gained independence. During this time, Britain had a profound impact on Kenyan society and culture. Many of Kenya’s major cities and towns were founded by the British, and much of the country’s infrastructure was built by them as well. The English language is also widely spoken in Kenya, as are other Western languages such as French and Portuguese.

Nigeria

British rule in Nigeria began in the late 19th century, when the British Empire conquered the Kingdom of Lagos and annexed it into their empire. The British then established the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria, which lasted until 1960 when Nigeria gained independence.

During British rule, Nigeria was a major source of palm oil, cocoa, and other tropical products for the British Empire. Nigeria also played a key role in World War II as a major supplier of petroleum to the Allies.

Ghana

Ghana was a British colony from 1874 until 1957, when it became the first African country to gain independence from European rule. The colony was originally known as the Gold Coast, due to its rich reserves of gold.

South Africa

South Africa was one of the many African countries that Britain ruled. The British first arrived in South Africa in 1795, when they landed at the Cape of Good Hope to take control of the Dutch colony there. In 1806, the British seized control of the entire colony after defeating the Dutch in a war. They then began to expand their territory inland, taking over much of present-day South Africa.

The British rule over South Africa was not always easy. There were many wars with indigenous peoples, as well as with the Boers, who were Dutch settlers in South Africa. The most famous conflict was the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), which ended with the defeat of the Boers and the annexation of their territory by Britain.

During its time as a British colony, South Africa underwent a huge transformation. 

South Africa also experienced great social changes during this time. The system of racial segregation known as apartheid was introduced in 1948 and remained in place until 1994.

This system discriminated against non-white people in every aspect of life, from education and housing to employment and even where they were allowed to walk on public sidewalks.

The end of apartheid came about through a long process of resistance by black South Africans, culminating in Nelson Mandela becoming South Africa’s First President.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is a landlocked country in southern Africa. The country is bordered by Zambia to the north, Botswana to the west, South Africa to the south, and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has a population of 16 million people and a GDP of $32 billion.

The history of Zimbabwe is long and complex, with evidence of human habitation dating back over 100,000 years. The first recorded inhabitants were the San people, who were later displaced by the Bantu peoples. The Bantu peoples brought with them ironworking and agriculture, and established kingdoms throughout the region.

The first European contact with Zimbabwe came in the late 15th century, when Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama visited the kingdom of Mutapa. In 1884, Britain annexed Zimbabwe after defeating the Ndebele kingdom in battle. The British colony of Rhodesia was established, named after British financier Cecil Rhodes.

Rhodesia was an economically prosperous colony, but it was also an racially segregated one. White settlers held all of the political power, while black Africans were relegated to second-class citizenship. This led to resentment and conflict which boiled over into open rebellion in 1965. The rebels were led by Marxist revolutionary Robert Mugabe, who became president after independence was achieved in 1980.

Since independence, Zimbabwe has been through a number of challenges, including economic collapse and political turmoil. 

Conclusion

Britain has a long and complicated history with Africa, and this is a brief overview of some of the African countries that Britain ruled.