As the year 2022 comes to a start, Africa is a continent composed of 48 sovereign nations, one separatist entity not recognized by the United Nations (Somaliland), one territory in dispute (Western Sahara) and two small Spanish exclaves (Ceuta and Melilla). There are also a number of islands in the vicinity of the continent, forming 6 nations and several remote territories of Spain, Portugal and France. While most African countries have enjoyed independence since the 1960s, many conflicts remain due to the complexity of ethnic makeup and borders that were drawned exclusively based on zones of influence of colonial powers. Of particular concern are insurgencies in West Africa and several civil wars, particularly in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Many lower intensity conflicts exist all over the continent. More on Africa
Africa in 2022
