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5 African Countries That Retained Their Colonial Names

Published

10 months ago

October 26, 2024

Names are an important part of who we are, and that is true for African countries with their names often reflecting history and culture.

Many African countries were once colonised by European powers, who named them during that time.

Some countries changed their names after they became independent, choosing something that felt more connected to their identity. But other countries decided to keep the names from the colonial era.

Here are five African countries that retained their colonial names:

Nigeria

The name Nigeria comes from the Niger River, which flows through the country. It was coined on January 8, 1897, by British journalist Flora Shaw. The neighbouring Republic of Niger also takes its name from the same river.

Nigeria gained partial self-governance in 1954 and full independence from the United Kingdom on October 1, 1960, as the Federation of Nigeria. Abubakar Tafawa Balewa became the country’s first Prime Minister, while Queen Elizabeth II remained the ceremonial head of state as Queen of Nigeria.

Mali

Mali came under French colonial rule in 1892. By 1893, the French had appointed a civilian governor for the territory, known as Soudan Français (French Sudan), but resistance to their rule persisted. By 1905, most of the region was firmly under French control.
French Sudan was managed as part of the Federation of French West Africa and provided labour for France’s coastal colonies. In 1958, the territory, now called the Sudanese Republic, gained complete internal autonomy and joined the French Community. In early 1959, the Sudanese Republic and Senegal formed the Federation of Mali. On March 31, 1960, France agreed to grant the Federation of Mali full independence. On June 20, 1960, the Federation of Mali became an independent nation, with Modibo Keïta as its first president.

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa, got its name from 15th-century Portuguese explorer Pedro de Sintra, who was the first European to map Freetown harbor. The original Portuguese name “Serra Lyoa” (meaning “Lion Mountains”) referred to the hills surrounding the harbor. On April 27, 1961, Sierra Leone gained independence from British colonial rule. The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) won the general elections in 1962, with the All People’s Congress (APC) emerging as the primary opposition party.

Guinea

Guinea officially gained independence from France on October 2, 1958, after a referendum on the French Fifth Republic’s constitution on September 28 of that year. Ahmed Sékou Touré, a member of the Malinké ethnic group and a leftist leader, was appointed the first president by the Constituent Assembly.
The country is named after the Guinea region, which extends from the Gulf of Guinea into tropical forested areas and reaches the Sahel. The term “Guinea” comes from the Portuguese word “Guiné,” which emerged in the 15th century to describe lands inhabited by African people south of the Senegal River.
In 1978, Guinea’s official name changed to the People’s Revolutionary Republic of Guinea, and in 1984, after the death of Sékou Touré, the country was renamed the Republic of Guinea.

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Cameroon

The area now known as Cameroon was originally called “Rio dos Camarões” (River of Prawns) by Portuguese explorers in the 15th century, due to the large number of shrimp they found in the Wouri River. This name evolved into “Cameroon” during British and French colonial rule. In 1884, the region became a German colony known as Kamerun.
After World War I, it was divided between France and the United Kingdom under League of Nations mandates, with France governing 4/5 of the territory and the UK administering the remaining 1/5.
Cameroon gained independence from France in 1960 and from the UK in 1961.

Related Topics:African Countries Countries

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Nigerian Man Pleads Guilty In US To $405,000 Romance Scam Against American Women

Published

9 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

A40-year-old Nigerian man, Daniel Chima Inweregbu, has pleaded guilty in the United States to charges of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, as well as money laundering, in connection with a romance scam that defrauded American women of more than $405,000.

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, in a statement on Thursday, said Inweregbu and his co-conspirators ran the scheme between July 2017 and December 2018, using a fake online persona named “Larry Pham” to lure victims on dating sites and social media targeting US citizens.

Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson said that Inweregbu, described as a citizen of Lagos, Nigeria, pleaded guilty on August 21, 2025 before United States District Judge Nanette Jolivette Brown to two of the counts pending against him.

The counts which include conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and using an assumed name to commit a mail fraud scheme, Attorney Simpson said were in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1341, 1342, 1343 and 1349 (Count 1), and conspiracy to commit money laundering, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 1956(a)(1)(B)(i), 1957, and 1956(h) (Count 12). INWEREGBU’s plea stemmed from his role in a lengthy romance scam targeting American citizens.

According to court documents, a “romance scam” was a confidence scheme in which the perpetrator feigned romantic intentions towards a victim, gained their affection, and used the victim’s goodwill to commit fraud.

“These fraudulent acts might involve such acts as obtaining access to the victim’s money, bank accounts, credit cards, passports, e-mail accounts, or national identification numbers; convincing the victim to transmit things of value to the perpetrator or his witting or unwitting co-conspirators; or inducing the victim to, unintentionally, commit or participate in the commission of financial fraud against third parties on behalf of the perpetrator,” the statement read.

It added, “Between at least July 1, 2017, and December 16, 2018, Inweregbu, and his co-conspirators, devised and operated a “romance scam” whereby they sought to obtain money and property from multiple American women, including 4 victims, by means of false and fraudulent representations and promises.

“Specifically, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators created profiles on social media and online dating sites using the alias “Larry Pham,” purportedly a middle-aged male, to attract middle-aged female victims.

“The co-conspirators, including Inweregbu, used online messaging platforms and email, to contact victims, introduce themselves, and appeal to victims’ longing for companionship. If the victim responded favorably, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators began to cultivate a romantic relationship that emotionally attached the victims to “Larry Pham.”

“Once the relationship was established, the defendant and his co-conspirators, posing as Larry Pham, requested victims send them money under various scams and ruses to domestic bank accounts they opened and managed. Inweregbu’s scheme resulted in actual and intended losses to the victims of over $405,000.

“Thereafter, Inweregbu and his co-conspirators laundered the funds, by conducting financial transactions using the proceeds of their wire and mail fraud scheme, designed in whole or in part to conceal and disguise the nature, location, source, ownership, and control of the proceeds, by directing the victims’ funds through intermediaries.

“Inweregbu faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $250,000 as to Count 1. He faces up to twenty years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and up to a fine of $500,000 as to Count 12. He also faces payment of a $100 mandatory special assessment fee per count. Sentencing before Judge Brown has been scheduled for December 4, 2025,” the partly read.

Acting U.S. Attorney Simpson, according to the statement praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the great support provided by United States Department of Justice Office of International Affairs and the United States Department of State.

“Assistant United States Attorney Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, is in charge of the prosecution,” the statement noted.

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UK Bars Over 100 Job Roles From Foreign Recruitment To Curb Migration

Published

9 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The British government has unveiled major immigration reforms, blocking foreign workers from filling more than 100 job categories in a move aimed at reducing net migration.

The Home Office, in a statement posted on X Saturday morning, said the decision was geared towards creating more opportunities for local citizens while restructuring the visa regime.

“Cutting net migration means getting the fundamentals right.

“More than 100 occupations are no longer eligible for overseas recruitment – opening up more jobs for British workers. A fairer, skills-focused system is now taking shape,” the Home Office stated.

This policy marks the latest immigration clampdown under Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who assumed office on July 5, 2024, after Labour’s sweeping election win that ended Rishi Sunak’s tenure.

However, the measure has drawn criticism, with opponents warning it could deepen staffing shortages in critical sectors such as healthcare and social services.

The Home Office has not yet published the full list of restricted occupations.

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PM Killed In Israeli Strike, Say Yemen’s Huthis

Published

9 hours ago

August 30, 2025

Editor

The prime minister of Yemen’s Huthis was killed in an Israeli airstrike along with other officials earlier this week, the Iran-backed rebels announced on Saturday.

Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi, who was appointed last year, is the most senior official known to have been killed in a series of Israeli strikes during the war in Gaza.

“We announce the martyrdom of the fighter Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi… along with several of his ministerial colleagues, as they were targeted by the treacherous Israeli criminal enemy,” a Huthi statement said.

“Others among their companions were injured with moderate to serious wounds and are receiving medical care since Thursday afternoon,” it added.

The Israeli military struck in the area of Sanaa, the Huthi-held capital, on Thursday. The Huthis, claiming solidarity with the Palestinians, have frequently fired missiles and drones at Israel during the Gaza war.

Israeli forces “struck a Huthi terrorist regime military target”, the Israeli military said at the time.

The Huthis have also targeted shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which they claim is linked to Israel during the Gaza war.

The rebel group controls large parts of Yemen, which has been gripped by war since 2014, and is part of Iran’s anti-Israel alliance alongside militant groups across much of the Middle East.