African Presidents & Politics
Who is the current president of Cameroon and how long has he ruled?
Paul Biya! Hé has ruled Cameroon since 1982, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the world. He succeeded President Ahmadou Ahidjo.
What is the longest river in Africa?
The Nile! it flows through several countries including Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt. It was extremely important to Ancient Egyptian civilization.
Which European country colonized Cameroon before World War I and when ?
Cameroon was first colonized by Germany in 1884 and called “Kamerun.” After Germany lost World War I, Cameroon was divided between Britain and France.
Which African country has three capital cities?
South Africa has:
This arrangement was made to balance political power.
Which African president was imprisoned for 27 years before becoming president of South Africa?
Mandela fought against apartheid, the racial segregation system in South Africa. After spending 27 years in prison, he became South Africa’s first Black president in 1994 and became a global symbol of peace and reconciliation.
Which desert covers much of North Africa?
The Sahara! And it is the largest hot desert in the world and stretches across more than 10 African countries.
What was the ancient name of Ethiopia?
Abyssinia was one of the oldest kingdoms in Africa and one of the few African states with a long independent history.
Which African capital city is nicknamed “The Green City in the Sun”?
Nairobi! earned this nickname because of its pleasant climate and green environment.
Which African country was led by Muammar Gaddafi from 1969 to 2011?
Gaddafi came to power through a military coup in 1969. He ruled Libya for over 40 years before being overthrown during the Arab Spring uprising in 2011.
In which country is Mount Kilimanjaro located?
Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain at about 5,895 meters. It is also the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.
Which African kingdom was famous for its female military unit called the “Amazons”?
The Dahomey Amazons were an elite all-female military force feared for their discipline and combat abilities.
Which African country has Dodoma as its official capital?
Tanzania moved its capital to Dodoma to place the government more centrally within the country, although Dar es Salaam remains the main commercial city.
Who became the first president of independent Ghana in 1957?
Kwame Nkrumah.
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule in 1957. Nkrumah strongly promoted Pan-Africanism and inspired many African independence movements.
Which African country has the highest number of bordering countries?
The DRC shares borders with 9 countries, making it geographically important in Central Africa.
Which African country defeated Italy at the Battle of Adwa?
In 1896, Ethiopia defeated Italy at Adwa, becoming one of the few African nations to successfully resist European colonization during the Scramble for Africa.
Addis Ababa is one of the highest capital cities in the world. Because of its elevation, the climate is much cooler than many other African capitals despite being close to the equator.