African countries have their peculiar challenges like all countries the world over. Amid these challenges are particular characteristics of countries on the continent.
Photos: 'This Is Africa' - Get to know the Republic of Malawi
‘This Is Africa (TIA)’ is an Africanews initiative aimed at sharing information about African countries and helping our audiences better discover the continent – in a small but significant way.
For the next twenty weeks, we shall be sharing salient information about an African country such as their currency, political leader, population, date of independence etc.
[Photos / Information] Ten of Africa’s long-serving political leaders
Country of the Week: Republic of Malawi
1 – National capital / official languages = Lilongwe / English, Chewa
2 – Currency in circulation = Malawian kwacha
3 – Current political leader = Peter Mutharika
4 – Population estimate = 19,842,560 (July 2018 est.)
5 – Date of independence = July 6, 1964
6 – Country codes: telephone (+265), internet (.mw)
Profile of the country
Peter Mutharika, Malawi president
Malawian kwacha
Flag of the country
Lilongwe craft market
Country of the Week: Central African Republic
1 – National capital / official languages = Bangui / French
2 – Currency in circulation = Central African CFA franc
3 – Current political leader = Faustin-Archange Touadéra
4 – Population estimate = 5,062,021 (July 2018 est.)
5 – Date of independence = August 13, 1960
6 – Country codes: telephone (+236), internet (.cf)
Profile of the country
Faustin-Archange Touadéra, President of the country
Flag of the country
Central African CFA franc
Boali Falls, one of the best known landmarks in the country
Country of the Week: Republic of Guinea
1 – National capital / official languages = Conakry / French
2 – Currency in circulation = Guinean franc (GNF)
3 – Current political leader = Alpha Condé
4 – Population estimate = 12,413,867 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = October 2, 1958
6 – Country codes: telephone (+224), internet (.gn)
Profile of the country
Alpha Condé, President of the country
Guinean franc (GNF)
Flag of the country
Fouta Djallon, a highland region in the centre of Guinea
Capital city, Conakry
Country of the Week: Republic of South Sudan
1 – National capital / official languages = Juba / English
2 – Currency in circulation = South Sudanese pound
3 – Current political leader = Salva Kiir Mayardit
4 – Population estimate = 13,026,129 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = July 9, 2011
6 – Country codes: telephone (+211), internet (.ss)
Profile of the country
Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the country
Flaf of the country
South Sudanese pound
Streets of Juba, South Sudanese capital
Fula Falls, Baḥr al-Jabal in South Sudan
Country of the Week: Republic of Tunisia
1 – National capital / official languages = Tunis / Arabic
2 – Currency in circulation = Tunisian dinar
3 – Current political leader = Beji Caid Essebsi
4 – Population estimate = 11,532,127 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = March 20, 1956
6 – Country codes: telephone (+216), internet (.tn)
Profile of the country
Beji Caid Essebsi, President of the country
Tunisian dinar
Flag of the country
_The remnants of ancient Carthage _
Country of the Week: Democratic Republic of Congo
1 – National capital / official languages = Kinshasa / French
2 – Currency in circulation = Congolese franc
3 – Current political leader = Joseph Kabila
4 – Population estimate = 83,301,151 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = June 30, 1960.
6 – Country codes: telephone (+243), internet (.cd)
Profile of the country
Joseph Kabila, President of the country
Congolese franc
Flag of the country
Zongo Fall found in the city of Zongo in the Sud-Ubangi District
Streets of Kinshasa
Country of the Week: Gabonese Republic
1 – National capital / official languages = Libreville / French
2 – Currency in circulation = Central African CFA franc
3 – Current political leader = Ali Bongo Ondimba
4 – Population estimate = 1,772,255 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = August 17, 1960
6 – Country codes: telephone (+241), internet (.ga)
Profile of the country
Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon
_ Central African CFA franc_
Libreville, Capital city
Flag of the country
Country of the Week: Arab Republic of Egypt
1 – National capital / official languages = Cairo / Arabic
2 – Currency in circulation = Egyptian pound
3 – Current political leader = Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
4 – Population estimate = 97,041,072 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = February 28, 1922
6 – Country codes: telephone (+20), internet (.eg)
Profile of the country
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi
Capital City, Cairo
Egyptian pound
Great Sphinx of Giza
Flag of the country
Country of the Week: The Gambia
1 – National capital / official languages = Banjul / English
2 – Currency in circulation = Gambian dalasi
3 – Current political leader = Adama Barrow
4 – Population estimate = 2,051,363 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = February 18, 1965
6 – Country codes: telephone (+220), internet (.gm)
Profile of the country
Adama Barrow, President of the Country
200 feet high Arch 22 in the capital city of Banjul
Flag of the country
Gambian dalasi
Banjul’s Royal Albert Market
Country of the Week: The Republic of the Congo
1 – National capital / official languages = Brazzaville / French
2 – Currency in circulation = Central African CFA franc
3 – Current political leader = Denis Sassou Nguesso
4 – Population estimate = 5 092 million (2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = Aug. 15, 1960
6 – Country codes: telephone (+242), internet (.cg)
Profile of the country
Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of the Country
An art gallery in the poto-poto school of painting
Flag of the country
Central African CFA franc
Country of the Week: Federal Republic of Somalia
1 – National capital / official languages = Mogadishu / Somali, Arabic
2 – Currency in circulation = Somali shilling
3 – Current political leader = Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed
4 – Population estimate = 14.74 million (2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = July 1, 1960
6 – Country codes: telephone (+252), internet (.so)
Profile of the country
Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, President of the Country
Somali shilling
Independence Monument
Flag of the country
Country of the Week: Republic of Madagascar
1 – National capital / official languages = Antananarivo / Malagasy and French
2 – Currency in circulation = Malagasy ariary
3 – Current political leader = H.E. Mr. Rivo Rakotovao (Interim president)
4 – Population estimate = 24.89 million (2016 est.)
5 – Date of independence = 26 June 1960
6 – Country codes: telephone (+261), internet (.mg)
_ Profile of the country_
_ H.E. Mr. Rivo Rakotovao, interim president of the country_
_Tsingy de Bemaraha, an impressive greystone plateau of razor-sharp spikes located northwest Madagascar _
Malagasy ariary, country currency
Flag of the country
Baobab Avenue located around western Madagascar
Country of the Week: Liberia
1 – National capital / official languages = Monrovia / English
2 – Currency in circulation = Liberian dollar
3 – Current political leader = George Weah
4 – Population estimate = 4,689,021 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = July 26, 1847
6 – Country codes: telephone (+231), internet (.lr )
Country Profile
George Weah, Liberian President
Liberian dollar
Flag of the country
Down Town Monrovia
Country of the Week: The Kingdom of Morocco
1 – National capital / official languages = Rabat / Arabic
2 – Currency in circulation = Moroccan dirham
3 – Current political leader = Mohammed VI (King of Morocco)
4 – Population estimate = 33,986,655 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = April 7, 1956
6 – Country codes: telephone (+212), internet (.ma)
Profile of the country
Mohammed VI, King of Morocco
Moroccan dirham
Moroccan flag
Mausoleum of Mohammed V in Rabat
Country of the Week: The State of Eritrea
1 – National capital / Principal languages = Asmara / Tigrigna, Arabic, English
2 – Currency in circulation = Eritrean nakfa
3 – Current political leader = Isaias Afwerki
4 – Population estimate = 5,918,919 (July 2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = May 24, 1993
6 – Country codes: telephone (+291), internet (.er)
Eritrea country profile
Isaias Afwerki, President of Eritrea
Eritrean Flag
The great Asamara Mosque
Eritrean nakfa
Country of the Week: Equatorial Guinea
1 – National capital / official languages = Malabo / Spanish, French, Portuguese
2 – Currency in circulation = Central African CFA franc (XAF)
3 – Current political leader = Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
4 – Population estimate = 1,267,689 (2017 est.)
5 – Date of independence = 12 October, 1968
6 – Country codes: telephone (+240), internet (.gq)
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea
The Freedom Tower found in the city of Beta
Central African CFA franc (XAF)
Flag of the country
Brief profile of the country
Country of the Week: Libya
1 – National capital / official languages = Tripoli/ Arabic
2 – Currency in circulation = Libyan dinar
3 – Current political leader = Fayez al-Sarraj (United Nations-backed Prime Minister)
4 – Population estimate = 6.2 million (2016)
5 – Date of independence = 24 December 1951
6 – Country codes: telephone (+218), internet (.ly)
Fayez al-Sarraj, Head of the Libyan Government of National Accord
Tripoli, capital city
Libyan Dinar
_ Flag of the Country_
Country of the Week: The Republic of Mozambique / República de Moçambique (Portuguese)
1 – National capital / official languages = Maputo / Portuguese
2 – Currency in circulation = Mozambican metical
3 – Current political leader = Filipe Nyusi
4 – Population estimate = 26,573,706 (July 2017)
5 – Date of independence = June 25, 1975 from Portugal
6 – Country codes: internet (.mz), telephone (+258)
Mozambque President, Filipe Nyusi
Mozambican metical
Capital city of Maputo
Flag of the country
Country of the Week: Republic of Benin / République du Bénin
1 – National capital / official languages = Porto-Novo / French
2 – Currency in circulation = West African CFA franc, XOF
3 – Current political leader = President Patrice Talon
4 – Population estimate = About 11,520,000 (2018)
5 – Date of independence = 1 August 1960
6 – Country codes: internet (.bj), telephone (+229)
President Patrice Talon.
Flag of the country.
The West Africa CFA (XOF), currency used by most French countries in the region.
A general view shows the Tokpa district in Cotonou, Benin’s largest city and economic center.
Country of the Week: Republic of Kenya
1 – Capital / official languages = Nairobi / English, Swahili
2 – Currency = Kenyan Shillings (KES)
3 – Current president / PM = President Uhuru Kenyatta
4 – Population estimate = Over 49 million (2017)
5 – Independence Day = December 12, 1963 from Britain
6 – Country codes: internet (.ke), telephone (+254)
The Kenyan flag
Kenyan Shillings
Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta
Aerial photo of Kenyan capital, Nairobi