MADISON, Wisconsin — Nations strengthen identities and give national pride. However, created borders have not always been drawn in the most logical way and have caused civil unrest, wars and genocide. Of the countries listed, all were formed after gaining independence from another power, often following tumultuous events. The Borgen Project presents a list of the 10 newest countries in the world.
Eritrea
Eritrea is located in Eastern Africa and is home to 6 million people. The nation was formed on May 24, 1993.
Photo: Madote
Source: Wenger
Palau
Palau used to be owned by the United States until it gained independence on October 1, 1994. It is home to 21,000 people.
Photo: Flight965
Source: Wenger
East Timor
East Timor or Timor-Leste shares half of its island with Indonesia. The nation was originally ruled by Portugal but–after decades of protest–it received independence on May 20, 2002.
Photo: ETWA
Source: Wenger
Montenegro
Montenegro officially split from Serbia on June 3, 2006. Montenegrins have identified separately from Serbians for a long time but only recently decided it was time to split.
Photo: Paradise in the World
Source: Wenger
Kosovo
Kosovo was once part of Yugoslavia but split from their neighbor in the 1990s. The nation continued to be a part of Serbia until February 17, 2008, when Kosovo gained its independence.
Photo: National Geographic
Source: Wenger
South Sudan
The nation of South Sudan officially had its independence on July 9, 2011. The cost of this independence: millions of lives lost during 50 years of civil war.
Photo: The Bronx Papers
Source: Wenger
– Sarah Dalgleish
Article Source: Wenger
Featured Photo: Wikimedia