Togo

TOGO is a thin, French-speaking country located in West Africa. There are 3 bordering countries: Benin to the east, Burkina Faso to the north, and Ghana to the west. Togo also borders the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean along its southern coastline. The capital and most-populated city is Lomé. Other cities include Bassar, Guérin-Kouka, Kpèssi, Mango, Sokodé, Tabligbo, Tchamba, and Yégué. The currency is the West African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XOF.

Tanzania

Map Credit: © Maps of the World (mapsofworld.com)
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A prominent destination for adventures including safaris, the United Republic of TANZANIA (Swahili: Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania) is a country situated in Eastern Africa and west of the Indian Ocean. There are 7 bordering countries: Burundi, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia. It also borders Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and Lake Nyasa. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is located across from Lake Tanganyika. Worthwhile environmental destinations in Tanzania include the aforementioned lakes, Zanzibar and Pemba islands in the east, Ngorongoro Crater, the Serengeti plain, and Olduvai Gorge. The current capital is Dodoma, and the former capital was located at Dar es Salaam. The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is TZS.

Eswatini (Swaziland)

Also known as Umbuso weSwatini in the Swazi (siSwati) language and formerly known as Swaziland, the Kingdom of ESWATINI (alternate spelling: eSwatini) is a relatively small country located in Southern Africa. Since 1986, King Mswati III is the current leader — as of 2023 — of Eswatini's absolute monarchy. There are 2 bordering countries: Mozambique to the north and South Africa to the west. There are two capitals: Mbabane (pronounced "Mmm Ba Ba Nay") is the administrative capital, while Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital. The currency is the Swazi Lilangeni, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SZL.

Sudan

Officially known as Republic of the Sudan or Jumhūriyyat al-Sūdān, SUDAN (السودان) is situated in Northeast Africa. Sudan is Africa's third largest country after Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Once the largest country in Africa, Sudan shrank in size when South Sudan achieved independence on July 9th, 2011. Since 2011, Sudan no longer shares a border with the DR Congo, Kenya, and Uganda. In its current size, Sudan borders seven countries: Central African Republic to the southwest, Chad to the west, Egypt to the north, Eritrea to the east, Ethiopia to the southeast, Libya to the northwest, and South Sudan to the south. Subdivided into 100 qirsh (piastres), the currency is the Sudanese Pound — its ISO 4217 currency code is SDG. Since January 1st, 1956, Sudanese citizens annually celebrate Independence Day on New Year's Day to remember Sudan's independence from Egypt and the United Kingdom.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  Sudan is home to approximately 40.5 million (40,500,000) citizens, according to GeoFact of the Day's 2018 population estimate. With over 5 million people in the metropolitan area and 720,000 people within the city limits (2018 population estimate), the national capital of Sudan is Khartoum. Across the Nile river and northwest of Khartoum is Omdurman (Umm Durman), the most-populated city in Sudan with approximately 2,440,000 people (2018 estimate). In the Nile river and between both cities is an island named Tuti or Tutti. Other cities and communities in Sudan include Al-Fashir (El Fasher, population 300,000), Al-Ubayyid (El Obeid, 450,000), Dongola (Dunqulah), Geneina (Al Junaynah), Kassala located near Eritrea (450,000), Nyala (600,000), and Port Sudan (500,000).

According to Ethnologue (↗), 75 main languages are used for communication in Sudan. English, Standard Arabic, and Sudanese-spoken Arabic are principal languages. Other languages many people use to communicate include Ama, Bedawiyet (Beja), Berta, Fur, Gaam, Kanuri, Koalib, Masalit, Nobiin, and Zaghawa (Zeggaoua). Berti and Birked are two extinct languages that are not used for speaking or writing anymore. Regarding the three nearly extinct languages in Sudan, about 200 people communicate in Kelo, 100 in Molo, and 1,500 in Talodi. About 70% of Sudan citizens are Muslims, followed by Christians (17%), believers in folk religions/traditions (11%), and Bahá'í believers (less than 1%).

● ● ● ● ●  Land Features  ● ● ● ● ●  The land of Sudan is dominated by the Sahara Desert in the north and center; mountains along the southern and western borders and near the Red Sea east of Sudan; plateaus and hilly areas all around; semi-arid grasslands in the southern half; and marshes along the White Nile river. The smaller-than-the-Sahara Libyan Desert occupies the northwestern portion of Sudan. In the Darfur region of western Sudan near Chad, the Jebel Marra volcanic field and Sahara Desert and the El Heitan and Teiga plateaus are prominent land features. According to Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program (↗), the last eruption at Jebel Marra was 2,000 BC/BCE. Types of rock found here include basalt, latite (trachyandesite), phonolite, trachybasalt, and trachyte.

Sudan's highest point is at a crater (caldera) in Jebel Marra. The Deriba Caldera sits 3,042 meters and 9,980 feet in elevation above sea level. The Nuba mountain range stretches across southern Sudan near South Sudan. Extending from the capital Khartoum in east-central Sudan northward to Lake Nasser (Lake Nubia) and the northern border of Sudan, the 1,400-kilometer Nile River meanders through northern Sudan. Near Khartoum in east-central Sudan, the Nile splits into the White Nile and Blue Nile tributaries. If you are sailing on the Nile from the capital city, the White Nile leads you to South Sudan and the Blue Nile leads you southeast toward Ethiopia.

● ● ● ● ●  Sudan's Border Disputes  ● ● ● ● ●  Sudan currently (as of April 2018) has two ongoing border disputes — one each on the south and north borders. South Sudan wants to have a polygonal piece of land called Abyei, shown as a small dotted square on the GeoFact of the Day map. This area is significant because of oil reserves. In northeastern Sudan, the Hala'ib Triangle is claimed by Sudan but controlled by Egypt. The Ilemi Triangle of Kenya used to be claimed by Sudan, but now that issue lies in the hands of South Sudan.

This post was comprehensively updated with more information on April 18, 2018.
The map of Sudan was added to this post on February 15, 2013.

South Africa

Map Credit: © Maps of the World (mapsofworld.com).
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Compared to other African countries, SOUTH AFRICA has a more financially prosperous economy. The Netherlands and British Empire colonized South Africa, and the country achieved independence in 1961. There are 6 bordering countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. South Africa also borders the Indian Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean. There are 3 capitals, each for different purposes. Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, Cape Town is the legislative capital, and Pretoria is the executive capital. The currency is the South African Rand, and its ISO 4217 currency code is ZAR.

Somalia

A war-torn country with no central government, SOMALIA is situated in the Horn of Africa in Eastern Africa. There are 3 bordering countries west of Somalia: Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Kenya. Part of the border with Ethiopia is still in dispute because Somalia claims Ogaden, an Eastern Ethiopia region where Somalis make up a dominant part of the population. Located in Northern Somalia, Somaliland (which is shown on this National Geographic map) is an autonomous region claiming independence since 1991; Hargeysa is its capital. Somalia also borders the Gulf of Aden (north of Somalia) and the Indian Ocean (east). Situated along the Indian Ocean coast in the country's southern part, Somalia's capital and largest city is Mogadishu (Muqdisho). Somalia and Arabic are the official languages, and Islam is the most worshipped religion. The currency is the Somali Shilling, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SOS.

Sierra Leone

SIERRA LEONE is a circular nation located in Western Africa. There are 2 bordering countries: Guinea to the north and Liberia to the southeast. The capital and most-populated city is Freetown. Other cities include Bauya, Bo, Kenema, Lunsar, Makeni, Pendembu, and Serekolia. The currency is the Sierra Leonean Leone, and its ISO 4217 currency code was SLL. In 2022, a new currency code of SLE was established in 2022 to denote a revamped currency in hopes of combating inflation and reducing the number of 0s on coins and banknotes.

Seychelles

SEYCHELLES (pronounced "say shells") is a country with more than 100 islands in Eastern Africa and is located in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles, which is the smallest country in Africa, is northeast of Madagascar and southeast of Somalia. Seychelles' official languages are Seychellois Creole, English, and French, and Roman Catholicism is the largest religion. The major island is Mahé, where the capital Victoria resides. Other islands include Curieuse, La Digue, Praslin, Recife, and Silhouette. The currency is the Seychelles Rupee, and its ISO 4217 currency code is SCR.

Senegal

Officially known as the République du Sénégal in French and Republic of Senegal in English, SENEGAL is a predominantly French-speaking country located in West Africa. There are 5 bordering countries: Gambia (surrounded by Senegal on three sides), Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Mauritania. The capital is Dakar, a city with over a million residents. Other cities and communities include Diourbel, Kaolack, Kédougou, Kolda, Linguère, Louga, Ndioum, Pikine, Saint-Louis, Tambacounda, Thiès, and Ziguinchor. Senegal's currency is the West African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XOF.

São Tomé and Príncipe

SÃO TOMÉ and PRÍNCIPE (also written as Sao Tome and Principe) is an island county in Western Africa in the Atlantic Ocean. The predominantly Roman Catholic country is located west of Gabon, south of Nigeria, and in the Gulf of Guinea. Hence its straightforward name, there are two main islands named São Tomé (Saint Thomas) and Príncipe (Prince). Other islands include Caroço, Pedras Tinhosas Islands, and Rolas. The capital and most-populated city is São Tomé. Other communities include Alto Douro, Praia Grande, and Santa Catarina on Sao Tome and Esperança, Santo António, and Sundi on Principe. The currency is the São Tomé and Príncipe Dobra, and its ISO 4217 currency code is STD. Sao Tome and Principe's former currency was the Escudo, which was replaced by the Dobra in 1977.

Rwanda

RWANDA is a geographically small country situated in Central Africa along the Great Rift Valley. There are 4 bordering countries: Burundi to the south, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) to the west, Tanzania to the east and southeast, and Uganda to the north and northeast. Rwanda also borders Lake Kivu. The capital and most-populated city is Kigali. Other cities include Butare, Byumba, Cyangugu, Gikongoro, Gisenyi, Kibungo, Kibuye, and Ruhengeri. There was a very deadly conflict in 1994 between the Tutsi and the Hutu groups. Fortunately, the country and its citizens are now peaceful overall. The currency is the Rwandan Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is RWF.

Nigeria

With a population hovering around 177 million (2017 GeoFact of the Day Blog estimate), NIGERIA is Africa's most-populated country and is particularly situated in West Africa. There are four bordering countries: Benin to the west, Cameroon to the east and southeast, Chad to the northeast, and Niger to the north. Nigeria also borders the Gulf of Guinea and the Bight of Benin water bodies in the Atlantic Ocean. The capital is Abuja, while Lagos boasts the title of being the most-populated city in Nigeria and one of the largest in Africa. Other cities include Ibadan, Ife, Jos, Lafia, Maiduguri, Ogbomosho, Onitsha, and Port Harcourt. The currency is the Nigerian Naira, and its ISO 4217 currency code is NGN.

Niger

Officially known as the Republic of Niger (French: République du Niger), NIGER is a landlocked, mostly arid country situated in northwestern Africa and named after the 4,180 kilometer (2,597 mile) long Niger River. There are 7 bordering countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, and Nigeria. The capital and most-populated city is Niamey. Other communities include Agadéz, Diffa, Dosso, Maradi, Tahoua, Tillabéri, and Zinder. The currency is the West African Franc, and its ISO 4217 currency code is XOF.

Namibia

A sparsely-populated country located in southwestern Africa, NAMIBIA has the second lowest population density of all countries in the world. Namibia truly borders four countries: Angola located in the north, Botswana to the east, South Africa to the south and southeast, and Zambia north of the Caprivi Strip (northeastern Namibia). Although a zoomed-out, large-scale map seems to show Namibia directly bordering Zimbabwe to the east, zooming in further reveals a small separation between Namibia and Zimbabwe. This separation between Namibia's easternmost point and Zimbabwe's westernmost point is separated less than 530 meters and 1,738 feet apart. A former German colony known as German South-West Africa, Namibia gained its independence on March 21st, 1990.

● ● ● ● ●  People and Places  ● ● ● ● ●  While about 30 languages are spoken throughout the country, Namibia's sole official language is a non-native language: English. Due to former colonization by Germany, German is still spoken among some residents. Native languages include Afrikaans, Chokwe, Diriku, Fwe, Haillom, Herero, Jul'hoan, Khoekhoe, Kwambi, Kwangali, Kwanyama, Luyana, Nama, Nyemba, Yeyi, and Zemba. The capital and most-populated city is Windhoek. Other Namibian cities and communities include Berseba, Lüderitz, Okahandja, Rehoboth, and Swakopmund. Namibians use the Namibian Dollar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is NAD.

● ● ● ● ●  Land Features  ● ● ● ● ●  Namibia is located east of the South Atlantic Ocean and straddles the Tropic of Capricorn. With its iconic, towering sand dunes, the Namib Desert is situated immediately east of Skeleton Coast off of northwestern Namibia and Diamond Coast off of southwestern Namibia. The Kalahari Desert in eastern Namibia extends into western Botswana and northern South Africa. Standing at 8,550 feet or about 2,606 meters in western Namibia, Brandberg is the country's highest mountain. Also known as the King's Stone, Königstein (or Konigstein) is Brandberg's highest point. No point in Namibia is lower than the Atlantic sea level at zero feet and meters.

I designed and posted the map of Namibia in December 2020.

Mozambique

Colonized by Portugal until June 25th, 1975, MOZAMBIQUE is a country in southeastern Africa located west of the Indian Ocean. There are 6 bordering countries: Malawi to the north, South Africa to the southwest, Swaziland to the south and southwest, Tanzania to the north, Zambia to the northwest, and Zimbabwe to the west. Mozambique's official language is Portuguese. The capital is Maputo, which is located in southern Mozambique. Other cities in the country include Beira, Chimoio, Inhambane, Nampula, and Xai-Xai. Mozambique's currency is the Mozambican Metical, and its ISO 4217 currency code is MZN.