Every so often, I'll hear about a country on the news whose name doesn't sound familiar to me. Now we all know that there aren't any real new countries...land masses aren't magically appearing. So what's happening actually happening is that old countries sometimes change their name or split up. Since 1990, thirty-four "new" countries have popped up on geography maps. Let's take a look at them, shall we?
1. With dissolution of the USSSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in 1991, fifteen new countries were born out of it; one of which, is named Russia. A few others include; Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
2. Also in the early 1990'w, the former Yugoslavia broke into five new countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina. Serbia and Montenegro are also known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Confused yet? I sure am!
3. In 1990, Namibia became independent of South Africa.
4. North and South Yemen merged in 1990 to become unified Yemen.
5. One of the more historic "new countries" was formed on October 3, 1990. when East and West Germany unified to become one Germany after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
6. The Marshall Islands used to be part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but gained independence on September 17, 1991. Also on this date, Micronesia, previously known as the Caroline Islands, also became independent from the United States.
7. January 1, 1993. The Czech Republic and Slovakia became independent nations when Czechoslovakia dissolved. And you thought YOUR New Year's celebration was special....
8. Also in 1993 (May), Eritrea was a part of Ethiopia but seceded and gained independence.
9. Palau was part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) and gained independence as a former colony in October of 1994.
10. East Timor (Timor-Leste) declared independence from Portugal in 1975 but did not become independent from Indonesia until 2002.
11. In June of 2006, (and this gets confusing) Montenegro was part of Serbia and Montenegro (also known as Yugoslavia) but gained independence after a referendum. Two days later, Serbia became its own entity after Montenegro split.
12. February, 2008. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. The representatives of the Kosovo people unanimously agreed the country would be independent of Serbia despite eleven of the Serbia minority boycotting this.
13. July 9, 2011. South Sudan peacefully seceded from Sudan following a January 2011 referendum. Sudan itself was the first to recognize South Sudan and did so one day early.
All these changes kind of make my head swim! But now, hopefully, we are all up-to-date on changes to to the world map. But don't think that this is it. I'm willing to bet that before too long, there will yet more changes...just as soon as we all get comfortable with these. And that, my friend, is the way of the world.
Please stop back by tomorrow for a life lesson from my wise old teacher, The Dharma Frog. He always has something worthwhile to say.
Hope you had a super-duper weekend!
Peace.
1. With dissolution of the USSSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) in 1991, fifteen new countries were born out of it; one of which, is named Russia. A few others include; Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, and Ukraine.
2. Also in the early 1990'w, the former Yugoslavia broke into five new countries: Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Herzegovina. Serbia and Montenegro are also known as the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Confused yet? I sure am!
3. In 1990, Namibia became independent of South Africa.
4. North and South Yemen merged in 1990 to become unified Yemen.
5. One of the more historic "new countries" was formed on October 3, 1990. when East and West Germany unified to become one Germany after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
6. The Marshall Islands used to be part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, but gained independence on September 17, 1991. Also on this date, Micronesia, previously known as the Caroline Islands, also became independent from the United States.
7. January 1, 1993. The Czech Republic and Slovakia became independent nations when Czechoslovakia dissolved. And you thought YOUR New Year's celebration was special....
8. Also in 1993 (May), Eritrea was a part of Ethiopia but seceded and gained independence.
9. Palau was part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands (administered by the United States) and gained independence as a former colony in October of 1994.
10. East Timor (Timor-Leste) declared independence from Portugal in 1975 but did not become independent from Indonesia until 2002.
11. In June of 2006, (and this gets confusing) Montenegro was part of Serbia and Montenegro (also known as Yugoslavia) but gained independence after a referendum. Two days later, Serbia became its own entity after Montenegro split.
12. February, 2008. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia. The representatives of the Kosovo people unanimously agreed the country would be independent of Serbia despite eleven of the Serbia minority boycotting this.
13. July 9, 2011. South Sudan peacefully seceded from Sudan following a January 2011 referendum. Sudan itself was the first to recognize South Sudan and did so one day early.
All these changes kind of make my head swim! But now, hopefully, we are all up-to-date on changes to to the world map. But don't think that this is it. I'm willing to bet that before too long, there will yet more changes...just as soon as we all get comfortable with these. And that, my friend, is the way of the world.
Please stop back by tomorrow for a life lesson from my wise old teacher, The Dharma Frog. He always has something worthwhile to say.
Hope you had a super-duper weekend!
Peace.
Rosenberg, Matt. "The World's Newest Countries Since 1990." ThoughtCo, Sep. 3, 2018, thoughtco.com/new-countries-of-the-world-1433444.
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