Claim: Former ambassador Sheikh Kouyateh claims Liberia is the only African country that has been independent for more than 100 years
Verdict: False. DUBAWA’s verification found that Egypt also has more than 100 years of independence.
Full Text
Following Liberia’s 179th independence day celebration, the country’s former ambassador at large for special duty says, It is an obligation of Liberians to celebrate their independence.
According to Sheikh Kouyateh, the people of Liberia are to celebrate with patriotic caution, reminding themselves of how far they have come as a nation.
He says that the impact of the long years of independence on people’s lives is negligible: “There is no African country that has had independence for 100 years.”
He can be heard from 2:00:02 to 2:00:10 in a radio show he appeared on as a guest.
As of the time of this publication, the programme had about 13.2k views, 295 comments, 285 reactions and 79 shares.
To promote truth in the information ecosystem, DUBAWA verified the former ambassador’s assertion.
Verification
DUBAWA conducted multiple online searches and found that Liberia is not the only African country to have gained independence more than a century ago. Egypt is another African country that gained its independence in February 1922, making it about 104 years since the country became independent.
Conclusion
Former ambassador Sheikh Kouyateh’s claim that Liberia is the only African country that has been independent for more than 100 years is false.