# A uniquely successful African state **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 2, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329 "2010-07-02T18:40:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/1 "2010-07-02T18:40:48Z")
So this state is a former British colony and has had it’s independence for just under 20 years; it is capitalistic, democratic, peaceful and politically stable (in comparison to all it’s neighbouring countries). However this state (and it’s people) is still very poor, largely due to the economic/political embargo that the world has imposed on it (throughout it’s entire existence). Got any clue to which state I’m describing? (I’ve given some clear clues). ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/2 "2010-07-02T18:46:38Z")
Do you mean Nambia? That was never a British colony – it was a German colony from 1884 to WW1, then run by South Africa until indendence. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/3 "2010-07-02T18:47:52Z")
Mauritius. If not, I give up. ---
**Author:** ![Fang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/96bed5/32.png) [@Fang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fang)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/4 "2010-07-02T18:49:58Z")
The only state which fits the factual part of your description is Eritrea. However, sanctions have only been in place since last year, so I don’t think that explains its poverty. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/5 "2010-07-02T18:51:09Z")
Good answers, but no. BTW there is a debate in here (somewhere) and I’ll expand when someone gets this riddle right. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/6 "2010-07-02T18:52:48Z")
Interest rapidly fading… ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/7 "2010-07-02T18:54:33Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Interest rapidly fading… And it has absolutely nothing to do with friggin Race/IQ too! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/8 "2010-07-02T18:55:14Z")
Who gives a damn? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/9 "2010-07-02T18:57:23Z")
Botswana. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/10 "2010-07-02T18:58:16Z")
An old navy store? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/11 "2010-07-02T18:59:45Z")
Somaliland. ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/12 "2010-07-02T19:00:44Z")
Well, here is the list of former British Colonies in Africa: Egypt Gambia Togo land Sudan Sierra Leone Gold Coast Nigeria Cameroon Somaliland Uganda Kenya Tanganyika Northern Rhodesia Bechuanaland Nyasa Land South West Africa Rhodesia South Africa Which of those are both successful and have an embargo on them? ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/13 "2010-07-02T19:01:35Z")
Hmm, former British colonies, all of these have been independent from Britain over 20 years now: Libya Egypt Gambia Nigeria Sierra Leone Gold Coast Nigeria Southern Cameroons Sudan Erirtrea Somaliland Somalia Kenya Zanzibar Taganyika Northern Rhodesia South West Africa Becahuanaland Swaziland Basutoland South Africa Am I missing any? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/14 "2010-07-02T19:01:37Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Somaliland. And what do you win?.. a congrats! 😃 And the debate: [Why don’t we recognize this state?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10485613.stm) ---
**Author:** ![emacknight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ec8ea/32.png) [@emacknight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emacknight)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/15 "2010-07-02T19:01:45Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Somaliland. I think you win. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/16 "2010-07-02T19:04:52Z")
> [@emacknight](#): > > Well, here is the list of former British Colonies in Africa: > Egypt > Gambia > Togo land > Sudan > Sierra Leone > Gold Coast > Nigeria > Cameroon > Somaliland > Uganda > Kenya > Tanganyika > Northern Rhodesia > Bechuanaland > Nyasa Land > South West Africa > Rhodesia > South Africa > > Which of those are both successful and have an embargo on them? > [@stpauler](#): > > Hmm, former British colonies, all of these have been independent from Britain over 20 years now: > Libya > Egypt > Gambia > Nigeria > Sierra Leone > Gold Coast > Nigeria > Southern Cameroons > Sudan > Erirtrea > Somaliland > Somalia > Kenya > Zanzibar > Taganyika > Northern Rhodesia > South West Africa > Becahuanaland > Swaziland > Basutoland > South Africa > > Am I missing any? You Scatter-shoters get NOTHING! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/17 "2010-07-02T19:09:52Z")
> [@orcenio](#): > > And what do you win?.. a congrats! 😃 > > And the debate: [Why don’t we recognize this state?](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10485613.stm) Should we completely disregard the border dispute? (God, this is a boring debate.) ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/18 "2010-07-02T19:19:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Should we completely disregard the border dispute? > > (God, this is a boring debate.) Eritrea has had border disputes with all of it’s neighbours. Also so have all the neighbouring countries [Ethiopia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrean-Ethiopian_War), [Somalia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogaden_War), [Sudan](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hala%27ib_Triangle), [Yemen](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanish_Islands_conflict), and [Djibouti](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7390945.stm), etc. Do you think this makes Somaliland exceptionally unstable? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/19 "2010-07-02T19:21:22Z")
The thing about Somaliland is that it’s right next to Djibouti. I don’t have anything to add to the discussion. I just like saying [Djibouti](http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/audio-medlineplus.pl?ggdjib01.wav=Djibouti). ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329/20 "2010-07-02T19:24:12Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > Interest rapidly fading… > [@casdave](#): > > Who gives a damn? > [@Ravenman](#): > > (God, this is a boring debate.) BTW If anyone else wants to pipe in just to say that this thread is boring/uninteresting I’ll save you the time and say that you can just get the hell out and move on to whatever the hell you normally do in life like jacking off to images of diseased yaks or whatever… 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-uniquely-successful-african-state/545329.md?page=2)