Depending on the person, East Africa can involve many different countries. For example, it can either be the eastern side of the African continent and this will be solely based on its geography, but it can also be the members of the East African Community or EAC which integrate many more African countries.
Either way, when talking about East African countries one must always remember that there are countries who are not on the mainland of the continent, such as Madagascar.
List of Eastern African Countries
This is the list of all the countries in Eastern Africa!
- Tanzania
- Kenya
- Uganda
- Rwanda
- Burundi
- South Sudan
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Somalia
- Comoros
- Mauritius
- Seychelles
- Réunion
- Mayotte
- Mozambique
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- Sudan
- South Sudan
East African Countries Breakdown
1. Mozambique
Officially known as the Republic of Mozambique, this country in Eastern Africa is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Zimbabwe to the west, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, and Eswatini and South Africa to the southwest.
The capital city of Mozambique is Maputo and it’s also the biggest city in the country.
Mozambique was inhabited by the Bantu people, thus they speak Swahili. However, in 1498 the Portuguese arrived in this country and they colonized it and made an important settlement in 1505.
The African country was able to gain its independence in 1975 and they celebrated this victory by naming their country the People’s Republic of Mozambique. But, this joyful time only lasted for two years, and then the country had an intense civil war that lasted until 1992.
Nowadays Mozambique is a presidential democracy and even though they still have problems, their national politics have remained peaceful and without any major incidents.
This country is very rich in terms of its natural resources and even though they seem to have everything their economy is still struggling.
The government of the country is also trying to position Mozambique in the tourism industry, and they are advertising its great landscapes as part of a plan to attract international tourists.
Even though most people in Mozambique speak Swahili, Sena or Makhuwa, the only official language of the country is Portuguese.
2. Madagascar
Officially known as the Republic of Madagascar, it’s the fourth-largest island country in the world and is one of the Eastern African countries.
This island is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, as its flora and fauna have evolved throughout billions of years. There, you will be able to see ecosystems and wildlife that are native to those lands.
Madagascar gained independence from France in 1960, and as of today, French remains one of the official languages of the country alongside Malagasy.
Even though more international tourists are traveling to this island, Madagascar still remains one of the poorest nations of the world, and even though their government is trying to eradicate poverty, they are having a really rough time trying to achieve this.
3. Tanzania
Officially known as the United Republic of Tanzania, this country in Eastern Africa is surrounded by Uganda to the north, the Indian Ocean to the east, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Burundi to the west, Kenya to the south and Zambia to the southwest.
This country has been thoroughly studied by anthropologists as they have seen evidence of ancient civilizations that lived in this part of the world.
In the 19th century, right after World War I, Germany colonized Tanzania and formed what was known as the German East Africa, and even though the country was divided into two different colonial jurisdictions back then, by 1963 these two colonies had gained independence and decided to form the United Republic of Tanzania.
This country is one of the most diverse countries in the world, and there are at least 100 different ethnicities that have different languages, cultures, and religions. Tanzania doesn’t have an official language that is stated in their constitution, however, Swahili and English are the most common languages to be used.
Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, is found in Tanzania.
4. Kenya
Also known as the Republic of Kenya, the capital city of this country is Nairobi. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somalia to the east, South Sudan to the northwest, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and the Indian Ocean to the southeast.
Kenya was colonized by the United Kingdom, however, the Mau Mau revolution began in 1952 and it was one of the bloodiest revolutions this country has faced. This African nation claimed its independence and it finally gained it in 1963.
The official language is English and the country has now become a favorite hotspot for international tourists.
5. Somalia
Also known as the Federal Republic of Somalia, this country is located in the Horn of Africa.
Somalia is surrounded by Ethiopia to the west, the Somalia Sea and the Guardafui Channel to the east, the Gulf of Aden to the north, and Kenya to the southwest. In addition, there’s a disputed territory called Somaliland, which has been a source of conflict between Somalia and Djibouti.
This Eastern African country has always been a closed nation, thus they are the most homogeneous country in Africa. This means that they have not been diversified in terms of their culture, linguistics, and ways of being, so, at least 95% of the inhabitants of this country are Somalis.
The official languages of Somalia are Somali and Arabic, and most individuals follow Islam.
Somalia has had a very difficult modern history, as it has been invaded and colonized by the Germans, the British, and the Italians. Then, in 1969, Somalia was able to become a democratic republic, which only lasted 22 years.
In 1991 the Somali Civil War began and even though things are calmer now, Somalia remains one of the poorest countries on earth.
Conclusion
These East African countries have two things in common: they have gone through a lot of conflicts, wars, and even famines.
And even though most of these nations are now independent, they still face a lot of problems regarding their economy, cultural and religious differences, and international geopolitics.
On the other hand, they also share great sceneries and a love of nature thanks to the grandness of their lands, as these countries have remained almost untouched as tourism hasn’t exploded yet.
I hope that this article on Eastern African countries was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Country Rankings Page!
