Happy Birthday to Micronesia!

A market in Maradi, the third largest city in Niger. *Photo from Wikipedia August 3 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Niger from France in 1960. In the 19th century, contact with Europe began with the first European explorers to travel to Niger. Following the 1885 Berlin conference during which colonial powers outlined the division of Africa into colonial spheres, French military efforts to conquer existing African states were intensified in all French colonies including Niger. By 1922, all resistance to colonial rule was eliminated and Niger became a French colony. Following the Overseas Reform Act (Loi Cadre) of

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, which is often considered as one of the most beautiful mosques in the Asia Pacific. *Photo from Wikipedia January 1 is: Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Brunei from United Kingdom in 1984. During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak to James Brooke and installed him as the White Rajah. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and was assigned a British resident as colonial manager in 1906. After the Japanese occupation during World War II, in 1959 a new constitution was written. In 1962, a small armed rebellion

People at a local school in Bangui, the capital and largest city of the Central African Republic. *Photo from Wikipedia August 13 is Independence Day, celebrates the independence of Central African Republic (CAR) from France in 1960. The country’s current borders were established by France, which ruled the country as a colony starting in the late 19th century. After gaining independence from France in 1960, the Central African Republic was ruled by a series of autocratic leaders. The Central African Republic is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast,