Some historians would argue that many former colonies have been left with a post-colonial hangover that’s been hard to shake. Nowhere is this more true, they stress, than with the British Empire…

Sudan… The British announced its decision to leave in 1953 declaring 1956 as the date of the independence of Sudan. Just a year into independence, the tensions between the North and South exploded and so began 17 years of civil war.

Nigeria… British officials were lobbied to leave by natives and, after a failed attempt at appeasing them with self-government, the British finally obliged in 1960. Civil war started in 1967, not even a decade after the end of British rule, with military coups and the East declaring independence after what it perceived as corrupt rule by government, splitting the country.

Sierra Leone…  Independence in 1961 was followed by a short period of prosperity with the vast mineral resources being used for the country’s development. However when the incumbent Prime Minister Sir Milton Margai died, he was replaced by his deeply unpopular brother Sir Albert Margai. Civil war erupted in 1991 when he refused to leave office after elections went against him.

Uganda… The British left in 1962 only to be followed by civil war in 1981 due to perceived dodgy elections and corruption. The Prime Minister, Milton Obote, found himself facing an armed rebellion from Yoweri Museveni, the future president, and his National Resistance Party which went on to seize power after five years of civil war.

Zimbabwe… With growing resistance and anger from African colonies, Britain realised it could no longer continue to protect the vast lands it had occupied, so in 1965 granted Southern Rhodesia, later to become Zimbabwe, its sovereignty. Civil war erupted in the very same year between the indigenous population in a vicious power struggle which, after periods of intense fighting, ended in 1979.

On Thursday 17th November IQ2 will be addressing the question whether it is still right for former British Colonies to continue to blame the empire for all that goes wrong within their nation. For more information please visit http://www.intelligencesquared.com/events/empire