# List of oldest universities in continuous operation

**Section:** Africa

| Location | Location | Current name | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current | Original | Current name | Year | Notes |
| Algeria (Algiers) | France French Algeria (Algiers) | University of Algiers | 1909 | - |
| Angola (Luanda) | Portugal Portuguese Angola (Luanda) | Agostinho Neto University | 1962 | Founded as Estudos Gerais Universitários de Angola. Was renamed Universidade de Luanda (University of Luanda) in 1968. |
| Cameroon (Yaoundé) | Cameroon (Yaoundé) | University of Yaoundé | 1962 | In 1993 following a university reform the University of Yaounde was split into two (University of Yaoundé I and University of Yaoundé II) following the university branch-model pioneered by the University of Paris. |
| Cape Verde (Praia) | Cape Verde (Praia) | Jean Piaget University of Cape Verde | 2001 | as a result of the merger of the two previously existing higher education establishments (ISE and ISECMAR) |
| Egypt (Giza) | Egypt Khedivate of Egypt (Cairo) | Cairo University | 1908 | The oldest university in Africa |
| Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) | Ethiopia Ethiopian Empire (Addis Ababa) | University of Addis Ababa | 1950 | The university was originally called the University College of Addis Ababa in 1950 and was later renamed Haile Selassie I University in 1962 after the Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I. |
| Ghana (Accra) | Gold Coast (Accra) | University of Ghana | 1948 | Founded as the University College of the Gold Coast, an affiliate college of the University of London which supervised its academic programmes and awarded the degrees. |
| Kenya (Nairobi) | - | University of Nairobi | 1956 (university 1970) | Oldest in Kenya. Established 1956 as the Royal Technical College. |
| Kenya (Njoro) | - | Egerton University | 1939 (university 1987) | Claims to be "the oldest institution of higher learning in Kenya". Founded as a farm school 1939, Egerton Farm School. |
| Liberia (Monrovia) | Liberia (Monrovia) | University of Liberia | 1951 | building on Liberia College founded in 1863 |
| Libya (Benghazi & Tripoli) | Libya Kingdom of Libya (Benghazi) | University of Libya | 1956 | A royal decree was issued on 15 December 1955 for the founding of the university. The first faculty to be formed was the Faculty of Literature in Benghazi, and the royal palace "Al Manar", from which King Idris I of Libya declared its independence on 24 December 1951, was assigned to be the campus. |
| Madagascar (Antananarivo) | France Colony of Madagascar and Dependencies (Antananarivo) | University of Antananarivo | 1955 | Founded December 1955 as the Institute for Advanced Studies in Antananarivo. Renamed the University of Madagascar in 1961. |
| Mauritius (Moka) | Mauritius British Mauritius (Moka) | University of Mauritius | 1965 | The Faculty of Agriculture is the oldest faculty of the university. It was founded in 1914 as the School of Agriculture in 1914, and in 1966 it was incorporated into the newly established University of Mauritius. |
| Morocco (Fez, Marrakech, Tétouan, Agadir) | Morocco (Fez) | University of Al Quaraouiyine | 859 (university 1965) | traces its origins back to the al-Qarawiyyin mosque and associated madrasa founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859, but only became a university in 1965. |
| Morocco (Rabat) | Morocco (Rabat) | Mohammed V University | 1957 | Founded as University of Rabat |
| Morocco (Casablanca) | Morocco (Casablanca) | University of Hassan II Casablanca | 1975 | - |
| Mozambique (Maputo) | Portugal Portuguese Mozambique (Lourenço Marques) | Eduardo Mondlane University | 1962 | Estudos Gerais Universitários de Moçambique |
| Nigeria (Ibadan) | - | University of Ibadan | 1948 (university 1962) | Founded as Yaba College in 1932 in Yaba, Lagos, as the first tertiary educational institute in Nigeria. Yaba College was transferred to Ibadan, becoming the University College of Ibadan, in 1948. |
| Nigeria (Nsukka, Enugu, Ituku, Aba) | Nigeria (Nsukka) | University of Nigeria, Nsukka | 1960 | First university in Nigeria. |
| Rwanda (Kigali) | Rwanda (Kigali) | University of Rwanda | 2013 | Incorporates the National University of Rwanda founded in 1963 |
| Sierra Leone (Freetown) | Sierra Leone (Freetown) | Fourah Bay College | 1827 (university 1967) | Oldest university-level institution in Africa. Founded as a school in 1827. |
| Somalia (Mogadishu) | Italian Somaliland (Mogadishu) | Somali National University | 1954 | - |
| South Africa (Cape Town) | Union of South Africa Union of South Africa (Cape Town) | University of Cape Town | 1918 | founded as a school in 1829 (university status: 2 April 1918) |
| South Africa (Stellenbosch) | Union of South Africa Union of South Africa (Stellenbosch) | Stellenbosch University | 1918 | founded as a secondary education institute in 1866 (University status: 2 April 1918) |
| Sudan (Khartoum) | Sudan (Khartoum) | University of Khartoum | 1956 | Renamed from Gordon Memorial College, founded 1902, when it gained full university status in 1956 |
| Tunisia (Tunis) | Tunisia (Tunis) | University of Ez-Zitouna | 737 (university 1961) | traces its origins back to the Al-Zaytuna madrassa founded around 737 (university status in 1961) |
| Uganda (Kampala) | - | Makerere University | 1922 | - |
| Zimbabwe (Harare) | Southern Rhodesia (Salisbury) | University of Zimbabwe | 1952 | - |