Which country is the smallest in Africa's mainland by area?

Which country is the smallest in Africa’s mainland by area? The Gambia is.

The Gambia is the smallest sovereign country on the African mainland, with a total area of roughly 11,300 square kilometres. Its unusual shape follows the lower Gambia River: Senegal surrounds it on three sides, while the country reaches the Atlantic Ocean at its western end.

The borders grew out of British and French colonial negotiations. An 1889 agreement established much of the narrow corridor controlled by Britain along the river, producing the distinctive elongated country seen today. The Gambia became independent from the United Kingdom in 1965, with Banjul as its capital.

A common mix-up is confusing “mainland Africa” with the whole continent. Island countries such as Mauritius, Comoros, São Tomé and Príncipe, and the Seychelles are smaller by area. The Gambia’s name also refers to the river that runs through its center, while “The” is conventionally part of the country’s English name.