How many unindependent countries are there in Africa?

As of October 2023, there are two regions in Africa that are considered non-independent: Western Sahara, which is a disputed territory claimed by both the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and Morocco, and the territory of Somaliland, which has declared independence but is not widely recognized. Thus, while the majority of African countries are independent, these two areas highlight ongoing disputes regarding sovereignty and recognition on the continent.