Final answer:
Ethiopia and Liberia were the two African countries that remained independent during the scramble for Africa, resisting European colonization efforts and maintaining their sovereignty.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the scramble for Africa, the only two African countries that remained independent of European rule were Ethiopia and Liberia. Ethiopia maintained its sovereignty, withstanding attempts at colonization, including resisting Italian occupation during World War II under the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie. Liberia, established as a home for freed slaves from the United States, also retained its independence throughout European colonization.
By 1900, except for Ethiopia and Liberia, most of Africa was under European control. The Berlin Conference of 1884, led by Otto von Bismarck of Germany, was significant in determining the division of Africa, which included 14 European countries and the United States. The division often disregarded the existing ethnic and cultural boundaries, leading to long-term challenges in state formation after decolonization.