Orange Free State (1879: Agreement)

The Orange Free State (Afrikaans: Oranje-Vrijstaat) is a country located in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Transvaal and Botswana to the north, South Africa to the east and south and Lesotho to the south.

It was estabilished in 1854,following the independence of the Orange River Sovereignity.the new republic incorporated both the Orange River Sovereignty and the traditions of the Winburg-Potchefstroom Republic,a Boer Republic which had merged with the Orange River Sovereignity.

Although the Orange Free State developed into a politically and economically successful republic, it experienced chronic conflict with the British (Boer Wars) until It was annexed as the Orange River Colony in 1900.It regained independence in the aftermath of the World War I.

The Orange Free State is a constitutional democracy in the form of a presidential republic. It is one of the founding members of the African Union, and has the largest economy of all the members. It is also a founding member of the United Nations and NEPAD.The Orange Free State is a member of the Group of 77, South Atlantic Peace and Cooperation Zone, Southern African Customs Union and the World Trade Organization.