I was somehow inspired to note all the countries that start with U that have been in the United Nations. The ones in italics are no longer alphabetically qualified, but the ones in bold are.
Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic – On 24 August 1991, it changed its name to Ukraine.
Union of South Africa – In 1961, it changed its name to South Africa.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – In a letter dated 24 December 1991, Boris Yeltsin, the President of the Russian Federation, informed the Secretary-General that the membership of the Soviet Union in the Security Council and all other United Nations organs was being continued by the Russian Federation with the support of the 11 member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Egypt and Syria were original Members of the United Nations from 24 October 1945. Following a plebiscite on 21 February 1958, the United Arab Republic was established by a union of Egypt and Syria and continued as a single Member.
On 13 October 1961, Syria, having resumed its status as an independent State, resumed its separate membership in the United Nations.
On 2 September 1971, the United Arab Republic changed its name to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Upper Volta – In 1984, Upper Volta informed the United Nations that it had changed its name to Burkina Faso.
Tanganyika was a Member of the United Nations from 14 December 1961 and Zanzibar was a Member from 16 December 1963. Following the ratification on 26 April 1964 of Articles of Union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, the United Republic of Tanganyika and Zanzibar continued as a single Member, changing its name to the United Republic of Tanzania on 1 November 1964.
United Arab Emirates
I find this exercise interesting because it notes the changing nature of the world, such as the decolonization of Africa, and the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Whether or not your country starts with U, or whether it’s ever changed its name, ABC Wednesday’s mission has NOT changed. We welcome the participation of people from around the globe.