The country lost this status with the outbreak of the Civil War, and never regained it again.
After all, most countries which were colonies in the past, have regained their independence.
The last French troops left Syria in 1946 and the country regained its independence.
It became part of Poland again when the country regained its independence in 1918.
Several countries which had been part of the Soviet Union regained their full independence.
In the fifteen years since this country regained independence, it has become one of the world's great success stories.
"They want to do everything to help their country regain its greatness, and part of that involves making China a great economic and military power."
Together, our countries have regained the monetary sovereignty which they had each individually lost.
Between the 1950s and 1990s, African countries finally regained their independence.
Both countries regained their footing and are now viewed as successes.