Decolonization of Africa

AfricaAfrica Produced Many Produced Many Newly-Independent Nations Newly-Independent Nations

in a Very Short Timein a Very Short Time

AfricaAfrica Produced Many Produced Many Newly-Independent Nations Newly-Independent Nations

in a Very Short Timein a Very Short Time

Other Struggles in Decolonization

Neo-colonialism – continued Neo-colonialism – continued dependence on colonizerdependence on colonizer

Racism Racism Between natives & European Between natives & European settlerssettlers

Diversity of ethnicities and Diversity of ethnicities and linguistic groupslinguistic groups

Divisions due to Berlin Divisions due to Berlin Conference, imperialism Conference, imperialism

Achieving Independence

Pan-AfricanismPan-AfricanismMovement for African unity in the continent Movement for African unity in the continent Collective self-reliance is best way to overcome Collective self-reliance is best way to overcome neo-colonialism neo-colonialism

Kwame Nkrumah Kwame Nkrumah wrote: "It is clear we wrote: "It is clear we must find an African solution to our must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world." greatest forces for good in the world."

Ghana’’’’’’s “Peaceful Independence - 1957

British colonyBritish colonyRich in gold & diamondsRich in gold & diamonds

11stst sub-Saharan colony to achieve independence sub-Saharan colony to achieve independence

Before independenceBefore independenceSocially, religiously, & regionally dividedSocially, religiously, & regionally divided

After WWII, Britain passed Gold Coast Constitution – gave After WWII, Britain passed Gold Coast Constitution – gave Ghanaians some political participation in legislatureGhanaians some political participation in legislature

GHanaGhanaian political parties formedGhanaian political parties formed

United Gold Coast Convention United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) spoke for independence (UGCC) spoke for independence

Kwame Nkrumah – formed Kwame Nkrumah – formed Convention People’s Party (CPP)Convention People’s Party (CPP)

““Self-government NOW”Self-government NOW”

non-violent leader of non-violent leader of independence movement independence movement (boycotts, strikes)(boycotts, strikes)

CPP began winning majority of CPP began winning majority of legislaturelegislature

Became 1Became 1stst prime minister of prime minister of Ghana Ghana

Ghana AFTER INDEPENDENCE• Nkrumah overthrown by coup in

1966– Political instability for two decades– Recovered in 1990s

• 2012 Failed States Index indicated that Ghana is ranked the 67th least failed state in the world and the 5th least failed state in Africa

• Still lack sanitation, drinking water, access to quality education– Depends on where you are in Ghana

• Border disputes with Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

CongoMost exploited regionMost exploited regionBelgian colonyBelgian colony

Many natural resources (diamonds, Many natural resources (diamonds, copper, coffee, oil, cobalt, rubber)copper, coffee, oil, cobalt, rubber)

In 1950s, Belgian control In 1950s, Belgian control deteriorateddeterioratedJoseph Kasavubu Joseph Kasavubu

Independence for Bakongo peopleIndependence for Bakongo peopleFirst presidentFirst president

Patrice LumumbaPatrice LumumbaMore national and militant leaderMore national and militant leaderFirst Prime MinisterFirst Prime Minister

CongoRiots against Belgian controlRiots against Belgian controlRound Table Conference in Belgium Round Table Conference in Belgium in 1960 – agreed for Congo to in 1960 – agreed for Congo to become independentbecome independentCongo not preparedCongo not prepared

Army mutiniedArmy mutiniedProvinces (such as Katanga under Moise Provinces (such as Katanga under Moise Tshombe) revoltedTshombe) revoltedInfluence of Cold War dramaInfluence of Cold War dramaKasavubu had Lumumba captured – Kasavubu had Lumumba captured – Lumumba killed by Katanga rebelsLumumba killed by Katanga rebels

Military coup by Mobutu Sese SekoMilitary coup by Mobutu Sese SekoDictator, impoverished the nation (but Dictator, impoverished the nation (but he had plenty of $.....)he had plenty of $.....)

Egypt• Independent from British control in 1922Independent from British control in 1922

– Gamal Abdel Nasser – army officer – Gamal Abdel Nasser – army officer – assisted overthrow of King Faroukassisted overthrow of King Farouk

– Became Egypt’s leaderBecame Egypt’s leader

• Battled with Israel, Britain, & France to Battled with Israel, Britain, & France to keep Suez Canal under Egypt’s control keep Suez Canal under Egypt’s control

• Nasser allied w/Soviet Union in building Nasser allied w/Soviet Union in building of Aswan High Damof Aswan High Dam

• Anwar Sadat became new leader – anti-Anwar Sadat became new leader – anti-Soviet UnionSoviet Union– AssassinatedAssassinated

• Hosni Mubarak took power, kept Hosni Mubarak took power, kept diplomatic relationships with USSR & USdiplomatic relationships with USSR & US

Issues in Egypt• Ethnic, linguistic, and religious Ethnic, linguistic, and religious

divisionsdivisions– Mostly Sunni Muslim, but there Mostly Sunni Muslim, but there

are Christians and other religions are Christians and other religions presentpresent

• Political instabilityPolitical instability– Arab Spring – ousting of MubarakArab Spring – ousting of Mubarak– Military junta as provisional gov’tMilitary junta as provisional gov’t– Oppression/turmoil under Oppression/turmoil under

Muhammad Morsi – overthrowMuhammad Morsi – overthrow– Now led by Adly Mansour as Now led by Adly Mansour as

acting president acting president

Algeria• French colonyFrench colony

– Many French settled there (settler Many French settled there (settler colony)colony)

• Independence was long, bitter civil Independence was long, bitter civil warwar– Reformists in Algeria influenced by Reformists in Algeria influenced by

Arab-Islamic nationalismArab-Islamic nationalism– Mid-1950s – Algerian revolution against Mid-1950s – Algerian revolution against

French controlFrench control• Led by National Liberation Front (NLF)Led by National Liberation Front (NLF)• Guerrilla warfare, terrorism, torture, etc.Guerrilla warfare, terrorism, torture, etc.

– Charles De Gaulle became president of Charles De Gaulle became president of France – negotiated settlement with France – negotiated settlement with AlgeriaAlgeria

• Algeria granted independence in 1962 Algeria granted independence in 1962

Algeria

• New leaders committed to centralized controlNew leaders committed to centralized control• Made 4-year plan for developmentMade 4-year plan for development• Nationalized petroleum & natural gasNationalized petroleum & natural gas• Industrialization of economyIndustrialization of economy• However…However…

– Wealth did not trickle downWealth did not trickle down– Rivalries with nearby regions for Rivalries with nearby regions for

dominancedominance– Extremism, civil strife Extremism, civil strife

• 1) What were similarities in the independence movements of these four colonies?

• 2) What were differences among the independence movements of these four colonies?

• 3) What made independence movements difficult in these colonies?

• 4) What roles did Nkrumah and Lumumba have in their nation's independence? Were they more similar or different?