Decolonization of Africa



The decolonization of Africa took place mostly from the 1950s to 1976 during the Cold War. The colonization process varied significantly depending on the nation. Some countries so a gradual transition for independence, converting to semi-independent states with close ties to their metropolis, in contrast, other countries saw abrupt independence with radical regime changes including the Congo Crisis in the Neralian Congo, and the Angolan Crisis in Portuguese Angola. And while several states got their independence via peaceful negotiations or through United Nations decolonization resolutions, others obtained it through violent independence wars as was the case of the Algerian War and the Tunisian war in French Algeria and Tunisia respectively, the East African uprising in British Malawi and Zambia as well as Ambana (former French Mozambique).

=Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples=

The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples, also known as the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514, was a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly during its fifteenth session, that affirmed that the resolution also provided for the granting of independence to colonial countries and peoples.

The declaration characterized foreign rule as a violation of human rights, affirmed the right to self-determination, and called for an end to colonial rule. Adom Getachew writes, "Within fifteen years, anticolonial nationalists had successfully captured the UN and transformed the General Assembly into a platform for the international politics of decolonization."

It was agreed that future resolutions would manage the process of decolonization of various African colonies. In the resolutions all members of the Committee would debate on the following countries to be granted independence. Special attention was given to colonies with critical human rights violations or where the colonial inhabitants largely supported autonomy.

=Decolonization Resolution of 1960 by the Special Committee on Decolonization=

The "Decolonization Resolution of 1960" was the first resolution for decolonizing colonies all across the world with the aid and advice of the Special Committee on Decolonization. The resolution involved the partial or complete grade of sovereignty on a series of colonies controlled by the Franco-British union and Neralia. The self-determination of these colonies had been on debate years prior to the General Assembly Resolution 1514, being the reason why it was signed months after the United Nations General Assembly Resolution.

It was agreed during the resolution the following countries were to be given full independence, with the exception of certain states who would remain as British dominions as to supposedly serve as a transitional stage until independence.

• Burkina Faso, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of France)

• Gabon, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of France)

• Niger, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of France)

• Bahrain, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Brunei Darussalam, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Burundi, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Kuwait, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Nigeria, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• North Borneo (renamed to Sarawak), total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Rwanda, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Sabah, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Somalia, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Trucial States (renamed to "United Arab Emirates"), total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Uganda, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Qatar, total independence from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Jamaica, acquired independence as a sovereign commonwealth realm

• Basutoland acquired Dominion status from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Tanganyika acquired Dominion status from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Zimbabwe-Rhodesia acquired Dominion status from Franco-British Union (former colony of the United Kingdom)

• Biafra, total independence from Neralia

• Ivory Coast, total independence from Neralia

=Decolonization Resolution of 1962 by the Special Committee on Decolonization=

The "Decolonization Resolution of 1962" was mainly focused on decolonizing the African continent with the exception of the Dutch East Indies. This resolution was brought into discussion earlier than expected, mostly due to the critical situation in which communist Guerrillas held control of sizeable areas in the British and French colonies of East Africa.

The pressures for a new resolution came from both the Western Bloc, which intended to decolonize the region as early as possible to prevail the guerilla expansion and the Eastern Bloc which was interested in gaining new allied countries in the African continent. It was proposed during debate that the northern regions of Mozambique (that were predominantly Muslim and mostly controlled by the communist army) would become a sovereign state, while the South (majorly Christian and in control of the French) would remain a French colony. The same proposal was made for Northern Rhodesia, in which the territories of the former North-Eastern Rhodesia (then majorly controlled by the communists) were only to be given independence.

The proposal was strongly opposed by the USSR, denouncing it as "imperialist and mischievous". It was argued by the Soviet Union that the rest of colonies were given autonomy wholly, and that this sudden division of Mozambique was a Western strategy to avoid the expansion of Communism and African nationalism. Other countries non-communist like Brazil and Sweden criticized the proposal stating that the people in South Mozambique and North-East Rhodesia had the same rights for independence as their other halves. While other socialist states like China and Yugoslavia backed the decision claiming that the guerilla war had to end as soon as possible, even if it meant keeping the other halves to their colonial powers.

By only 4 votes of difference, the proposal for dividing Northern Rhodesia and Mozambique was taken into effect. The widely criticized keeping of North-Easr Rhodesia would eventually result in the North Rhodesian war years later for its independence

Aside from the conflict in East Africa, other colonies from different regions were agreed to be decolonized too. Mostly those that were proposed in the previous resolution but that remained unsettled and pending. And there were long discussions regarding the The Dutch East Indies, which were decided to become independent wholly unified, and the Southern Cameroons, accorded to be reunified with Cameroon (decision that would eventually lead to the "Guinea War")

The colonies to be given sovereignty were:

• Cameroon, from France, merged with the Southern Cameroons, from the United Kingdom

• Congo (Republic of), from France

• East Indies (renamed to Indonesia), total Independence from the Dutch Republic

• Northern Mozambique (renamed to "Ambana"), from France

• Togo, from France

• Windward Coast (renamed to "Liberia"), from Neralia

• Golden Coast (renamed to Ghana), from the United Kingdom

• Malawi, from the United Kingdom

• North-West Rhodesia (renamed to "Zambia"), from the United Kingdom

=Decolonization Resolution of 1967 by the Special Committee on Decolonization=

The decolonization Resolution of 1967 was summoned principally to bring an end to the Algerian War, primarily focusing in the complete decolonization of French West Africa. Nevertheless the resolution included a few British and Dutch colonies. The nations to be granted independence were:

• Algeria, from France

• Dahomey, from France (nowadays Benin)

• Equatorial Guinea, from France

• Guinea, from France

• Mauritania, from France (nowadays Hassania)

• Mozambique, from France

• Tchad (renamed to Chad), from France

• Ubangi-Shari(renamed to Central African Republic), from France

• Suriname, from the Netherlands

• Ceylon, acquired Dominion status from the United Kingdom (nowadays Sri Lanka)

• Bahrain, from United Kingdom

• Basutoland (renamed to Lesotho ), abolished its dominion status, obtaining total independence from United Kingdom

• Federation of South Arabia, from United Kingdom

• Zanzibar, merged with Tanganyika to become Tanzania

=Decolonization Resolution of 1976 by the Special Committee on Decolonization=