Decolonisation of Africa The shift to independence

Why decolonise? The Second World War seriously weakened the colonial system; colonial powers lost the prestige they once enjoyed. They were either defeated and occupied, like the Netherlands, Belgium and France, or they emerged drained by the conflict, as was the case with Great Britain. The native peoples who fought in the war, now felt the desire to separate themselves from their european colonial powers. As well, under the new superpowers of the world (the United States and the USSR) imperialism/colonialism were shunned.

Why cont…  During the war, Africa benefited from demand in Europe for its exports.  By the end of World War II, Africa had experienced considerable economic growth and social change.  Urbanisation occurred  Infrastructure was created (roads, harbours, rail and telegraphic networks)  Africans were participating in this economic growth and benefiting from it ergo it was only natural that they have a voice in maintaining and increasing their prosperity.

The wave…  The Gold Coast was the first to win its independence, becoming an independent dominion in Today it is known as Ghana. This movement was driven by the Leftists, those who frowned upon capitalism. A parliamentary democracy was created and ties were maintained with Great Britain.  In 1960 the French granted complete independence to Senegal, Togo, Niger, Gabon, Chad, Mali, the Ivory Coast, Ubangi-Shari (which became the Central African Republic) and the area that includes the cities of Brazzaville and Pointe Noire which became the Congo Republic.  1960: Great Britain gave Nigeria its independence  1962: Uganda  1962: Belgium granted independence to Burundi and Rwanda

The process  Decolonisation was achieved through various means, all with varying repercussions: Peaceful departure, transition to independence Violent revolts and armed struggles by native populations Peaceful negotiations  The number of white settlers- could lead to opposition

Struggles for National Liberation  At the end of the 1960s, six African colonies remained. Of the six, five were settler colonies, that is colonies in which the interests power of the European settler community kept the majority African populations from gaining their political freedom. Of these six countries, five were in Southern Africa: Angola (Portugal/settler) Mozambique (Portugal/settler), Namibia (South Africa/settler), South Africa (settler) and Zimbabwe (British/settler). The small Portuguese colony of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde in West Africa was the sixth colony.  For many years, the white settlers in these colonies had the right to vote. They used this vote to elect representatives who passed laws that protected the power of the European settlers and discriminated against Africans. African nationalist leaders believed that if franchise was the right of all citizens, the majority population would use their vote to bring in majority, independent African rule.

African response  Nationalist parties were created on the part of Africans; however, few had any power and those leaders who were inspiring, dynamic and effective were often incarcerated.  Nelson Mandela of the African National Congress was incarcerated from He later became the president of South Africa.