THE decolonization of Africa it occurred during the 20th century when the populations of the occupied African territories managed to expel the European invader and thus gain independence.
The first African country to become independent was Liberia, in 1847; and the last, Eritrea, in 1993.
Historical context
The independence processes in Africa started in the beginning of the 20th century, with the independence of Egypt. However, it was only after World War II, with the European powers weakened, that African countries achieved independence.
The populations of African countries were called upon to participate in the war effort and many fought in the conflict. When they finished, they thought they would have more autonomy, but that's not what happened. Colonialism continued as before the war.
Causes
After the end of World War II, the UN began to put pressure on the imperialist powers to put an end to colonization.
Likewise, the world lived the
Cold War, the dispute for world hegemony between the United States (capitalism) and the USSR (socialism).Both countries supported the rebel side closest to their ideas in order to co-opt them into their sphere of influence.
Likewise, pan-Africanist ideas conquered the African continent with their thinking for African unity.
Pan Africanism
In the interwar period, the idea that Africans had more similarities than differences began to take shape.
Virtually the entire continent had suffered from European colonization and the slave trade. In this way, pan-Africanism was created, which thought of a common identity for Africans in order to unite them against the European invader.
One of the most prominent leaders of pan-Africanism was the American W.E.B Du Bois (1868-1963), who stood out writing about the racial issues of his time and supporting the continent's independence movements African.
Du Bois was an active participant and organizer of the Pan-African Congress that was held periodically to discuss issues relevant to black people.
Summary
The independence processes on the African continent took place at different times. For example, the nations of the North Africa Western and Eastern were free from the 1950s.
Those belonging to the Sub-Saharan Africa, in 1960, the members of Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region between 1970 and 1980.
Egypt achieves its independence in 1922, but it was in the 50s that several states achieved their autonomy, such as Libya (1951), Morocco and Tunisia (1956) and Ghana (1957).
Between 1957 and 1962, 29 countries became new independent states and helped to accelerate the process of African decolonization.
Each imperialist country evacuated Africa in a different way. Let's see:
- The United Kingdom agrees to withdraw from certain territories and transfer power to leaders chosen by the metropolis. To keep them as allies, the commonwealth.
- France changes the status of its colonies to Overseas Provinces and later creates the Community French where he will gather his former possessions keeping French as the official language and a currency in ordinary. The exception will be the bloody Algeria War.
- Spain transforms Equatorial Guinea into an overseas province in 1960 and Ceuta and Melila into cities. In 1968, Equatorial Guinea is declared independent.
- Belgium will be involved in the Congo war.
- Portugal does not accept to get rid of its colonies and will only change the status of these territories in 1959. Even so, the 60s and 70s are marked by armed conflicts that were only resolved with the Carnation Revolution, in 1974.
after independence
The cost of the struggle for independence was high, as a result of colonial wars that claimed the lives of millions of people and undermined the productive capacity of countries.
After the end of decolonization in Africa, most new countries enter civil war. This is because there were peoples who were historically enemies and now lived within the same border.
Also the different ideologies - capitalism and socialism - made them face various groups for power.
Furthermore, the old settlers try to keep the new nations as allies. To do this, they become partners and purchasers of raw materials from these countries.
Although the continent has shown growth in recent decades, African countries still suffer the consequences of colonization and bad governance.
Read more:
- African countries
- famine in africa
- Berlin Conference
- Africa Sharing
- Civil war
- Miscegenation
