End of the Portuguese Empire in Africa

A Portuguese colonization in Africa fits into the context of the great navigations that took place in the 15th century.

Portugal was the first European country to set sail on the high seas. In this movement, he managed to invade and explore several regions on the African continent, placing them in an inferior position, of colonized territory.

Portugal was the last country to recognize the independence of its former colonies in Africa.

Summary

The founding of the United Nations (UN) in 1945, in the post-Second World War (1939-1945), was extremely significant for the creation of a new perspective on all the peoples of the world.

Society was in a situation of fragility and commotion in the face of the atrocities committed, mainly by the nazi regime.

In this way, the UN begins to make efforts in campaigns to guarantee the end of colonization practiced for so many centuries by European countries.

Dissatisfied with the organization's position, European countries just change the status of their territories. The United Kingdom, for example, joins part of its former colonies in commonwealth, which is an organization that includes poor and rich countries to fight for democracy, peace and freedom.

Portugal, the Netherlands and France adopted them as overseas provinces.

Some territories of the African continent did not accept either position (Commonwealth or overseas provinces) and fought to gain their independence in fact. Algeria and Congo fit into this reality.

The independence of the former Portuguese colonies must be analyzed within the context of Cold War (1947-1991).

Both the United States and the Soviet Union were interested in this issue, as the objective was to attract countries to their ideologies (capitalist or socialist).

With that, the independence of these countries occurred during the Cold War and thanks to the effects of the Carnation Revolution, which took place in Portugal in 1974.

Portugal

It is important to understand the reality experienced by Portugal during this period in order to understand the reasons that led to the independence of its former colonies in Africa.

Portugal lived under the dictatorial regime of salazar (1933-1974). The country lived for more than 40 years in an anti-democratic, authoritarian and violent regime.

As Salazar was unwilling to give up his possessions, a violent colonial war began in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique.

As a result, the Portuguese-speaking territories in Africa united with the objective of fighting Portugal, founding in 1960, the African Revolutionary Front for the National Independence of the Portuguese Colonies.

The organization included several popular movements from Mozambique, Cape Verde, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe and Guinea-Bissau.

In 1961, the Conference of Nationalist Organizations of the Portuguese Colonies was created, replacing the previous one.

This organization brought together leaders who fought for the independence of Portuguese territories and coordinated ways to achieve independence peacefully. At the same time, they fought to let the world know that these territories were in search of their freedom.

However, it is only with the Carnation Revolution, which overthrew the Salazarist dictatorship in the country, that African territories began to glimpse independence.

The military overthrew Marcelo Caetano (replacement of Antônio de Oliveira Salazar), and the presidency was assumed by General António de Spínola.

It recognizes the independence of African territories and puts an end to the Portuguese Empire in Africa in 1975.

Now we will see how each African country experienced the process of independence from Portugal.

Angola

In 1961, Portugal sends troops to Angola with the aim of containing the revolutionaries who were fighting for independence.

In 1963, Portugal creates the motto Angola is ours, with songs and images reinforcing their hold on the territory.

Some movements favorable to Angolan independence emerged. They were:

• Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA)
• National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA)
• National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA)

With the end of the Carnation Revolution, Angola's independence process began in 1975.

However, this movement was quite turbulent, with American and Soviet interference, which aimed to have their sympathizing groups in power in African territories.

This phase was called the Second War of Liberation, which only ended in 1976.

José Eduardo dos Santos assumes power in 1979 until 2017.

Mozambique

The Mozambican emancipation movement was led by the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in 1962.

This guerrilla was defeated in several conflicts with the Portuguese. Its independence was only recognized in 1975.

Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde

For Guinea-Bissau, the independence movement began with the creation of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), with a Marxist tendency.

In 1961, they fought against Portugal. As a result, they achieved the emancipation of a large part of the territory in 1970.

After the Carnation Revolution, Portugal recognizes the independence of Guinea-Bissau.

However, the African country went through a long period of instability, as the population was divided, one part supported the Portuguese, the other, the libertarians.

Cape Verde, on the other hand, did not experience any civil war after its emancipation, which took place in 1975. They invested in the country's infrastructure.

Sao Tome and Principe

Because the country is small, its independence was organized in Gabon, a neighboring country.

In it, the Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe (MLSTP) was created, with a Marxist-Leninist tendency.

Its independence was recognized in 1975, and its first government was socialist.

It can be seen, then, that all former African colonies fought for their independence before it was granted by Portugal.

Learn more at:

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