Explain Decolonisation in Africa – (a) Causes (b) Bandung Conference (c) Concept of African Unity

Answer:

(a) Causes: European powers had divided almost all of Africa among themselves. Educated Africans were influenced by ideas of liberty and nationalism. The Second World War weakened Britain and France, and African soldiers who had fought in the war demanded freedom. The independence of India (1947) and the support of the UN encouraged African freedom movements. Leaders like Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana, independent 1957), Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa) led these struggles.

(b) Bandung Conference: In April 1955 representatives of 29 newly independent Asian and African countries met at Bandung in Indonesia. They condemned colonialism and racial discrimination, supported the freedom of colonies and accepted principles of peaceful co-existence. The conference gave strength to African freedom movements and laid the foundation of the Non-Aligned Movement.

(c) Concept of African Unity: African leaders felt that the continent should be united to remove colonialism, apartheid and poverty (Pan-Africanism). In 1963 the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was founded at Addis Ababa to promote unity, defend the sovereignty of African states and support liberation movements. In 2002 it was replaced by the African Union.