Decolonization through Armed Struggle

Decolonization through Armed Struggle

Armed struggle is the struggle for freedom through the use of weapons. It was the method used by some African countries during the struggle for political independence.

African countries that gained independence through armed struggle include:

• Kenya
• Algeria
• Former Portuguese colonies such as Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Angola
• Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia)

Some African countries used armed means in their independence struggle, including Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Mozambique.

Reasons for the Armed Struggle

1. Colonial powers were not ready to freely grant freedom to countries like Kenya, Algeria, Mozambique, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau.
2. The colonial powers rejected UNO and OAU instructions to grant independence to these countries. Therefore, the only solution to attain independence was through armed struggle because the settlers and their activities of land alienation and forced labor were not ready to leave their plantations in the colony.
3. The colonial regimes were unpopular among the people. Therefore, the African people used various methods including armed struggle in order to regain their lost freedom.
4. The colonial powers did not want to abandon their colonies as they viewed them as overseas territories. For example, Portugal regarded Mozambique as one of its overseas territories.
5. Colonial powers granted independence to the minority — for example, in the case of the Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).