Factors for Liberation struggles in Africa

Factors for liberation struggles in Africa

There were internal and external factors for liberation struggles in Africa. These factors are discussed below:

External factors for the liberation struggles against colonial rule

The following were the external factors for the development of liberation struggles:

1. The Pan-African Movement Conference (PAC) held in 1945 in Manchester, England: This conference aimed at encouraging Africans to oppose the exploitation of Africans and to demand independence of African countries. The conference generally encouraged African elites to lead liberation struggles in their countries. Among the elites who attended the conference were Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya, Nnandi Azikiwe of Nigeria, and Kamuzu Banda of Nyasaland (Malawi). When they returned to their countries, they led their fellow Africans in the struggle for independence;

2. African soldiers who fought in the Second World War also promoted liberation struggles after returning to their home countries. These soldiers returned with renewed energy and determination to fight for independence in their own countries. Examples of such soldiers were Dedan Kimathi and Warihui Itaka who led the MAUMAU war in Kenya in the 1950s. Similarly, the Tanganyikan soldiers who fought in India, Burma, Israel, Egypt and other places participated in the struggle for independence after returning home. Many of them became members of TANU in the 1950s and played an important role to end British colonialism in Tanganyika;

3. The achievement of independence in India, China and Burma (Myanmar) also encouraged African leaders to struggle for independence in their countries. The independence of these countries inspired African leaders who became confident that independence could also be achieved in African countries;

4. The emergence of the United States of America (USA) as the powerful nation after the Second World War also promoted liberation struggles in Africa. The USA supported liberation struggles in Africa. The USA wanted Africa to be independent so that she could have access to African natural resources, markets, and cheap labour;

5. The United Nations Organisation (UNO), formed in 1945, supported the nationalist movements in African, Asian, and American continents; and

6. The emergence of socialist movements in the world which directly opposed colonialism. The emergence of The Soviet Union (USSR) as a powerful nation supported liberation struggles in Africa so that she could spread socialist policies in the continent.

Internal factors for the liberation struggles against colonial rule

The internal factors for liberation struggles in African countries were a result of the inhuman nature of colonial rule in Africa. Africans opposed colonialism due to the following internal factors:

1. Ending colonial repressive rule so that they could govern themselves;

2. Growing colonial exploitation of African natural and human resources;

3. Growing colonial oppression such as long working hours, low wages, high taxes, and low prices of their crops;

4. Increased exploitation and oppression of Africans after the Second World War: The colonialists intensified their exploitation in the colonies after the Second World War in order to compensate for the losses suffered during the war;

5. Resisting discrimination and poor social services given to Africans especially in health and education; and

6. Restoring African dignity from colonial humiliation and exploitation.