20th century – 20th century
Southern Africa
From 1963, the OAU organized diplomatic and economic opposition to apartheid in South Africa and minority rule in Namibia and Rhodesia. It called for severed diplomatic relations, closed ports and airports, and trade and arms embargoes against South Africa, while campaigning against its international legitimacy. The policy achieved notable success in blocking recognition of the Transkei and other Bantustans, although member-state compliance remained uneven.
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The Story
From its inception in 1963, the OAU adopted a comprehensive condemnation of apartheid in South Africa and Namibia. It called on its members and all United Nations members to sever diplomatic relations with South Africa, close their ports and airports to it, and impose trade and arms embargoes. These measures placed the organization at the center of an African campaign against minority rule and racial oppression.
Implementation was more difficult than proclamation. Western states continued trading with and selling arms to South Africa, while OAU members themselves varied in their willingness and ability to apply restrictions. Zambia’s geographic position made sanctions economically dangerous, and Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland were especially constrained by their dependence on South Africa. Malawi went further in 1967 by establishing diplomatic relations with South Africa.
The OAU rejected Houphouët-Boigny’s 1970 policy of dialogue with South Africa at its 1971 Addis Ababa summit, although several governments supported or abstained on the issue. At the same time, the organization achieved a notable success by ensuring African and international non-recognition of the Transkei Bantustan after South Africa declared it independent in 1976, and of other Bantustans subsequently declared independent.
20th century – 20th century
Southern Africa
From 1963, the OAU organized diplomatic and economic opposition to apartheid in South Africa and minority rule in Namibia and Rhodesia. It called for severed diplomatic relations, closed ports and airports, and trade and arms embargoes against South Africa, while campaigning against its international legitimacy. The policy achieved notable success in blocking recognition of the Transkei and other Bantustans, although member-state compliance remained uneven.
Continue exploring
The Story
From its inception in 1963, the OAU adopted a comprehensive condemnation of apartheid in South Africa and Namibia. It called on its members and all United Nations members to sever diplomatic relations with South Africa, close their ports and airports to it, and impose trade and arms embargoes. These measures placed the organization at the center of an African campaign against minority rule and racial oppression.
Implementation was more difficult than proclamation. Western states continued trading with and selling arms to South Africa, while OAU members themselves varied in their willingness and ability to apply restrictions. Zambia’s geographic position made sanctions economically dangerous, and Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland were especially constrained by their dependence on South Africa. Malawi went further in 1967 by establishing diplomatic relations with South Africa.
The OAU rejected Houphouët-Boigny’s 1970 policy of dialogue with South Africa at its 1971 Addis Ababa summit, although several governments supported or abstained on the issue. At the same time, the organization achieved a notable success by ensuring African and international non-recognition of the Transkei Bantustan after South Africa declared it independent in 1976, and of other Bantustans subsequently declared independent.
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