Documents from the archive of foreign policy of the Russian Federation on the position of African countries towards the Nigerian civil war (1967–1970) and on the OAU’s peacemaking
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: OnMay 30, 1967 the southeastern provinces ofNigeria attempted to secede as the self-proclaimedRepublic ofBiafra.This caused theNigerian civil war which lasted fromJuly 6, 1967 toJanuary 15, 1970.Biafran army was defeated and capitulated.The international response to theNigerian crisis revealed an array of positions which were non-bloc, unique, and atypical of theColdWar era.TheSovietUnion found out itself in a motley crew ofFederalGovernment’s supporters –GreatBritain,EasternEuropean socialist countries,Arab states.TheUnitedStates declared neutrality.France,Portugal, theRepublic ofSouthAfrica, thePeople’sRepublic ofChina, andIsrael were onBiafra’s side, both explicitly and implicitly.Document № 1 shows that the balance of geopolitical interests of the great powers was projected ontoAfrica.Most ofAfrican nations, mainly formerBritish colonies, supportedNigeria’s territorial unity.Some countries sought an equidistant position.Côte d’Ivoire,Gabon,Zambia, andTanzania officially recognizedBiafra’s independence.Côte d’Ivoire andGabon retained close ties withFrance and in their foreign policy followed the former metropolia.The leaders ofZambia andTanzania have recognizedBiafra under the influence ofChina, which has established itself as one of the key actors inAfrica.Documents № 2 and № 3 contain information from the staff of theSovietEmbassy inEthiopia on theOAU’s attempts to achieve a peaceful settlement of theNigerian crisis.TheOAUsucceeded in securing the support of the overwhelming majority ofAfrican states for the retaining ofNigeria’s territorial integrity.TheOAU’s mediation efforts failed to achieve peace.TheBiafra leadership refused to capitulate as long as there were opportunities to resist and the federals was not going to bargain with separatists.The peace talks were used by both sides primarily for propaganda purposes.
Source: Novaia i noveishaia istoriia
Author: S. V. Mazov
Institutions: Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of World History
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4404226469