Foreign Policy in Post-independence Africa

Foreign policies are the means through which leaders attempt to gain access to the resources required to maintain domestic structures and development.

Prior to the European arrival, small-scale political units existed. State formation continued during colonialism, driven by defense, economic opportunities, and political ambitions.

Foreign policies after independence were shaped by their shared ideas of the state with their own populations, neighbors, and the international community.

Challenges to these ideas, whether domestic or external, defined the threats and options for rulers, often centered around three key areas: territory, governance, and policy.

African states’ ideas or missions of the states with their foreign policy were central to their government as a result of the insecurity, hostility, or fragility within the state by the various nations that were grown there.

A state’s success relies heavily on its people embracing its ideas. Consensus among the states within a nation is crucial to avoid conflict.

In 1960, the dominant Hausa nation in the north and the Ibo nation in the southeast had distinct identities and rivalries, leading to tension in leadership in Nigeria.

Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah in 1957 was hesitant to hand over control of foreign relations due to the unstable environment. He mistrusted certain individuals, viewing them as imperialist tools that perpetuated oppression.

After independence, various nations like the Ashanti, Ga, and Fante had to adapt to the new Ghanaian state. Many opposed this, causing significant problems for state formation.

In response, Nkrumah introduced the Avoidance of Discrimination Act in 1958, banning regional, religious, or other groups.

Domestic hostility within the state itself did not allow the various governments to seek protection within the state; hence the need to look outside.

At the peak of the Cold War, foreign policy was influenced by the global shift in power dynamics, leading to a bipolar world order with the West and East based on ideology.

Nigeria with Abubakar Tafawa Balewa looked to the West right after independence; this he did to protect the country from states like Ghana, which were looking towards the East.

Nkrumah saw the assassination of DRC’s Patrice Lumumba as a threat to any African leader on the continent at that time. When a state is unstable, it’s easy for enemies to use neighboring states to carry out their agendas.

Charles Taylor, with the support of Houphouët-Boigny, used Cote d’Ivoire as a base to launch attacks in Liberia, leading to the death of President Samuel Doe and sparking the Liberian civil war.

Africa’s post-independence issues persist, fueling insecurity and hindering development. These challenges have their roots in the colonial era, which created artificial borders, exploited natural resources, and imposed foreign systems of governance.

Mary Alorh is Director of Administration at DefSEC Analytics Africa Ltd., and is an expert in Gender, Youth, and Peace & Security initiatives in West Africa.