African Marxism Terrorism 11-8-25

Marxist influence in African countries from 1970 to the present includes the rise and fall of Marxist-Leninist states like Ethiopia and Angola, support for various liberation movements from the Soviet Union and Cuba, and a broader intellectual appeal of socialist ideas among African intellectuals and activists. This influence was a major factor during the Cold War, manifesting in proxy wars, ideological movements, and internal political struggles, with notable examples in Angola, Mozambique, Ethiopia, and the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. While direct state-led Marxism has largely declined, socialist and Marxist thought continues to influence various political movements across the continent.  

Marxist-Leninist states

Angola: Following independence in 1975, the MPLA government became a Marxist-Leninist state, supported by the Soviet Union and Cuba, which sent thousands of troops to fight against anti-communist forces.

Mozambique: The FRELIMO government, which gained independence from Portugal in 1975, also aligned with Marxist principles and received support from socialist countries.

Ethiopia: The Derg regime declared Marxism-Leninism as the state ideology in 1975, leading to a brutal dictatorship that used Marxist rhetoric to justify its revolution and policies, though public support was minimal and it eventually collapsed. 

Proxy wars and external intervention

Angolan Civil War and South African Border War: These conflicts became proxy wars of the Cold War, with the MPLA in Angola receiving support from Cuba and the Soviet Union, while its opponents, UNITA and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA), were backed by South Africa and the United States.

Congo (Leopoldville): In 1964, Fidel Castro sent Cuban forces to support the rebel movement against the US-backed government. The Soviet Union and China also sent weapons to the rebels.

Anti-Apartheid Movement: The African National Congress (ANC), the main anti-apartheid movement, received support from the Soviet Union, East Germany, and other socialist countries, including military training and weapons. 

Intellectual and ideological influence

Pan-Africanism: Some pan-Africanist leaders, such as Kwame Nkrumah, were influenced by Marxist analysis and believed that armed guerrilla warfare was the only way to achieve true independence from neo-colonialism.

Socialist movements: The 1970s saw a rise of socialist and Marxist-Leninist movements across Africa, including trade union, student, and revolutionary armed movements.

Intellectual appeal: Marxist ideas were seen as a viable alternative for development in many parts of Africa, even in countries that did not adopt a Marxist state ideology.

Continued influence: Despite the decline of direct Marxist-Leninist states, socialist ideas continue to influence various political movements, including Cheikh Anta Diop's work in Senegal, which involved cooperation with Marxist groups. 

Marxist incursions in African countries peaked between the mid-1970s and the mid-1980s, a period often referred to as the era of "Afro-Marxism". These movements were primarily driven by anti-colonial sentiment and the desire for rapid development, often with significant support from the Soviet Union and Cuba during the Cold War. 

Key Countries and Movements

Marxist-Leninist regimes came to power in Africa through two main routes: 

National Liberation Movements: In former Portuguese colonies, protracted guerrilla wars led to independence under Marxist-inspired liberation fronts.

Military Coups: In other nations, radical military officers overthrew existing post-colonial regimes and declared Marxist-Leninist states. 

Key examples of countries that established Marxist or socialist-oriented governments during this period include:

Angola: The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) established a Marxist-Leninist state after independence in 1975, leading to a long civil war against UNITA, which was backed by the US and South Africa.

Mozambique: The Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) declared a socialist state upon independence in 1975 and fought a civil war against the RENAMO insurgents.

Ethiopia: The Derg military regime seized power in 1974 and declared Marxism-Leninism its official ideology in 1975, using it to justify a brutal dictatorship.

Somalia: Siad Barré's military coup in 1969 established the Somali Democratic Republic, a Marxist-Leninist state, which later went to war with Marxist Ethiopia.

Burkina Faso: Thomas Sankara, a Marxist and Pan-Africanist revolutionary, became president through a coup in 1983 and pursued radical social and economic reforms until his assassination in 1987.

Other examples included the People's Republic of Congo, Benin, Madagascar, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verdi, and Tanzania

(under a unique "African socialism" model known as Ujamaa). 

Decline and Current Status

The decline of Marxist states in Africa began in the mid-1980s, largely due to internal economic difficulties, authoritarian practices, and the ebbing of Soviet support as the Cold War ended. Many regimes abandoned their socialist experiments and transitioned to more liberal economic and political systems in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 

Today, while the era of state-sponsored Afro-Marxism is largely over, Marxist ideas continue to influence some contemporary political movements and intellectual debates, particularly in the context of anti-colonialism, anti-capitalism, and class struggle analysis. For example, the People's Front for Democracy and Justice in Eritrea, the sole legal party, is still described as "ontologically Marxist". However, formal Marxist-Leninist states are no longer a dominant feature of the African political landscape. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=marksist+incursions+in+african+countries+1970+to+present

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader