April 25th: 50 Years of Freedom in PALOP
April 25th is an extremely important date for Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), as it marks the end of the dictatorial regime in Portugal, known as the Estado Novo, and the beginning of a process of democratization and decolonization.
April 25th brought with it important advances in human rights, gender equality, education, and economic development. Today marks the 00th anniversary of that date, and we should take a moment to reflect on the progress achieved by the PALOP countries since the Carnation Revolution and the challenges that still persist.
As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of April 25th, it is important to celebrate the achievements of democracy, freedom, and social justice achieved since 1974. However, despite these achievements, many challenges remain. Social inequality, corruption, unemployment, and regional disparities remain pressing problems in both Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP).
Furthermore, the economic crisis, the impacts of globalization, and climate change pose additional challenges that require a concerted and collaborative approach. Therefore, the 50th anniversary of April 25th should be seen as an opportunity to renew our commitment to democratic values, strengthen institutions, and promote policies that guarantee the well-being of all citizens.
It is also a time to reaffirm the bonds of solidarity and cooperation between Portugal and the PALOP countries, working together to face common challenges and build a fairer and more sustainable future for all.
The Creation of the PALOP
The " Carnation Revolution " brought an end to the dictatorship, initiating the creation of what would become known as PALOP , because without this historical moment, the history of the independence of the " Portuguese colonies " could have been very different.
The history of Portuguese colonization in Africa began nearly 600 years ago with the conquest of Ceuta on 22 August 1415 and ended with the independence of Angola on 11 November 1975.
The reason Angola was the last Portuguese overseas province to gain independence was no accident; in reality, it was the closing of a circle, because the history of the " Carnation Revolution ," which took place on April 25, 1974, begins to be written with the start of the armed war in Africa, more precisely in Angola, on February 4, 1961.
the beginning of the end
Poster by Agostinho Neto. Image: © casacomum.org / Dalila Mateus Documents
Portugal was the first Global Superpower and maintained iron grip on its overseas provinces for centuries. Until one day, in the now distant year of 1961, the armed revolution began in Angola with the attack, carried out by the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola ( MPLA ) on February 4th, on the São Paulo prison in Luanda and a police station, where seven policemen were killed.
Shortly afterwards, in northern Angola, the União das Populações de Angola (UPA), which was mainly dedicated to rural guerrilla warfare, launched several attacks against the population. Angola was thus the first overseas region, where the organized armed struggle against Portuguese rule began.
This revolutionary movement in Africa began to gain international recognition when, under the auspices of King Hassan II, the Conference of Nationalist Organizations of Portuguese Colonies (CONCP) was held.
This conference was initiated by the MPLA, the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) and the League of Goa, having met for the first time in Casablanca (Morocco), from 18 to 20 April 1961.
The aim of the conference was to " coordinate the efforts of nationalist movements and establish effective means to begin the struggle against Portuguese colonialism ".
Stimulated by events in Africa, in Portugal, in the month of April (a prelude to the future April 25th), a first, failed, attempt at a coup d'état took place, the " Abrilada ", led by Botelho Moniz, the then Minister of Defense.
In June 1961, another important event for the liberation struggle in Africa took place. It was the escape of a group of 60 students from Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, among others, whose objective was to join the liberation struggle.
This clandestine escape changed the fate of future Portuguese-speaking African countries, as these students included future presidents, ministers, generals and doctors who would play an important role in guiding the destiny of their countries.
Among the most famous were the former presidents of Cape Verde, Pedro Pires and of Mozambique, Joaquim Chissano. The flight that left Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, passed through Spain, France and Germany, before reaching Africa.
The path towards 25 de Abril continues with the beginning of the armed struggle in Guinea-Bissau, on 23 January 1963, with the attack on the Tite barracks, in the south of the country, followed by the beginning of the armed struggle in Mozambique. , with the attack on Chai, in Cabo Delgado on September 25, 1964.
The path towards the 25th of April
The Fortress of São João Baptista de Ajuda. Image: © Tienstwatrankil
The path leading up to April 25, 1974, begins with the " dismantling " of the Portuguese Empire, which leads to Portugal's position becoming increasingly fragile internationally.
Most people think that this " dismantling " of the Empire began when Indian troops entered Goa, Daman and Diu on December 18, 1961, but that was not the case. In reality, the first overseas territory "to fall" was in Africa, in August 1961, with the loss of Ouidah, occupied by Dahomey (present-day Benin), a fact that Portugal only recognized after April 25, 1975.
Ajuda was one of the smallest colonies in the world, with only 4,5 hectares of territory. In reality, it was just a fortress, the Fortress of São João Baptista de Ajudá founded in 1680 by the Portuguese and which served, above all, as a trading post.
With the beginning of the loss of the overseas provinces and the intensification of the armed campaigns in Africa, discontent among the military begins to rise and the seeds of revolution begin to bloom.
At the beginning of July 1970, at the end of the “International Conference on Solidarity with the Peoples of the Portuguese Colonies” that took place in Rome, Pope Paul VI received the leaders of the MPLA, PAIGC and FRELIMO, more precisely, Agostinho Neto, Amílcar Cabral and Marcelino dos Santos, further weakening Portugal's position.
In March 1971, the future 25th of April was rehearsed again, when the Ação Revolucionaria Armada (ARA), the military arm of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), led by Álvaro Cunhal, destroyed 16 helicopters and 11 planes at the Tancos Air Base. , followed in October of the same year by an attack against NATO's Ibero-Atlantic Command (COMIBERLANT) in Oeiras.
In a resolution approved on November 14, 1972, the UN General Assembly recognizes the legitimacy of the armed struggle in Africa against Portugal, where they state:
“The national liberation movements of Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde and Mozambique are the authentic representatives of the true aspirations of the peoples of these territories”.
Meanwhile, the war in Mozambique began to take on " uncomfortable " proportions. The massacres of Chawola, Wiriyamu, and Juwau gained international coverage and went down in history as three of the most serious massacres that occurred during the war. These massacres further increased the discontent of the military, who did not identify with that war.
On January 20, 1973, the leader of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Amílcar Cabral, was assassinated in Conakry, which led the movement to receive more international support, namely when they received weapons that led to gain greater supremacy on the ground.
The weapons in question were surface-to-air missiles of the SAM-7 type (the famous Strella) which allowed him to shoot down planes, thus weakening the Portuguese Air Force, reducing the protection of Portuguese soldiers on the ground.
Armed with this new weapon, the PAIGC controlled the entire national territory, with the exception of Bissau, the capital, but it was enough to, on December 24, 1973, proclaim unilateral independence in the forests of Madina Boé.
The new state was immediately recognized internationally by many countries and, on 2 November 1973, the UN General Assembly welcomed independence in a vote that had 93 votes in favour, 30 abstentions and only seven votes against (Portugal, Brazil, Spain, South Africa, USA, Great Britain and Greece).
Previously, more precisely on September 9, 1973, the growing discontent with the war, led, in a clandestine meeting, in Monte Sobral (Alcáçovas) to the foundation of the Movimento dos Capitães, which would give rise to the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA), the movement that was behind the “Carnation Revolution” that would take place on April 25, 1974.
Also in September, the first important meeting between the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Socialist Party (PS) takes place, in which, in a joint communiqué, they declare:
“It is necessary to liquidate the fascist dictatorship in order to put an end to the colonial war, conquer democratic freedoms and start negotiations with a view to the complete and immediate independence of the peoples of Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique”.
April 25, 1974, the “Carnation Revolution”
Salgueiro Maia, during the 25th of April. Image: © DR
On April 25, 1974, a coup d'état led by the Movimento das Forças Armadas (MFA) deposed the Estado Novo regime, the oldest European dictatorship, in power since 1933.
Despite radio appeals to stay home, and encouraged by organized PCP cells, the population massively took to the streets and supported the coup. At the insistence of Marcello Caetano, who refused to hand over power to " a mere captain ," General António de Spínola was appointed to preside over the National Salvation Junta.
On May 15th, General Spínola was appointed President of the Republic and Adelino da Palma Carlos assumed the position of Prime Minister. Spínola argued that the fate of the Overseas Territories would have to be decided " by all those who call and have called that land their own ," thus paving the way for the independence of the then overseas provinces.
Conclusion
The struggle in the colonies, especially in Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau, created the Captains' Movement, which later culminated in the 25th of April, but despite various fears among the liberation movements, and others, that General Spínola was interested in a " neocolonial " format, the Captains' Movement managed to prevail.
Thanks to the MFA and 25 de Abril, the foundations were created that led to the independence of the former overseas provinces and, subsequently, to the creation of the PALOP.
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See also:
The AfDB and the importance of the PALOP in Africa
Cape Verde is the freest country in Africa
Picture: © 2024 Francisco Lopes-Santos
