Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland - Historical Legacy

Historical Legacy

Although the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland only lasted for 10 years, it had an important impact on Central Africa.

Its white minority rule, having several hundred thousand Europeans, primarily in Southern Rhodesia, versus millions of Africans, was largely driven by anachronistic reformism. It was a paternalistic, mild racism as exhibited by Huggins, which had more in common with the late 19th than the mid-20th century.

At the same time, the British influenced and affiliated the federation, contrasted with the only other regional power, the Union of South Africa. The dissolution of the CAF highlighted the independent African-led nations of Zambia and Malawi, while Southern Rhodesia remained ruled by a white minority government until Zimbabwean independence in 1980. Much of that period was marked by civil war.

Following Southern Rhodesia's unilateral declaration of independence, a growing conflict emerged between two of the former CAF territories – Zambia (supporting African nationalists) and Southern Rhodesia (supported by South Africa) – with much heated diplomatic rhetoric, and at times, outright military hostility.

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