Oliver Tambo played a crucial and multifaceted role during apartheid as a key leader of the African National Congress (ANC) and the global anti-apartheid movement. His main contributions include:
- ANC Leadership in Exile: After the ANC was banned in South Africa in 1960 following the Sharpeville massacre, Tambo was instructed to leave the country to organize ANC operations abroad. He lived mainly in Lusaka, Zambia, and London, serving as the ANC's acting president from 1967 and officially from 1969 until 1991
- International Diplomacy and Advocacy: Tambo tirelessly traveled the world to raise awareness and build international support against apartheid. He spoke at the United Nations and other global forums, helping to make the anti-apartheid struggle an international moral crusade. His efforts influenced major political decisions, such as the United States Congress passing the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act in 1986, which imposed sanctions on South Africa
- Maintaining ANC Unity and Strategy: With many ANC leaders imprisoned on Robben Island, Tambo was the "glue" holding the liberation movement together during difficult times. He coordinated the ANC's underground activities, united various resistance groups inside South Africa, and oversaw the armed wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK), guiding its operations and addressing internal challenges
- Preparing for Negotiations: Tambo initiated processes like the Harare Declaration, which set preconditions for negotiations with the apartheid government to avoid a sell-out and ensure majority rule. He worked to create conditions for peaceful transition and majority democracy, laying the groundwork for the eventual democratic elections of 1994
- Symbol of Resistance and Inspiration: Alongside Nelson Mandela and others, Tambo was a founding member of the ANC Youth League in 1944 and was deeply involved in early campaigns of civil disobedience against apartheid laws. His leadership extended from grassroots activism to international diplomacy, embodying the struggle for freedom and equality
In summary, Oliver Tambo was the central figure who sustained the ANC and the anti-apartheid movement internationally during exile, mobilized global opposition to apartheid, coordinated armed and political resistance, and helped pave the way for South Africa’s transition to democracy
