Rhodesian Bush War


From 1966 to 1979 the self declared Rhodesia fought a remarkably successful Bush War against Communists and Nationalists. However, its racial priorities meant that it had few friends in the world and was losing the diplomatic battle. Britain found itself in an awkward position in that she was accused of dragging her feet and favouring the white dominated regime of Ian Smith despite her claims that she was trying to come to a negotiated transfer to majority rule. The final nail in the coffin was when the apartheid regime of South Africa withdrew its support for Rhodesia. South Africa was concerned that Rhodesia was destabilising its own frontier and bringing an uncomfortable spotlight on to its own racist policies in Southern Africa. Without the support of South Africa, Rhodesians found it increasingly difficult to survive the sanctions and isolation imposed by the international community.


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by Stephen Luscombe