The Sino-Soviet split refers to the tense state of affairs that characterized relations between Russia and China from the 1950s. The two communist powers though united against the capitalist West in the Cold war, were bitterly divided over two main issues - the leadership of the communist world and right orientation to communism.
This rivalry took a bitter turn after the death of soviet Joseph Stalin in 1953 and Chinese leader Mao Zedong would not accept directives from Stalin`s successors as he saw himself as the right replacement in the leadership of international communism. He also saw Stalin`s successors as revisionists who had deviated from the right path of Marxism. In Mao`s view, communism was a peasant revolution while the Soviet Union saw it as a revolution of the working class.
As both powers struggled to export communism, Africa became a theatre not only for the struggle between communism and capitalism, but also a battle ground for the Sino-Soviet rift. The different interpretations that Russia and China gave to communism determined the nature of their relationships with African states. Though the outside world saw China and Russia as communist powers united in their struggle against capitalism, the reality was very different as these two eastern powers were poles apart where ever they met in Africa.
The ``proxy wars`` that characterized the Cold War exposed the division that existed between Russia and China in Africa from the 1960s. In many conflicts involving two or more African nations, Russia and China stood on opposite sides. This was true of the Ethiopia-Somalia conflict where China supported Somalia as the Soviet Union increased aid to Ethiopia. This was also true of the Nigerian civil of 1967-70 China supported the secessionist state of Biafra while Soviet Russia stood behind the federal government.
Even in situations where the West or capitalism was the common enemy both powers did not walk the same road. In their assistance to guerilla movements in colonial Africa, Russia and China gave assistance to rival groups though these groups fought for the same purpose - the overthrow of colonialism. Zimbabwe was a case study where Russia trained ZIPRA forces (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army) while China supplied ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) in the manner of a people`s army. This was true of Angola, Mozambique and the rest of Africa.
While the Sino-Soviet split was not as significant as the Cold war, it nonetheless gave shape to African politics both positively and negatively. When seen against the background of the Cold War, it revealed how the communist powers could manage their differences and unite against western influence in Africa. The eventual triumph of liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe owed greatly their assistance though to different groups but for the same purpose.
The Sino-Soviet split also provided many material benefits for Africa. In the same war that the Cold war increased Africa`s stakes in world politics as countries made demands from East and West, so did Russia and China compete for Africa`s soul. When Russia constructed the Aswan High dam in Egypt as show of its technological and infrastructural prowess, China responded with its own architectural marvel - the TAN-ZAM railway. As the Sino-Soviet rift intensified, Africa continued to receive more aid and different forms of assistances from both powers.
On a negative note, the Sino-Soviet split was only another phase of the infamous `Scramble for Africa.`` Its most visible fallout was the intensification of intra-state and interstate conflicts in Africa. Both powers went to extremes in an attempt to win control. The Soviet Union flooded Africa with arms forcing China to behave in a similar way. China trained and armed Tutsis guerrillas who later embarked on a killing spree that took the lives of 20.000 Hutus in 1963. This laid the foundation for what would become the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
This rivalry took a bitter turn after the death of soviet Joseph Stalin in 1953 and Chinese leader Mao Zedong would not accept directives from Stalin`s successors as he saw himself as the right replacement in the leadership of international communism. He also saw Stalin`s successors as revisionists who had deviated from the right path of Marxism. In Mao`s view, communism was a peasant revolution while the Soviet Union saw it as a revolution of the working class.
The Sino-Soviet Rift in Africa
As both powers struggled to export communism, Africa became a theatre not only for the struggle between communism and capitalism, but also a battle ground for the Sino-Soviet rift. The different interpretations that Russia and China gave to communism determined the nature of their relationships with African states. Though the outside world saw China and Russia as communist powers united in their struggle against capitalism, the reality was very different as these two eastern powers were poles apart where ever they met in Africa.
The ``proxy wars`` that characterized the Cold War exposed the division that existed between Russia and China in Africa from the 1960s. In many conflicts involving two or more African nations, Russia and China stood on opposite sides. This was true of the Ethiopia-Somalia conflict where China supported Somalia as the Soviet Union increased aid to Ethiopia. This was also true of the Nigerian civil of 1967-70 China supported the secessionist state of Biafra while Soviet Russia stood behind the federal government.
Even in situations where the West or capitalism was the common enemy both powers did not walk the same road. In their assistance to guerilla movements in colonial Africa, Russia and China gave assistance to rival groups though these groups fought for the same purpose - the overthrow of colonialism. Zimbabwe was a case study where Russia trained ZIPRA forces (Zimbabwe People’s Revolutionary Army) while China supplied ZANLA (Zimbabwe African National Liberation Army) in the manner of a people`s army. This was true of Angola, Mozambique and the rest of Africa.
Significance of the Sino Soviet Split in Africa
While the Sino-Soviet split was not as significant as the Cold war, it nonetheless gave shape to African politics both positively and negatively. When seen against the background of the Cold War, it revealed how the communist powers could manage their differences and unite against western influence in Africa. The eventual triumph of liberation movements in Angola, Mozambique and Zimbabwe owed greatly their assistance though to different groups but for the same purpose.
The Sino-Soviet split also provided many material benefits for Africa. In the same war that the Cold war increased Africa`s stakes in world politics as countries made demands from East and West, so did Russia and China compete for Africa`s soul. When Russia constructed the Aswan High dam in Egypt as show of its technological and infrastructural prowess, China responded with its own architectural marvel - the TAN-ZAM railway. As the Sino-Soviet rift intensified, Africa continued to receive more aid and different forms of assistances from both powers.
On a negative note, the Sino-Soviet split was only another phase of the infamous `Scramble for Africa.`` Its most visible fallout was the intensification of intra-state and interstate conflicts in Africa. Both powers went to extremes in an attempt to win control. The Soviet Union flooded Africa with arms forcing China to behave in a similar way. China trained and armed Tutsis guerrillas who later embarked on a killing spree that took the lives of 20.000 Hutus in 1963. This laid the foundation for what would become the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
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