Foreign relations of Zambia

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After independence in 1964 the foreign relations of Zambia were mostly focused on supporting liberation movements in other countries in Southern Africa, such as the African National Congress and SWAPO. During the Cold War Zambia was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Zambia is a member of 44 international organizations, with the United Nations, World Trade Organization, African Union and Southern African Development Community being among the most notable.

Zambia is involved in a border dispute concerning the convergence of the boundaries of Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. An additional dispute with the Democratic Republic of Congo concerns the Lunchinda-Pweto Enclave.

History[]

Kenneth Kaunda visiting communist Romania's leader, Nicolae Ceauşescu, in 1970.

Kuanda talking privately with U.S. President Jimmy Carter at the White House in 1978

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and President of meet in New York City during the 59th UN General Assembly.

After independence in 1964, Zambia was one of the most vocal opponents to white minority rule and colonialism. President Kenneth Kaunda, who held office 1964–1991, was a very visible advocate of change in Southern Africa. He actively supported UNITA during the Angolan liberation and civil war, SWAPO during their fight for Namibian independence from apartheid South Africa, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), and the African National Congress in their fight against apartheid in South Africa.^[1]

Many of these organizations were based in Zambia during the 1970s and 1980s. For this reason South Africa as well as Rhodesia carried out military raids on targets inside Zambia. Zambia's support for the various liberation movements also caused problems for the Zambian economy, since it was heavily dependent on electricity supply and transportation through South Africa and Rhodesia. However these problems was partly solved by the Kariba Dam and the construction of the Chinese supported Tan-Zam railway.^{[citation needed]}

For their part in the liberations struggles, Zambia enjoys wide popularity among the countries they supported as well as all over Africa. For instance, former South African president Nelson Mandela often referred to the debt South Africa owes Zambia.^[2]

Before Zambian independence, Kaunda met with John F Kennedy while visiting the United States in 1961, and he would meet with Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush at the White House during his long presidency.^[1] He also clashed with British prime minister Margaret Thatcher on several occasions, disliking her policy towards South Africa.^[3]

As with most African states, Zambia was a member of the Non-Aligned Movement during the Cold War, and is still today. The country hosted the 3rd Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1970. In practice Zambia was more to the left than to the right during the Cold War. The country had good relations with the People's Republic of China and with Yugoslavia. Kaunda is famous in Yugoslavia for crying openly at president Josip Broz Tito's funeral.

Kaunda's successor, president Frederick Chiluba (1991–2002), also played an important role in African politics. His government played a constructive regional role sponsoring Angola peace talks that led to the 1994 Lusaka Protocols. Zambia has provided troops to UN peacekeeping initiatives in Mozambique, Rwanda, Angola, and Sierra Leone. Zambia was the first African state to cooperate with the International Tribunal investigation of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.

In 1998, Zambia took the lead in efforts to establish a cease-fire in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Zambia was active in the Congolese peace effort after the signing of a cease-fire agreement in Lusaka in July and August 1999, although activity diminished considerably after the Joint Military Commission tasked with implementing the ceasefire relocated to Kinshasa in September 2001.

International organizations[]

Zambia is a member of 44 different international organisations. These are:^[4]

Concerning Zambia's membership in the ICC, Zambia has a Bilateral Immunity Agreement of protection for the United States military from prosecution.

United Nations[]

Zambia joined the United Nations on 1 December 1964,^[5] only a month after the nation had become independent. Zambia has a permanent mission to the UN, with headquarters on 237 East 52nd Street, New York City. The head of the mission is .

International Monetary Fund managing director Rodrigo Rato meeting with the Republic of Zambia's President Levy Mwanawasa.

Regional Diplomacy[]

Zambian Flag

Lusaka province, the capital of Zambia

Following the independence of Zambia on 24 October 1964, the country has lent military aid and support to numerous movements and governments on the international stage. Most notably, Zambia has a history of providing military aid to combatants and political parties fighting for independence throughout Africa.^[6] The aid that Zambia has provided for African nationalistic movements during the colonial era revolves around both military and diplomatic arrangement for liberation and peace.^[7] The Zambian Defense Force (ZDF), which consists of the Zambian Army, Zambian Air force and Zambian National Service, has played a key part in a multitude of key regional and international conflicts throughout the 1970s and 1980s.^[8] Most notably, the Zambian military has provided counter insurgent efforts during major African confrontations such as the Rhodesian Bush War despite not being the main belligerent.^[9]

Zambia has a history of supporting regional liberation movements and Former President Kenneth Kaunda had previously decreed that "Zambia will not be independent and free until the rest of Africa is Free".^[10] Critics^{[weasel words]} have pointed to Zambia's historical stance of non-engagement and détente as a self-preservation act for a historically authoritarian government.^[11] As a large central nation, the governability of Zambia relies on the stability and diplomacy of nearby states that surround Zambia.^[7] Regional stability has allowed Former President Kenneth Kaunda to maintain power in the relatively poor nation for several decades.^[12]

Liberation and political support[]

Zambia received its own liberation from colonialism relatively early from Britain. The newly formed Zambian government under President Kenneth Kaunda of the UNIP party was active in the liberation and disputes of its neighbors for decades following its independence.^[13] The Zambian government offered shelter for revolutionaries, mediated treaty signings and offered aid and weapons. The continuation of colonial rule in Southern Africa was seen as a slight to Zambia and inherent feelings of African unity drove the new nation to aid its neighbors resist colonial rule.^[14]

Most notably, Zambia was a haven for revolutionaries from the Namibia liberation party,^[15] South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) and the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa. Zambia provided a rear base for revolutionaries as well as administrative and political aid.

SWAPO[]

Former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela had previously expressed the important role Zambia played in post-apartheid South Africa

The South West African People's Organization (SWAPO) is a political party that was formerly an independence movement based in Namibia.^[16] Due to pressures from within Namibia, SWAPO moved its headquarters and much of its forces into neighboring Zambia in the 1970s. Zambia became a safe haven for the group and SWAPO set up guerrilla training camps and sent exiled members into Zambia.^[15] The Shipanga Crisis, so named for senior SWAPO leader Andreas Shipanga, saw the Zambian government help round up thousands of dissidents and critics of the movement.^[17] SWAPO leaders in Namibia saw growing dissent in the SWAPO installations and guerrilla camps in Zambia, and appealed to then President Kaunda for help. After rounding up thousands of perceived rebels, including Shipanga with the aid of Zambia, SWAPO leadership in Namibia became markedly more authoritarian.^[18]

African National Congress[]

The African National Congress was an anti-apartheid political party based in South Africa, with close ideological ties to the Zambian African National Congress of President Kenneth Kaunda.^[19] When the political party was banned in South Africa by the colonial government, many of its leaders went underground or fled to Zambia.^[20] Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, became the new headquarters for many ANC leaders in exile from their native South Africa. Zambia thus developed a legacy of being the center of activity for South African liberation and allowed exiled leaders to convene and organize. Former South African President Nelson Mandela had expressed the important role that Zambia played in the liberation of their country during the years of exile.^[21] Zambia's policy of liberation through diplomacy and discreet support for African nationalist movements within the region is most poignant in the South African case.^[22]

Zimbabwe[]

Zambia has also provided key support to the liberation struggles of nearby Zimbabwe from their colonial rulers in the 1960s to 1970's.^[23] Specifically, Zambia provided armed and diplomatic support to Zimbabwe African People's Union (ZAPU) and the Zimbabwe African National Union (ZANU) during their struggles against the British backed Rhodesian government in the Rhodesian Bush War.^[24] Zambia provided limited arms and training towards Zimbabwe's African nationalist movements, but largely applied diplomatic approaches to induce liberation in Zimbabwe.^[25] This included multiple visits and discussion between the Rhodesian government and Zambia leaders to negotiate a resolution to the civil strife within the country. Eventually, in 1979, the Rhodesian government submitted to international pressures and conducted elections that lead to the eventual renaming of the country as Zimbabwe.^[26]

UNITA[]

The National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) was a party in Angola that served as one of the main belligerents in the Angolan Civil War of 1975 against People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA).^[27] Zambia, under Kenneth Kaunda trained and funded UNITA against the MPLA during the civil war. Lusaka remained one of the most ardent supporters of the UNITA African nationalists and UNITA troops trained in Zambia.^[28] Since then, Zambia has rescinded its historical support of UNITA and has apologized to the current Angolan government over the historical support of UNITA.^[29]

Roles in regional disputes[]

Angolan Civil War[]

Zambia was key in facilitating talks between People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) of the Angolan Civil War.^[30] The Angolan Civil War waged on from 1975 onward and involved massive foreign intervention in the face of the Cold War.^[31] Initiated by Zambia, the Lusaka Protocol was a treaty that attempted to end the Civil War by disarmament and national reconciliation. The treaty was signed in Lusaka on 20 November 1994 and garnered international support, as well as support from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and South African President Nelson Mandela.^[32] Ultimately the fighting resumed, and by 1998, the peace process ceased.^[33]

The Second Congo War[]

The Second Congo war was a major African continental war that began in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998, and involved nine different African countries.^[34] Zambia was not a belligerent in this military engagement, but sought to facilitate peace and an end to the fighting. Representatives from various international organizations such as the United Nations, met on 21–27 June 1999 in Lusaka in order to draft a resolution to the conflict.^[35] The ceasefire agreement set to end the fighting, deploy peacekeeping forces and release prisoners of war on both sides of the fighting. Heads of state from Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe convened in Lusaka, Zambia on 10 July 1999 to sign the Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement.^[36] Ultimately hostilities continued despite the passage of the Peace Agreement, and the official fighting did not resolve itself until 2003.^[37]

African cooperation[]

Zambia is a member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), now known as the African Union, and was its chairman until July 2002. Zambia also takes part in the unions economical cooperation, the African Economic Community (AEC). Among th AEC's different pillars, Zambia takes part in two; Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the preferential trade area Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The country is also a member of the Port Management Association of Eastern and Southern Africa (PMAESA).

SADC was founded in Zambia's capital Lusaka on 1 April 1980, and COMESA has its headquarters there as well.

International disputes[]

A dormant dispute remains where Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe's boundaries converge; and with the DRC in the Lunchinda-Pweto Enclave in the North of Chienge following concerns on the Zambia-Congo Delimitation Treaty raised with the late President Laurent Kabila. The lack of demarcation beacons, and the citizenship rights of people in that enclave remain thorny issues, especially in Luapula Province.

Zambia and the Commonwealth of Nations[]

Zambia has been a Commonwealth republic since 24 October 1964, when Northern Rhodesia became independent.

Bilateral relations[]

Country	Formal Relations Began	Notes
Angola		Angola has an embassy in Lusaka and consulates-general in Mongu and Solwezi. Zambia has an embassy in Luanda and a consulate-general in Luena.
Armenia	1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1993.[38]
Azerbaijan	18 November 1993[39]	On November 18, 1993, the Protocol was signed to establish diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Zambia.[39]
Australia		Australia is accredited to Zambia from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zambia has a High Commission in Canberra.[40] Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Brazil		Brazil has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Brasília.
Canada		Canada has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Ottawa.
China		See China–Zambia relations Both countries have diplomatic relations and cooperate in various fields.[41] China has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Beijing.
Croatia	20 September 1995	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 20 September 1995.[42]
Cyprus		Cyprus is accredited to Zambia from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa[43] and an honorary consulate in Lusaka.[43] Zambia is accredited to Cyprus from its embassy in Rome, Italy[44] and an honorary consulate in Limassol.[45] Both countries have a bilateral agreement on Air Service between both countries.[46] Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Democratic Republic of the Congo		DR Congo has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Kinshasa and a consulate-general in Lubumbashi.
Denmark		See Denmark-Zambia relations Denmark has an embassy in Lusaka.[47] Zambia is accredited to Denmark, from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.[48]
Finland	8 March 1968	Start date: 1968-03-08 Finland recognised Zambia on 29 October 1964. Zambia is accredited to Finland from its embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Finland has an embassy in Lusaka. Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland about Zambia
Georgia	14 October 1993	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 14 October 1993.
Greece		Greece is accredited to Zambia from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe and an honorary consulate in Lusaka.[49] Zambia is accredited to Greece from its embassy in London, United Kingdom.[49]
Guyana	11 February 1971	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 11 February 1971.[50] Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
India		See India-Zambia relations India has a high commission in Lusaka.[51][52] Zambia has a high commission in New Delhi.[53][54] Bilateral Relations between India and Zambia
Ireland	1965	See Ireland–Zambia relations Ireland has an embassy in Lusaka.[55] Zambia is accredited to Ireland from its high commission in London[56]
Israel		Both countries have a number of bilateral agreements in force.[57]
Japan	October 1964	Both countries established diplomatic relations in October 1964.[58]
Kenya		See Kenya–Zambia relations Kenya has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Nairobi.
Lithuania	13 July 2001	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 13 July 2001.[59]
Mexico	15 October 1975	Mexico is accredited to Zambia from its embassy in Pretoria, South Africa.[60] Zambia is accredited to Mexico from its embassy in Washington, D.C., United States.[61]
Montenegro	29 June 2010	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 29 June 2010.[62]
Mozambique		Mozambique has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Maputo.
Namibia		See Namibia–Zambia relations Namibia has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Windhoek.
New Zealand		New Zealand is accredited to Zambia from its high commission in Pretoria, South Africa. Zambia is accredited to New Zealand from its high commission in Canberra, Australia.[63] Both countries are full members of Commonwealth of Nations.
Poland		Poland is accredited to Zambia from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe. Zambia is accredited to Poland from its embassy in Berlin, Germany.
Romania	28 May 1968	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 28 May 1968.[64][65]
Russia	1964	See Russia–Zambia relations Russia has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Moscow.
Serbia	1964	Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1964.[66] Both countries have passed a number of bilateral agreements.[67]
South Africa		See South Africa–Zambia relations Zambia was a strong supporter of the African National Congress during their struggle against minority rule and hosted the ANC for a number of years. In 2009, nearly 52% of all goods imported to Zambia were from South Africa. South Africa has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Pretoria.
South Korea		High-level Exchanges: May 1991 Special Envoy Chung Won-shik; October 1994 Special Envoy Hong Soon-young; May 1995 Special Envoy Kim Hang-kyung; May 2010 Economic Mission Kim Jung-hoon (The Republic of Korea-Zambia business Forum).[68]
Spain		Spain is accredited to Zambia from its embassy in Harare, Zimbabwe and maintains an honorary consulate in Lusaka. Zambia is accredited to Spain from its embassy in Paris, France.
Tanzania		See Tanzania–Zambia relations Tanzania has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in Dar es Salaam.
Turkey	1964[69]	See Turkey–Zambia relations Turkey has an embassy in Lusaka.[69] Zambia has an embassy in Ankara.[69] Trade volume between the two countries was 23.7 million USD in 2019 (Zambian exports/imports: 5.9/17.8 million USD).[69] There are direct flights from Istanbul to Lusaka since December 14, 2018.[69]
United Kingdom	1964 (independence)	See United Kingdom–Zambia relations United Kingdom has a high commission in Lusaka. Zambia has a high commission in London.
United States		See United States–Zambia relations Zambia, led by president Kenneth Kaunda and other diplomats such as Vernon Mwaanga, Mark Chona, and Siteke Mwale, cooperated closely with the United States between 1975 and 1984 in order to promote peaceful solutions to the conflicts in Angola, Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), and Namibia.[70] United States has an embassy in Lusaka. Zambia has an embassy in Washington, D.C.
Vietnam	15 September 1972	Both countries established diplomatic relations on 15 September 1972.[71][72]
Zimbabwe		See Zambia–Zimbabwe relations From 1953 to 1963 Zambia and Zimbabwe were, along with Nyasaland (now Malawi) part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland.[73] Initially the two countries had good relations after gaining independence. However, relations have recently been strained. Following the controversial Zimbabwean presidential election of 2008, the late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa described Mugabe's Zimbabwe as a "regional embarrassment".[74] The former foreign affairs minister, Kabinga Mpande, once said Zambia had lodged a protest against Zimbabwe, against the "sustained malicious campaign against Zambia."[75] But relations have improved tremendously with the election of Michael Sata as President of Zambia. It was reported in the Zambian media that Zambia was pushing for the readmission of Zimbabwe into the British led Commonwealth of Nations

See also[]

• History of Zambia
• Politics of Zambia
• Kenneth Kaunda
• African Union
• List of diplomatic missions in Zambia
• List of diplomatic missions of Zambia

References[]