South Africa–Sweden relations

Since the middle of the 17th century, Sweden and South Africa have fostered a relationship of emigration and immigration between the two nations. Many Swedes emigrated to South Africa during these time period, typically ending up locating in the Cape region.[9] This exchange of people also led to an exchange of commercial goods. In 1948, Swedish exports to South Africa made up 2.3% of total Swedish exports. This percentage was the third highest outside of Europe. South Africa also exported many goods to Sweden, though most of it was agricultural exports.[9]

The Swedish National Union of Students (SFS) began the first organized movement against apartheid after oppressive segregation impacted higher education in South Africa. The SFS raised money by donating blood in order to support black South African students who were victimized by these policies.[10]

Following this, Swedish support for the anti-apartheid movement solidified and spread in the early 1960's. In 1960, the Trade Union Confederation and the Cooperative Union and Wholesale Society began a boycott of South African goods.[5] In 1961, the Swedish South Africa Committee (SSAK) was created and in 1963, the National Council of Swedish Youth also launched a boycott against South African goods.[11] All of these actions spread support for the anti-apartheid movement from a narrow elite to the general public.

As driven by these actions of social organization, Swedish contributions to the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF) increased to a total of about 140,000 SEK.[5] Notably, however, this number increased significantly when Sweden became the first industrialized Western country to give public funds to the IDAF with a gift equivalent to $100,000 US in 1964.[5] Following this, Sweden was by far the largest contributor to the fund.[5]

The Swedish South Africa Committee (SSAK) was one of the most prominent anti-apartheid organizations outside of South Africa, comprising hundreds of different organizations registered in 178 locations in Sweden.[9] The SSAK created a constitution at its founding in Stockholm on March 6, 1961.[12] The objectives outlined include to create a "a strong opinion against apartheid in Sweden," to organize Swedish citizens, to spread accurate information, to help marginalized youth and ethnic groups find education, and to generally support local organization against the apartheid regime in South Africa.[5]

Flag of the African National Congress (ANC)

A relationship formed between the South Africa United Front (SAUF) and the SSAK, fueled especially by the visit of the SAUF co-leaders to Stockholm in 1961.[5] Additionally, the SSAK formed a strong relationship with the African National Congress (ANC). Though the group was widely favored in Sweden, the main impetus behind support came when the ANC President-General, Chief Albert Luthuli, was awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1961.[5]

Sweden was the first Western country to support legal assistance to political prisoners in South Africa by paying a grant (of $200,000) to the Defence and Aid Fund in 1965.[6] Years later, the Left, Social Democratic, and Liberal parties all submitted parliamentary motions to officially extend support to liberation movements in Southern Africa in 1969. These proposals laid the groundwork for financial support to come.

Oliver Tambo (1981) asked for a new level of international action against apartheid in 1973.

In 1968, Oliver Tambo went to the United Nations Special Committee against Apartheid to ask for a new level of international action in the fight against apartheid, in the form of direct assistance.[13] Initially, Sweden denied this request. However, Sweden eventually assented and extended direct humanitarian aid to the ANC in 1973.[5] General Andres Forsse, the director of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, officially signed this request on February 2, 1973.[14] This request granted 150,000 SEK for food. From this amount in 1973, Swedish aid grew to 127 million SEK in 1993/1994.[15][5] In total, by 1994, direct aid from SIDA to the ANC reached a total of 896 million SEK.[5] This marked Sweden as the first Western country to profess official political support to the anti-apartheid movement.[16] Notable, this aid never came in the form of military aid and, rather, was humanitarian aid.[17]

In addition to direct aid, Sweden also funded NGOs and other international organizations to support the liberation cause. Swedish contributions to the International Defence and Aid Fund for Southern Africa (IDAF) increased to a total of about 140,000 SEK in 1963.[5] Notably, however, this number increased significantly when Sweden became the first industrialized Western country to give public funds to the IDAF with a gift equivalent to $100,000 US in 1964.[5] Following this, Sweden was by far the largest contributor to the fund.[5]

Additionally, Sweden used legislation as a tool against the South African apartheid government. In 1987, the Swedish Parliament passed a total embargo on trade with South Africa, which decreased trade from 1.5 billion SEK in 1984 to 41 million SEK in 1988.[9]

By 1996, Swedish Foreign Minister Lena Hjelm-Wallen reported that Sweden's financial support for the struggle against apartheid reached over $400 million. Notably, the extent of these financial contributions were largely held secret from even the Swedish public because of the safety concerns it could create.[18]

Olof Palme in 1984

Olof Palme was the Swedish prime minister throughout the 1970's and 1980's, and a staunch advocate for South African freedom.[19] He gave a famous speech in 1965 advocating for the alliance with people struggling for national and social liberation.[5] Also mentioning the Vietnam War, the speech marked a decisive breach from the prior official Swedish policy of non-alignment. He declared that "The fundamental moral [values] of democratic socialism [...] make it our obligation to stand on the side of the oppressed against the oppressors, on the side of the poor and the distressed against their exploiters and masters."[20]

In the decades following, Palme became a vocal advocate for the ANC and people oppressed by the apartheid system. In 1986, for example, he spoke with ANC president Oliver Tambo at the Swedish People's Parliament against Apartheid, where described apartheid as a "despicable, doomed system."[21] Unfortunately, Palme was murdered just 7 days later.[21][22] No official conclusions were reached by the police about the cause of Palme's assassination. However, one theory is that it was in retribution for Palme's support for South Africa's freedom.[23]

Leftover from historical relations with White South Africa, some voices resisted the anti-apartheid push in Sweden. Particularly, these voices included Swedish businesses with interests in South Africa, conservative representatives of the Swedish foreign service, and the churches.[5]

As part of their aid, Sweden wanted to increase the financial literacy and accountability of ANC officers. This goal often came into conflict with the grassroots distribution of funds by ANC officers, preventing clear budgeting and money flows that Sweden desired.[24]

In present times, there is also criticism of Sweden's universal support of human rights and the international esteem that Sweden holds as a critic of racism and imperialism without any acknowledgement of race or the impacts of colonialism within its own borders. While internationally, Sweden fought against racial discrimination beginning in the 1960's, it has removed any use of the term "race" from its domestic anti-discrimination law.[25]