African National Congress

The African National Congress, or ANC, is a major political party in South Africa.

It began as a liberation movement dedicated to fighting for the rights of black South Africans. The group is most famous for its long struggle against apartheid. Apartheid was a system of institutionalized racial segregation enforced by the government. Today, the ANC is a registered political party that has governed South Africa since 1994. It remains a central force in the country's political life.

The organization was founded on January 8, 1912, in Bloemfontein. It was originally named the South African Native National Congress. Founders included Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Sol Plaatje, John Langalibalele Dube, and Walter Rubusana. These leaders were mostly from the educated and religious professional classes. In 1923, the organization changed its name to the African National Congress. Early methods focused on the politics of petitioning to ask for rights. However, the group eventually moved toward mass mobilization to demand change.

The political landscape changed drastically when the National Party took power in 1948. This government implemented apartheid, which made racial segregation a formal law. In response, a new generation of activists formed the ANC Youth League in 1944. This group included future leaders like Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, and Oliver Tambo. They pushed for a Programme of Action that used strikes, boycotts, and stay-aways. This led to the Defiance Campaign of 1952–53, a period of mass civil disobedience. During this time, the ANC's membership grew significantly.

The struggle became much harder after the Sharpeville massacre in 1960. Following this event, the South African government banned the ANC. The party remained banned for nearly thirty years, until February 1990. During this era, many leaders were imprisoned on Robben Island. Others were forced into exile to continue their work from abroad. The ANC moved its headquarters to Lusaka, Zambia, to escape state repression.

Oliver Tambo led the movement during much of this difficult period in exile.

In 1961, the ANC formed a military wing called uMkhonto weSizwe. This group, also known as MK, was created in partnership with the South African Communist Party. Its goal was to conduct an armed struggle against the apartheid state. MK initially focused on sabotage, such as bombing unoccupied government buildings. After the Soweto Uprising of 1976, guerrilla activity inside South Africa increased. Some Western governments, including the United States and the United Kingdom, labeled the ANC a terrorist organization. This view changed as the movement became a key player in peace negotiations.

The end of apartheid began with intense negotiations in the early 1990s. After the ban was repealed, the ANC participated in talks to create a new government. These discussions led to an interim Constitution and the first democratic election on April 27, 1994. In that landmark election, the ANC won 62.65% of the vote. Nelson Mandela was elected as the first president of a post-apartheid South Africa. Since then, the ANC has provided all five of the country's presidents.

While the ANC has been a dominant party, its influence has shifted recently. Its electoral majority has declined steadily since 2004. In the 2021 local elections, its share of the vote fell below 50% for the first time. In the 2024 general election, the party lost its majority in parliament. It remained the largest party with just over 40% of the vote. To govern, the ANC joined a Government of National Unity. This coalition includes other parties that together hold 72% of the seats in Parliament. The current national president of the ANC is Cyril Ramaphosa.