Protest Against Gulf Oil In Angola: Protecting Our Future

In the early 1970s, the African American divestment and boycott campaign against Gulf Oil's operations in colonial Angola served as a bridge between the Black Power and anti-apartheid movements, which were typically viewed as separate. The campaign was led by the Boston-based activist couple Randall and Brenda Robinson, who successfully educated and mobilised African Americans against investment in colonialism. This was first done through the Southern Africa Relief Fund (SARF) and later with the Pan-African Liberation Committee (PALC). The campaign's participatory tactics, moral appeals, and critique of the global economic system attracted a diverse range of supporters, allowing PALC to cultivate relationships across racial divides.

Gulf Oil's colonialist practices in Angola

In the 1970s, African Americans led a divestment and boycott campaign against Gulf Oil's operations in colonial Angola, bridging the gap between the Black Power and anti-apartheid movements. The campaign was spearheaded by the Boston-based Pan-African Liberation Committee (PALC) and its charismatic leader, Randall Robinson.

The PALC's efforts focused on Gulf Oil's role in propping up the Portuguese colonial regime in Angola. At the time, Gulf Oil was the single largest foreign business operating in Portugal's colony, and its oil production provided a significant source of revenue for the Portuguese government, funding its colonial wars in Angola and other African colonies.

The PALC's campaign against Gulf Oil included protests, divestment efforts, and economic boycotts. One notable protest took place at Harvard University, where students occupied a university building and demanded that the university divest from Gulf Oil. The campaign also gained support from African American politicians and built alliances across racial divides.

In addition to its role in supporting the Portuguese colonial regime, Gulf Oil has also been criticised for its exploitative practices in Angola, including discriminatory hiring practices and a lack of investment in local communities.

More recently, in June 2023, protests broke out in Angola over a near-doubling in petrol prices, which were partially attributed to the removal of fuel subsidies. At least five people were killed in the protests, and the Angolan government is now considering slowing down the removal of fuel subsidies to avoid further unrest.

While Gulf Oil is no longer the major player it once was in Angola, its legacy of colonialist practices and exploitation continues to shape the country's economy and politics.

The link between Gulf Oil and the US government

In the early 1970s, Gulf Oil's operations in colonial Angola became a focal point of protest by African American activists, who saw the company's presence as emblematic of broader issues of colonialism and racial injustice. This campaign, led by figures like Randall and Brenda Robinson, bridged the gap between the Black Power and anti-apartheid movements. It also highlighted the role of US institutions, including Harvard University, in perpetuating these systemic injustices through their financial ties to Gulf Oil.

The protests against Gulf Oil in Angola were part of a broader critique of US foreign relations and economic policies that African Americans sought to address. This activism contributed to a shift in US-Angola relations, with the Angolan government taking steps to increase local control over its oil industry. However, the country continued to face challenges in fully realising the potential of its oil and gas sector due to industry barriers, macroeconomic threats, and high production costs.

US companies have played a significant role in Angola's oil industry, with Chevron, ExxonMobil, and other major American corporations holding interests in various blocks and concessions. These companies have made substantial investments and contributed to key projects, such as the Angola LNG project in Soyo. Additionally, US contractors and service providers are deeply embedded in Angola's oil and gas sector, providing specialised technologies and operational support.

The US government has also been engaged in Angola's oil industry through its diplomatic relations and energy policies. The collaboration between Chevron and the Angolan government on lower-carbon opportunities, announced in 2023, demonstrates a shared interest in exploring more sustainable energy solutions. This aligns with Angola's commitment to increasing its renewable energy capacity and reducing emissions, as pledged by President João Lourenço at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

Overall, the link between Gulf Oil and the US government is multifaceted and dynamic, involving economic interests, geopolitical strategies, and responses to domestic pressures from activists and industry players. The specific nature of this relationship has evolved over time, reflecting changing global energy markets, technological advancements, and shifting political priorities in both countries.

The role of the Pan-African Liberation Committee in the protests

The Pan-African Liberation Committee (PALC) was formed by individuals involved in the Southern Africa Relief Fund and students at Harvard University, including Randall Robinson, Brenda Randolph Robinson, and South African exile Chris Nteta. The committee's initial focus was on boycotting the Gulf Oil Corporation due to the company's exploitation of oil in the Portuguese colony of Angola.

In April 1972, 14 hours after Harvard President Derek Bok announced that the university would not divest from Gulf, a group of Black students from Harvard Radcliffe Association of African and Afro-American Students (Afro) and the Pan-African Liberation Committee took over Massachusetts Hall, demanding that the university sell its investments in the company. This marked the beginning of the Gulf divestment campaign at Harvard.

The PALC was also active in the broader Cambridge-Boston area. The organisation's boycott campaign against Gulf grew from nascent liberal efforts to show solidarity with African nationalist movements through economic activism. The PALC built upon this foundation but added a more confrontational ideology and set of tactics that appealed to Black communities frustrated by the gradualism of late civil rights politics and the US government's approach to African decolonisation.

The PALC's boycott campaign against Gulf was part of a broader movement that helped cultivate a new wave of leftist Black internationalism. In the 1970s, as African Americans sought to build political organisations to represent their interests, they looked to independence struggles in Africa, particularly those in the continent's Portuguese colonies of Mozambique, Angola, and Guinea-Bissau. The PALC's boycott campaign clarified an ideology and emerging strategy for pan-African self-determination—the belief that African peoples across the globe had the right to control their communities and resources.

The PALC's boycott campaign against Gulf was successful in educating and mobilising African Americans against investment in colonialism. The campaign's participatory tactics, moral appeals, and critique of the global economic system proved attractive beyond radical Black Power advocates, allowing the PALC to cultivate relationships with African American politicians and build alliances across racial divides.

The success of the PALC's boycott campaign demonstrated the potential for a specific model of leadership: an exclusively Black core attuned to the needs and culture of peoples of African descent, working in coalition with white and multiracial organisations to pursue global justice. This model of organising would later be adopted by TransAfrica, which became the most prominent African American organisation opposing apartheid in the 1980s.

The impact of the protests on Angola's economy

Protests over fuel prices in Angola have had a significant impact on the country's economy, which is heavily dependent on oil exports. As a result of the demonstrations, the Angolan government has been forced to reconsider its plans for removing fuel subsidies, which have been a drain on the country's finances.

The protests, which took place in June 2023, led to the deaths of at least five people and caused a "shock" among the population, according to the country's finance minister, Vera Daves De Sousa. In response, the government is now discussing whether to extend the deadline for phasing out fuel subsidies beyond 2025.

Angola's economy has been struggling in recent years due to a combination of factors, including declining oil production, high debt costs, and international market forces. In 2022, the country spent 1.9 trillion kwanza ($2.3 billion) on fuel subsidies, which amounted to more than 40% of its estimated social programme spending.

The country's economic growth has slowed significantly, with a forecast of just 1.09% for 2023, down from the initially projected 3.3%. Low oil production has been a major factor, and the government expects oil output to continue declining in the coming years, reaching 500,000 barrels per day by 2050.

To address these challenges, Angola is seeking to diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil. The government aims to increase the contribution of agriculture and agribusiness to GDP, targeting a share of 14% by the end of 2027 and 19% by 2050. It also plans to reduce the oil sector's share of GDP to 20% by 2027 and 10% by 2050.

The planned privatisation of the state-oil firm Sonangol, however, has been delayed due to ongoing corruption-related lawsuits. The government now aims to sell less than half of the company in 2025.

Angola's efforts to stabilise its economy and reduce its dependence on oil are crucial, especially considering the volatility of oil prices and the impact of organisations like OPEC, of which Angola is a member. The country's experience highlights the risks of economies that are heavily dependent on a single industry or resource and the importance of diversification for long-term economic stability.

The human cost of Gulf Oil's presence in Angola

Gulf Oil's presence in Angola has had a significant impact on the country and its people, with a range of consequences that highlight the complex interplay between economic development, human rights, and social welfare. Here, we explore the human cost of Gulf Oil's involvement in Angola and analyse the effects on the local population.

Historical Context

The relationship between Gulf Oil and Angola dates back to the 1930s when Texaco, which would later become a subsidiary of Gulf Oil, began marketing its products in the country. However, it was in the 1970s that Gulf Oil's role in Angola came under intense scrutiny and sparked protests, particularly from African American groups. At the time, Gulf Oil was the single largest foreign business operating in Angola, which was then a Portuguese colony. The issue of Gulf Oil's presence in Angola became a rallying point for the emerging Black Power and anti-apartheid movements, which sought to challenge racial discrimination, colonialism, and economic exploitation.

Economic Impact

Gulf Oil's operations in Angola have had a significant economic impact on the country. On the one hand, the oil industry has been a major contributor to Angola's economy, with oil production accounting for a substantial portion of its GDP. However, there have also been concerns about the negative economic effects of Gulf Oil's presence. In the 1970s, for example, there were criticisms that Gulf Oil's activities benefited the colonial government and perpetuated economic inequality. More recently, Angola has struggled with declining oil production and exports, which has had a detrimental effect on its economy. The country is now seeking to diversify away from its dependence on oil and increase the contribution of other sectors, such as agriculture and agribusiness.

Social and Political Impact

The presence of Gulf Oil in Angola has had a profound impact on the social and political landscape of the country. In the 1970s, the issue of Gulf Oil's operations in Angola became a rallying point for activists advocating for pan-Africanism and challenging colonial rule. The Southern Africa Relief Fund (SARF) and the Pan-African Liberation Committee (PALC) played a significant role in organising protests and boycotts against Gulf Oil, arguing that its presence in Angola contributed to the exploitation of African peoples and reinforced global white supremacy. These protests helped to foster a sense of transnational solidarity among African Americans and Africans, with a shared commitment to fighting racial injustice and economic exploitation.

Human Rights Concerns

There have been serious concerns about human rights violations associated with Gulf Oil's presence in Angola. In 1985, for example, there was an incident where South African commandos allegedly attempted to sabotage a Gulf Oil facility in Angola, resulting in tension between the US and South African governments. While the full extent of human rights abuses related to Gulf Oil's operations in Angola may not be known, such incidents highlight the complex and often contentious nature of the oil industry's presence in the country.

Environmental Impact

The oil industry in Angola has also had a significant environmental impact. Oil exploration and production can have detrimental effects on the natural environment, including ecologically sensitive areas. For example, there are concerns about the potential impact of oil pipelines on forest reserves, game parks, and water sources. Additionally, there have been reports of environmental damage and pollution associated with oil production, which can have lasting consequences for local communities and ecosystems.

In conclusion, Gulf Oil's presence in Angola has had a complex and multifaceted human cost. While the oil industry has contributed significantly to Angola's economy, there have also been negative consequences, including social and political tensions, human rights concerns, and environmental impacts. As Angola seeks to address the challenges of economic diversification and social welfare, the role of the oil industry and its impact on human rights and the environment will continue to be closely scrutinised.

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