African National Congress (ANC)
Political organizationAbout
The African National Congress (ANC) is a prominent political party in South Africa, originally founded as the South African Native National Congress on January 8, 1912, in Bloemfontein. It was renamed the ANC in 1923. Initially, the organization focused on advocating for the rights of black South Africans through diplomatic means. However, with the introduction of apartheid in 1948, the ANC shifted its focus to actively opposing the policy, employing both nonviolent and armed resistance. The ANC played a pivotal role in the fight against apartheid, leading mass protests and armed struggles through its military wing, Umkhonto we Sizwe. Banned from 1960 to 1990, the ANC operated in exile, returning to South Africa to lead negotiations for a democratic transition. In 1994, the ANC became the governing party, with Nelson Mandela as president. Since then, it has dominated South African politics, though its electoral majority has recently declined. The ANC continues to influence national politics, maintaining alliances with other parties to retain power.
