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1986 Nonaligned Summit Summary

Core Content

The 1986 Nonaligned Summit, held in Harare, Zimbabwe, marked the 25th anniversary of the Nonaligned Movement (NAM). Despite initial perceptions of it being a "gathering full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," the summit was viewed as a significant event in the context of NAM's evolving role and internal dynamics.

Main Issues and Outcomes

• Disarmament and Apartheid: The summit focused on key issues such as disarmament, decolonization, and apartheid, which remain central to the NAM agenda. The declaration welcomed the joint statement by the U.S. and USSR that a nuclear war cannot be won and called for a moratorium on nuclear testing.
• Afghanistan and Kampuchea: The summit avoided direct criticism of the Soviet and Vietnamese roles in these countries, following the New Delhi formula of urging the termination of foreign intervention.
• U.S.-Soviet Tensions: The summit was seen as a shift back to the center after a leftward drift under Fidel Castro's leadership. While the U.S. was criticized, the USSR also faced limited success in getting favorable language adopted.
• Mugabe's Leadership: Robert Mugabe, as chair, demonstrated a balanced approach, avoiding overt alignment with either superpower. His comments were seen as a departure from the more radical tone of previous summits, particularly those under Castro.
• Sanctions Strategy: The summit endorsed a cautious approach to sanctions against South Africa, emphasizing the need for international cooperation. A three-phase strategy was agreed upon for the upcoming UN session, involving diplomatic lobbying and strategic planning.

Key Participants

• 57 Heads of State or Government from the 101-member NAM attended the summit.
• Notable African Delegates included:
  • Algeria's President Benjadid Chadli
  • Angola's President Jose Eduardo dos Santos
  • Botswana's President Quett Masire
  • Burundi's President Sylvestre Ntibintu
  • Burkinabé President Thomas Sankara
  • Cape Verde's President Aristides Maria Pereira
  • Comoros' President Ahmed Abdallah Abderemane
  • Congo's President Denis Sassou-Ngueso
  • Ethiopia's head of state, Mengistu Haile Mariam
  • Gabon's President Albert-Bernard (Omar) Bongo
  • Guinea-Bissau's President João Bernardo Vieira
  • Lesotho's King Moshoeshoe II
  • Liberia's President Samuel Kanyon Doe
  • Libya's head of state, Muammar al-Qaddafi
  • Madagascar's President Didier Ratsiraka
  • Mali's President Moussa Traore
  • Mozambique's President Samora Machel
  • Niger's Prime Minister Hamid Algabid
  • Nigeria's President Ibrahim Babangida
  • São Tomé and Principe's President Manuel Pinto da Costa
  • Senegal's President Abdou Diouf
  • Seychelles' President France Albert René
  • Sudan's State Council Chairman Ahmad Ali al-Mirghani
  • Tanzania's President Ali Hassan Mwinyi
  • Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni
  • Zaire's First State Commissioner Kengo wa Dondo
  • Zambia's President Kenneth Kaunda
  • Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Robert Mugabe

Summit Logistics

• The summit attracted an estimated 10,000 people, and Harare managed the logistical challenges relatively well.
• Housing and Support: 32 villas were built for heads of state, and the government offered financial incentives to private sector owners.
• Infrastructure and Services: The Harare Sheraton served as the main conference center, and many services were sourced from corporate entities.
• Challenges Faced: Journalists were housed in dormitories, leading to logistical and privacy issues. Some press activities were disrupted by security checks.

Mugabe's Balancing Act

• Mugabe was expected to take a radical stance but instead adopted a more pragmatic and balanced approach.
• He emphasized Zimbabwe's independence and the need to avoid domination by either superpower.
• His keynote address called for comprehensive sanctions but did not directly condemn the U.S. for its actions.
• The summit's final declaration was seen as a compromise, with some language softened to ensure broader support.

Southern Africa Focus

• The summit's focus on southern Africa reflected the region's growing importance in NAM's agenda.
• The Front Line states (Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Botswana) endorsed a pragmatic approach to sanctions, avoiding overly aggressive measures.
• The declaration proposed a Solidarity Fund for Southern Africa, renamed the Action for Resisting Invasion, Colonialism, and Apartheid Fund, to support liberation movements and reduce economic dependence on South Africa.

Regional and International Context

• The summit occurred in a period of rising anti-apartheid sentiment in the West, making new sanctions more feasible.
• The Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) and Commonwealth mini-summit in London influenced the NAM's approach to sanctions.
• Sanctions Coordination: The NAM agreed on a strategy involving lobbying major trading partners of South Africa, including Britain, the U.S., West Germany, and Japan.
• U.S. and European Reactions: While the U.S. was critical of the summit's anti-American tone, European states were more supportive of the moderate approach.

Conclusion

The 1986 Nonaligned Summit in Harare was a turning point for the NAM, marking a return to a more balanced and pragmatic stance. Mugabe's leadership and the strategic focus on southern Africa helped to maintain the movement's relevance, despite internal tensions and external pressures. The summit's outcomes reflected a careful negotiation between moderate and radical factions, emphasizing cooperation and the need for effective international action.