The end of the cold war in Southern Africa. Question of Namibia during American-Soviet negotiations (1987–1988)

Abstract

Among many conflicts between United States and Soviet Union during the cold war era, one of the longest were Namibia’s independence war and civil war in Angola. In the historiography, especially South Africa’s literature, both of them are linkaged and known as Border War. However, Namibians had begun their struggle in 1966, twenty years later there was no perspective to finisz the war. The major breakthrough appeared in 1987–1988 thanks to series of meetings between president of the US, Ronald Reagan and general secretary of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev. The key role played the year 1988. One year later United Nations has implemented Resolution 435 of Security Council from 1978. From that day, South Africa Defence Forces were beginning withdrawal from Namibia’s territory. This article refers about the most characteristic and important aspects of United States’ and Soviet Union’ negotiations in 1987–1988, especially before and during Moscow summit in May and June 1988.