Mandela wrote a letter to Haughey shortly after his release asking him to postpone a decision on sanctions relief.

Nelson Mandela two days after his release in February 1990.

Source: Graeme Williams

NELSON MANDELA urged Taoiseach Charles Haughey to postpone any decision on sanctions against apartheid in South Africa 11 months after his release from prison.

In a letter published under the state’s 30-year archival rule, Mandela wrote to Haughey on December 6, 1990 before a European Community Summit that was set up to discuss sanctions against apartheid in South Africa.

At the time, Mandela was vice president of the African National Congress (ANC) and was negotiating the end of the apartheid regime with South African President FW de Klerk. Haughey, in his third and final term as Taoiseach, had become a leading figure in Europe.

“First of all, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for your commitment to the common cause of ending the apartheid system as quickly as possible and transforming our country into a non-racial democracy,” Mandela wrote.

“As we have indicated to you in the past, we strongly believe that it is best that we act in a concerted manner on these matters to avoid any eventuality that your own actions, however well-intentioned, may result in the complication of the peace process within South Africa. .

“As we understand it, the European Community Summit scheduled for this month is likely to discuss the issue of sanctions against apartheid in South Africa. That’s why we wrote you this letter, ”said Mandela, who was sentenced to prison in 1964.

He would spend 18 years on the famous Robben Island, six in Pollsmoor Prison, and just over a year in Victor Verster Prison before finally being released in February 1990.

Source: National Archives

Briefing notes prepared for Haughey at the time point to an increase in violence in South Africa in the months after Mandela’s release and the ANC’s start of negotiations with the government.

De Klerk and Mandela had met several times at this stage in an attempt to defuse tensions. However, formal negotiations have not yet started. The ANC needed more time to organize and plan its strategy, says a government document.

The common position of the 12 EU member states at the time was based on the Dublin European Council Declaration, which declared the EU’s willingness to consider a gradual relaxation of sanctions when there was “more clear evidence” of progress towards a “profound and irreversible change” in South Africa, according to a briefing document.

“My humble request to you, Prime Minister, and to the summit meeting, is that you postpone any decision on this matter until the beginning of the new year. Perhaps the summit meeting could find it in its power to lead a subsequent meeting of Foreign Ministers in February or March to consider this issue and make decisions, “Mandela told Haughey.

The important agreement we reached with the [South African] The August 6 government to start exploratory talks on constitutional matters has not yet been implemented, due to the government’s refusal to start these talks.

President de Klerk has assumed that security legislation that prevents free political activity, as well as other apartheid laws, such as group areas and land laws, will be repealed when the South African parliament meets in early February.

We ourselves are debating the issue of sanctions with the aim of ensuring that the international community continues to exert pressure to move more rapidly towards the end of the apartheid system, while this community takes all necessary measures to strengthen the peace process it is leading. to the democratic transformation of our country.

We are discussing concrete measures in this regard and have started consultations with other democratic formations within our country, including trade unions and religious bodies, to develop a position common to the majority of the anti-apartheid forces in the country.

We would be honored to share with you our detailed views on these issues at the last stage, but soon, so that, if possible, we avoid opting for opposing positions that could undermine the consensus on what to do to make the necessary changes in South Africa and inject an element of conflict between us, to the detriment of the constitutional negotiations that are due to begin in the near future.

We trust that you and the rest of your colleagues in the European Community will be able to agree to our request and postpone consideration of the issue of sanctions against apartheid in South Africa until we start discussions with you on this matter.

We believe that it will then be possible to take the necessary decisions that, among other things, will help to encourage and strengthen the peace process in our country instead of complicating it. Please accept, Prime Minister, the assurances of our highest consideration.

Nelson Mandela

Vice president