Lessons of Soviet-East African Relations in the 1960s (Based on Archival Sources)

Abstract

The USSR established diplomatic relations with the countries of East Africa almost immediately after their independence. Prior to that (from the late 1950s), contacts through the Soviet Afro-Asian Solidarity Committee were of great importance. In general, the trips of Soviet diplomatic staff to Africa's hinterland were of great importance for better understanding the real situation on the ground and spreading knowledge about the Soviet country among Africans. The experience proved the importance of distributing Soviet fiction in East Africa, especially in Swahili. It’s important, that the Soviet lecturers and other specialists, who worked in the countries of East Africa, left mostly good memories. However, Soviet diplomatic staff in East Africa sometimes failed to show sufficient competence and efficiency in their work. The article is based on documents from Russian archives.