1961: South Africa Faces International Sanctions Over Apartheid

On May 31, 1961, the Republic of South Africa officially left the British Commonwealth after facing mounting pressure over its apartheid policies. The decision followed a whites-only referendum in 1960 and marked the country’s full embrace of institutionalized racial segregation. This withdrawal intensified global scrutiny and fueled anti-apartheid movements around the world. Key African nations like Ghana and Nigeria had already called for economic sanctions, and South Africa’s isolation on the international stage continued to grow. This milestone spurred increased efforts by the African National Congress (ANC) and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), leading to decades of global solidarity, divestment campaigns, and United Nations resolutions. The apartheid government remained entrenched until 1994, but May 31, 1961, stands as a turning point when international diplomacy began to more forcefully challenge state-sponsored racism. This date is crucial in understanding how global Black resistance and international politics intersected to fight oppression.