1. This History Thread is about relations between Burma (Myanmar) and the continent of Africa. Although far apart geographically there have been interactions in trade, diplomacy & affinities in the Colonial + post-Colonial experience. Background on #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
2. Ancient Indian Ocean trade routes connected Southeast Asia and East Africa. Seafaring lands like Arakan, Pegu, Tavoy in what would become Burma could exchange goods with great African ports like Kilwa Kisiwani & Songo Mnara.
3. Britain conquered Burma late 18th Century. Britain colonized lands across Africa during 18th-19th Centuries. Most resource trade was between the colonized lands & Britain but some commodities were traded colony to colony, such as Burmese teak for the carved doors of Zanzibar.
4. WW2 1944-45 Allies against occupying Japanese forces in Burma, 3 Div.s from West Africa (Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana & Gambia) & East Africa fought in Arakan (now Rakhine St.) Also 3rd (Nigerian) Brigade, 81st Div. fought in long range Chindits, 1944. theguardian.com/world/video/20…
5. Army barracks named after places where African soldiers fought in WW2 Burma: Nigeria (Arakan, Myohaung, An, Dalet, Kalapanzin, Letmauk) & Ghana (Arakan Barracks in Burma Camp, Myohaung in Takoradi.) Also Chindit Barracks in Zaria, Nigeria. “Burma Roads” in both countries.
6. Ugandan despot Idi Amin claimed to have served in combat in WW2 Burma, but this has been debunked due to his age & date of enlistment. Idi Amin and Gen. Ne Win of Burma both appear on numerous lists of worst (& most deranged) dictators of 20th Century.
7. Post-WW2 independent Burma found common ground with postcolonial African nations, was an organizer of 1955 Asian–African (Bandung) Conference, hosting leaders like Nasser of Egypt. But 1962 Burma coup brought dictatorship & isolation. medium.com/afro-asian-vis…
8. South Africa’s Bishop Desmond Tutu often compared his country & 1990s-2000s Myanmar (Burma), advocated economic sanctions vs regime. Visited fellow Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi 2013 but condemned her “silence” re genocidal attacks on Rohingyas 2017. theguardian.com/world/2017/sep…
9. Post-Apartheid South Africa in 2007 disappointingly sided with Russia & China to block UN Security Council resolution condemning Myanmar regime’s human rights violations. South Africa 2017-18 sold electronic equipment to Myanmar military. news.un.org/en/story/2007/…
10. UN diplomats from African countries involved at high levels on Myanmar crises. Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari (Nigeria) 2006-10 multiple visits, ineffective. Former UN Secretary Gen. Kofi Annan (Ghana) led Advisory Commission on Rakhine State 2016-17. nytimes.com/2016/12/06/wor…
11. In 1990s-00s Myanmar joined several African nations on lists of world’s “Least Developed Countries.” In more recent years Myanmar, as well as some regions of Africa, targeted by China’s overseas infrastructure development plans with “debt trap” risks. asiatimes.com/2018/06/myanma…
12. Since 2007, African countries have been Myanmar’s top formal rice export market. In 2019, an unfit for consumption rice shipment from Myanmar was destroyed by Ivory Coast after being rejected by 3 other African countries. irrawaddy.com/business/autho…
13. WW2 soldiers from Gambia fought in Arakan & in 2019 Gambia filed case vs Myanmar on Rohingyas of Arakan (Rakhine St.) in International Court of Justice. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2…
14/14. Sources: On WW2, @BarnabyPhillips 2014, John AL Hamilton ’01, John Igbino ’18, Nowa Omoigui re barracks names, Oliver Coates ’19. On Bandung @sulinlewis 2016. Thanks @ZL_Myanmar for question that inspired this thread. My other History Threads at: projectmaje.org
correction on post 3 of this thread: should be "Britain conquered Burma late 19th Century." (not 18th.)
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1. This History Thread is about Mandalay, a city in central Burma (Myanmar) on Irrawaddy River. Mandalay has been royal capitol, battleground, fire disaster, resistance center & more during its eventful history. In news now for revolutionary forces. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿
2. Migrations along river plains brought early settlers to an area which would much later become Mandalay. Archeological evidence indicates iron-working villages & trade circa 500 BCE. Pyu & then Burmese (Burman, Bamar) people lived there.
3. Mandalay was founded 1857 by King Mindon of Konbaung dynasty, who had its palace buildings relocated from former capital Amarapura. A wall & moat enclosed the palace compound & the new city spread out in a grid on the plain below Mandalay Hill.
1. This (recent) History Thread is an overview of the trajectory of armed resistance to the Myanmar (Burma) 2021 coup as it has evolved into a relentlessly effective nationwide revolution. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿
2. People all over Myanmar immediately resisted Feb. 1, 2021 coup with street protests & Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) strikes + boycotts. As coup regime reacted violently, many in resistance turned to armed struggle. Important: CDM also continues. cnn.com/2021/05/04/asi…
3. Myanmar (Burma) ethnic regions in armed conflict back to WW2, against military regimes since 1962. Most ethnic armies supported anti-coup resistance, formed alliances. National Unity Govt. (legit, anti-coup) declared "people's defensive war” Sept. 2021. irrawaddy.com/news/burma/eth…
1. This History Thread is a brief overview of the complex #MilitaryHistory of Shan State, a multi-ethnic region of northeast Burma (Myanmar), which is a multi-ethnic country. Shan State is currently in news for #Operation1027 against the coup regime. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿
2. Region that became Shan States of Burma, now Shan State of Myanmar has fertile plateau, rivers, hills. Bordering China, Laos & Thailand. Shan (Tai) are ethnic majority in State, smaller populations incl. Pa-O, Ta’ang, Wa, Akha, Lahu, Danu, Gurkha, Yunnan-related Chinese.
3. Sino-Tai speaking people who wd. be known as Shans in Burma arrived 10th-13th C. from north. 13th C. Shans in conflict w. Burman rulers of Pagan. Shans sometimes allied w. Mons of south vs. Burmans. 14th C. Ava on Irrawaddy River was seat of rulers of Burman & some Shan lands.
1. This History Thread is background on Kokang, the Myanmar (Burma) region bordering China which is major part of current #Operation1027 (Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army & allies vs Myanmar coup regime.) 2009 conflict was especially important. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Note: Due to recent display change on this platform, headlines are now missing for linked articles, so please click on the linked images to view linked articles for posts 4, 6, 9-14. 🐦⬛
2. Mainly inhabited by Chinese ethnic people, 18th-19th C. Kokang was ruled by Yang family and a tributary of Qing Dynasty China. 1897 China ceded Kokang to British-ruled Burma. Yangs became aristocracy similar to system of neighboring Shan States, Kokang became part of Hsenwi.
1. This History Thread is about war correspondents in Burma (Myanmar.) Many reporters have covered conflicts in Burma, incl. WW2 & ethnic defense vs military dictatorship. Current anti-coup revolutionary war is reported by local & foreign journalists. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
Note: Due to recent display change on this platform, headlines are now missing for linked articles/videos, so please click on the linked images to view linked articles/videos for posts 8-16. 🐦⬛
2. In lands that would become Burma, warfare between dynastic rivals or ethnic/regional realms & wars with neighbors like China, Siam, Bengal were recorded in paintings, songs, poems & royal chronicles.
1. This History Thread is about women of Burma (Myanmar) as soldiers & in other military roles. Women soldiers have often been providers of medical care. Current struggle vs coup regime is inclusive of female, transgender, nonbinary participants. #WhatsHappeningInBurma
2. Ancient & early modern Asia had women warriors & military leaders. Queen Chamadevi was Mon military leader of Hariphunchai (n. Thailand.) Women in lands that wd become Burma were politically powerful/influential. Legendary Queen Panhtwar of Pyu still inspires anti-coup women.
3. Gender roles varied by time, place, ethnicity in lands that wd become Burma. In his 1827 account of 1st Anglo-Burmese War, Maj. J. Snodgrass described 3 Shan “fearless Amazons” (believed to have supernatural ammunition-repelling powers) riding into battle vs British artillery.