Sub-Saharan Africa in the Foreign Policy of the Polish People's Republic

In this article, the author identifies the objectives and tasks of Polish foreign policy towards sub-Saharan Africa between 1944 and 1989. This policy began to be formulated after 1956, when independent states were established in this area as a result of decolonisation. In the first period, this foreign policy was based on ideological foundations, i.e. preference was given to states that were either communist or leftist. Later, as a result of political instability, namely the numerous political and military coups in Black Africa, it is possible to note both ideological and pragmatic objectives in the discussed policy, which referred, for example, to Poland's economic interests, including trade. The basic objectives of the policyof communist Poland towards sub-Saharan Africa included the following tasks: 1. undertaking extensive diplomatic and ideological action to promote anti-Western forces; 2. providing technical assistance in the form of the secondment of doctors, engineers and skilled craftsmen; 3. awarding scholarships for African youth to study at selected universities; 4. establishing organisations with communist or leftist orientations, with the goal of penetrating local and regional trade unions. At the same time, efforts were made to avoid providing direct aid in the form of grants or loans. Despite the changes taking place in Poland, as well as the changing international reality, these objectives did not undergo major modifications until 1989.