No independence before majority rule facts for kids
No independence before majority rule (often called NIBMAR) was a special rule made by the United Kingdom government. It meant that a colony could not become independent until its people, especially the majority of its people, had the power to govern themselves. This was different from when a small group, like the white colonial minority, was in charge.
What NIBMAR Meant
The NIBMAR policy was very important for countries that were part of the British Empire. It said that before a colony could get its independence, the government had to be run by the majority of its citizens. This was usually the local African population. Some people thought NIBMAR meant "no independence before majority African rule," but the government's official policy was just "majority rule."
NIBMAR and Rhodesia
NIBMAR was especially important for a country called Rhodesia. Rhodesia was a British colony in southern Africa. The British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, was pushed to use the NIBMAR rule for Rhodesia. This happened during a big meeting in London.
At first, Prime Minister Wilson was worried. He thought NIBMAR might make it harder and slower for Rhodesia to become independent. But the Prime Minister of Canada, Lester Pearson, helped create a plan that made Wilson agree to NIBMAR. Wilson then defended this policy, even when others, like the opposition Conservatives, said it was a bad idea.
However, this agreement did not last long. Prime Minister Wilson kept offering deals to Ian Smith, who was the leader of Rhodesia at the time. But Ian Smith kept saying no to these offers. Because the UK stuck to its NIBMAR policy, Ian Smith's government decided to declare Rhodesia's independence on its own, without Britain's permission. This was a very big and controversial step.
Related Events
- January 1966 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
- September 1966 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference
