the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
the rollback of south africa's biological warfare program
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South Africa negotiated <strong>the</strong> withdrawal <strong>of</strong> Cuban troops in exchange for <strong>the</strong><br />
independence <strong>of</strong> Namibia, and by <strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year, a deal was reached. The<br />
Soviet and Cuban threat that had helped give rise to Project Coast rapidly<br />
began to recede. However, <strong>the</strong> ANC/MK continued <strong>the</strong>ir guerrilla campaign,<br />
including <strong>the</strong> bombing <strong>of</strong> civilian targets. 119<br />
At <strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> 1989, President Botha became ill with heart<br />
problems and was replaced on an interim basis by F.W. de Klerk, an “outsider”<br />
to <strong>the</strong> state security system (including Project Coast). In April 1989, South<br />
African troops were confined to barracks in Namibia and were withdrawn by<br />
<strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> year. In September 1989, de Klerk was elected and inaugurated<br />
as State President and shunted Botha aside. De Klerk began his own five-year<br />
plan <strong>of</strong> ending apar<strong>the</strong>id. Part <strong>of</strong> his task included trying to establish civilian<br />
control over <strong>the</strong> security apparatus and rein in <strong>the</strong> “securocrats” and secret<br />
projects (like Project Coast). Talks with Mandela reached <strong>the</strong>ir climax, and top<br />
ANC prisoners, such as Walter Sisulu, were released. Finally, in February<br />
1990, de Klerk lifted <strong>the</strong> ban on <strong>the</strong> ANC, PAC, and South African Communist<br />
Party and released Nelson Mandela.<br />
De Klerk’s decision to release Nelson Mandela and lift <strong>the</strong> ban on <strong>the</strong><br />
ANC initiated a four-year period <strong>of</strong> negotiation and contention. In 1991, <strong>the</strong><br />
Conference for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) process <strong>of</strong> negotiations<br />
began, involving <strong>the</strong> government, <strong>the</strong> ANC and o<strong>the</strong>r parties. In 1992, <strong>the</strong><br />
negotiation process slowed and concerns mounted as <strong>the</strong> campaign <strong>of</strong> rolling<br />
violence spread throughout South Africa. Violent clashes continued, especially<br />
in Kwazulu-Natal. At <strong>the</strong> same time, mistrust <strong>of</strong> de Klerk and <strong>the</strong> National<br />
Party government grew among ANC leaders. There was a real concern by all<br />
parties that <strong>the</strong> situation in South Africa would “ spin out <strong>of</strong> control” before a<br />
negotiated settlement was reached. 120 The fear <strong>of</strong> collapse ultimately provided<br />
an important incentive that eventually brought most parties back to <strong>the</strong><br />
negotiating table. In 1993, negotiations stalled, and violence continued. Chris<br />
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