by Guy Arnold
AQIM – al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
AREMA –Association pour la Renaissance de Madagascar
ARPA – Agricultural Rehabilitation Programme for Africa
ASU – Arab Socialist Union (Libya)
AU – African Union
AWB – Afrikaanse Weerstandsbeweging (Afrikaner Resistance Movement
AZAPO – Azanian People’s Organization (South Africa)
BCC – British Council of Churches
BCP – Basotho Congress Party (Lesotho)
BDG – Bloc Démocratique Gabonais
BDP – Botswana Democratic Party
BMATT – British Military Assistance Training Team
BOSS – Bureau of State Security (South Africa)
BPC – Black People’s Convention (South Africa)
CCE – Constitutional Commission for Eritrea
CCM – Chama Cha Mapinduzi (Tanzania)
CDR – Coalition for the Defence of the Republic (Rwanda)
CEAO – Communauté Economique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
CEEAC - Communauté Economique des Etats de l’Afrique Centrale
CEG – Commonwealth Expert Group
CFTC – Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation
CFU – Commercial Farmers Union (Zimbabwe)
CHOGM – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
CIA – Central Intelligence Agency (US)
CIEC – Conference on International Economic Cooperation
CILSS – Permanent Inter-State Committee on Drought Control in the Sahal
CIO – Central Intelligence Organization (Rhodesia)
CMRN - Comité Militaire de Redressement National (Guinea)
CMRPN – Comité Militaire de Redressement pour le Progrès National (Upper Volta)
CMSN – Comité Militaire pour le Salut National (Burundi)
CND – Conseil National de Développement (Niger)
CNE – Commission Nationale des Elections (Congo)
CNL – Conseil National de Libération (Congo (Brazzaville))
CNR – Conseil National Révolutionnaire (Dahomey/Upper Volta)
CNS – Conférence National Souveraine (Congo)
CODESA – Convention for a Democratic South Africa
COMOPS – Combined Operations (Rhodesia)
CONSAS – Constellation of Southern African States
COPCON – Continental Operations Command (Portugal)
COPWE – Commission for the Organization of a Party of the Workers of Ethiopia
COSATU – Congress of South African Trade Unions
CPEs – [Communist] Centrally Planned Economies
CPP – Convention People’s Party (Ghana)
CPP – Convention People’s Party (Togo)
CRUA – Comité Révolutionnaire pour l’Unité et l’Action (Algeria)
CSP – Conseil de Salut du Peuple (Upper Volta)
CUSS – Council for the Unity of Southern Sudan
CUT – Comité de l’Unité Togolaise
DAC – Development Assistance Committee [of OECD]
DFSS – Democratic Front for the Salvation of Somalia
DFID – Department for International Development (Britain)
DPKO – Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UN)
DRC – Democratic Republic of Congo
DSRP – Democratic and Social Republican Party (Mauritania)
DTA – Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (Namibia)
DUP – Democratic Unionist Party (Sudan)
EAC – East African Community
EACM – East African Common Market
EACSO – East African Common Services Organization
EADB – East African Development Bank
ECA – Economic Commission for Africa
ECOMOG – Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group
ECOWAS – Economic Community of West African States
EDF – European Development Fund
EEC – European Economic Community
EFTA - European Free Trade Association
ELA – Eritrean Liberation Army
ELF – Eritrean Liberation Front
EPG – Eminent Persons Group
EPLF – Eritrean People’s Liberation Front
EPRDF – Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front
ERPs – Economic Recovery Programmes
ESAP – Economic Structural Adjustment Programme
FAN – Forces Armées du Nord (Chad)
FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization (UN)
FAPLA – Forças Armadas Populares de Libertação de Angola
FAZ – Forces Armées du Zaïre
FDIC – Front de Défendre des Institutions Constitutionnes (Morocco)
FDLD – Front Démocratique pour la Libération de Djibouti
FDP – Forces Démocratiques et Patriotiques (Congo (Brazzaville))
FDU – Forces Démocratiques Unies (Congo (Brazzaville))
FEDECO – Federal Electoral Commission (Nigeria)
FESTAC – World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture
FFS – Front des Forces Socialistes (Algeria)
FIS – Front Islamique du Salut (Algeria)
FLN – Front de Libération National (Algeria)
FMG – Federal Military Government (Nigeria)
FNDR – Front National pour la Défense de la Révolution (Madagascar)
FNLA – Frente Nacional de Libertação de Angola
FNLC – Front National pour la Libération du Congo
FNU – Front National Uni (Comoros Islands)
FPI – Front Populaire Ivorien
FPPS – Front Progressiste du Peuple Seychellois
FRELIMO – Frente de Libertação de Mocambique
FROLINAT – Front de Libération Nationale du Tchad
FROLIZI – Front for the Liberation of Zimbabwe
FRUD – Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy (Djibouti)
FUA – Frente de Unidade Angolana
GATS – General Agreement on Trade in Services (WTO)
GEAR – Growth, Employment and Redistribution (South Africa)
GIA – Groupe Islamiste Armée (Algeria)
GNPP – Greater Nigerian People’s Party
GNU – Government of National Unity (South Africa)
GPC – General People’s Congress (Libya)
GPOI – Global Peace Operations Initiative
GRAE – Governo Revolucionario de Angola no Exilo (Angolan government in exile)
GSRP – Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party
GUM – Grupo Unido de Mocambique
HCE – Haut Comité d’Etat (Algeria)
HCR – High Council of the Republic (Congo)
HNP – Herstigte Nasionale Party (Refounded National Party) (South Africa)
ICJ – International Court of Justice (The Hague)
ICRC – International Committee of the Red Cross
ICTR – International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
IDA – International Development Association
IDEP – Institute for Economic Development and Planning
IFAD – International Fund for Agricultural Development (UN)
IFC – International Finance Corporation
IFIs – Independent Financial Institutions
IFP – Inkatha Freedom Party (South Africa)
IGAD – Intergovernmental Authority on Development
IMET – International Military Education and Training
IMF – International Monetary Fund
INE – Instituto Nacional de Estatística (Angola)
IP – Independence Party (Mauritius)
ISIS – Islamic State
JMC – Joint Military Commission
JMNR – Jeunesse du Mouvement National de la Révolution
KADU – Kenya African Democratic Union
KANU – Kenya African National Union
KAU – Kenya Africa Union
KCA – Kikuyu Central Associatio
n
KFL – Kenya Federation of Labour
KIM – Federation of the 13 May Movement (Madagascar)
KPU – Kenya People’s Union
KY – Kabaka Yekka (King Alone) (Uganda)
LAA – Land Acquisition Act (Zimbabwe)
LCD – Lesotho Congress for Democracy
LLA – Lesotho Liberation Army
LPAI – Ligue Populaire Africaine pour l’Indépendence (French Somaliland)
LRA – Lord’s Resistance Army
LUAR – League of Revolutionary Unity and Action (Portugal)
LURD – Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
MAI – Multilateral Agreement on Investment (WTO)
MAPESS – Ministro da Administração Pública, Emprego e Seguanço Social (Angola)
MCP – Malawi Congress Party
MDC – Movement for Democratic Change (Zimbabwe)
MDDI – Mouvement Congolais pour la Démocratie et le Développement Intégral
MDM – Mass Democratic Movement (South Africa)
MDS – Mouvement des Démocrates Socialistes (Tunisia)
MEL – Minimum effective level
MESAN – Mouvement pour l’Evolution Sociale de l’Afrique Noire (Central African Republic)
MFA – Movimento das Forças Armadas (Portugal)
MIA – Mouvement Islamiste Armée (Algeria)
MLC – Mouvement de Libération Congolaise
MLSTP – Movimento de Libertação de São Tomé e Príncipe
MMD – Movement for Multiparty Democracy (Zambia)
MMG – Mouvement Mixte Gabonais
MMM – Mouvement Militant Mauricien
MMMSP – Mouvement Militant Mauricien Social Progressiste
MNC – Mouvement National Congolais
MNR – National Revolutionary Movement (Congo (Brazzaville))
MNSD – Mouvement National pour une Société de Développement (Niger)
MOG – Military Observer Group
MOJA-G – Movement for Justice in Africa-Gambia
MONIMA – Mouvement National pour l’Indépendence de Madagascar
MONUC – United Nations Observer Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Morena – Mouvement de Redressement National (Gabon)
MPCI – Mouvement Patriotique de Côte d’Ivoire
MPD – Movimento para a Democracia (Cape Verde)
MPIGO – Mouvement Populaire Ivorien du Grand Ouest
MPLA – Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola
MPM – Mouvement Populaire Mahorais (Mayotte)
MPR – Mouvement Populaire de la Révolution (Congo/Zaïre)
MSM – Mauritanian Socialist Movement
MRND – Mouvement national pour le développement (Rwanda)
MRNDD – Mouvement républican national pour la démocratie et le développement (Rwanda)
MTLD – Mouvement pour le Triomphe de Libertés Démocratiques (Algeria)
MUP – Mouvement d’Unité Populaire (Tunisia)
MUZ – Mineworkers Union of Zambia
NACP – National Association of Coloured People (Rhodesia)
NAI – New Africa Initiative
NAMRU – Naval Medical Research Unit (US institution in Eritrea)
NARC – National Rainbow Coalition (Kenya)
NCNC – National Council for Nigeria and the Cameroons
NCP – National Convention Party (Gambia)
NDC – National Democratic Congress (Ghana)
NDP – National Development Party (Kenya)
NEPAD – New Partnership for Africa’s Development
NF – National Front (Chad)
NIBMAR – No Independence Before Majority Rule (Rhodesia)
NIEO – New International Economic Order
NIF – National Islamic Front (Sudan)
NLC – National Liberation Council (Ghana)
NLF – National Liberation Front (Chad)
NLP – National Liberation Party (Gambia)
NNDP – Nigerian National Democratic Party
NNLC – Ngwane National Liberatory Congress SWAZILAND
NP – National Party (Afrikaner South Africa)
NPC – Northern People’s Congress (Nigeria)
NPFL – National Patriotic Front of Liberia
NPN – National Party of Nigeria
NPP – Nigerian People’s Party
NPP – National Patriotic Party (Ghana)
NRA – National Resistance Army (Uganda)
NRC – National Redemption Council (Ghana)
NUDO – National Unity Democratic Organization (Namibia)
NUM – National Union of Mineworkers (Britain)
NUP – National Unionist Party (Morocco)
NUP – National Unionist Party (Sudan)
NUSAS – National Union of South African Students
NUT – National Union of Teachers (Britain)
OAU – Organisation of African Unity
OCAM – Organisation Commune Africaine et Malgache
ODA – Overseas Development Administration (Britain)
ODA – Official Development Assistance
OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
OFY – Operation Feed Yourself (Ghana)
OIC – Organization of the Islamic Conference
OLF – Oromo Liberation Front (Ethiopia)
OPC – Ovamboland People’s Congress (South Africa/Namibia)
OPEC – Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
OPIC – Overseas Private Investment Corporation (US)
OS – Organisation Secrète (Algeria)
PAC – Pan-Africanist Congress (South Africa)
PAFMECSA – Pan-African Movement for East, Central and Southern Africa
PAICV – Partido Africano da Independência de Cabo Verde
PAIGC – Partido Africano dA Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (Guinea-Bissau)
PAMSCAD – Programme of Action to Mitigate the Social Costs of Adjustment (Ghana)
PANA – Pan African News Agency
Parmehutu – Parti de l’Emancipation du Peuple Hutu (Rwanda)
PCT – Parti Congolais du Travail
PDA – Partido Democratico Angolana
PDCI – Parti Démocratique de la Côte d’Ivoire
PDG – Parti Démocratique Gabonais
PDG-RDA – Parti Démocratique de Guinée-Rassemblement Démocratique Africain
PDL – Poverty datum line
PDS – Parti Démocratique de Senegal
PFD – People’s Front for Democracy (Eritrea)
PFDJ – People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (Eritrea)
PGP – Parti Gabonais du Progrès
PIDE – Policia Internacional e de Defesa do Estado (Portuguese security police)
PLAN – People’s Liberation Army of Namibia
PLF – Popular Liberation Front (Eritrea)
PLO – Palestine Liberation Organization
PLS – Parti de Libération et du Socialisme (Morocco)
PMAC – Provisional Military Administrative Council (or Dergue) (Ethiopia)
PMSD – Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate
PNDC – Provisional National Defence Council (Ghana)
PNP – People’s National Party (Ghana)
Polisario – Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamro and Rio de Oro (Western Sahara)
Poqo – ‘Blacks Only’ – militant wing of the PAC (qv)
PP – Progress Party (Gambia)
PPA – Parti du Peuple Algérien
PPM – Parti du Peuple Mauritanien
PPP – People’s Progressive Party (Gambia)
PPT – Parti Progressiste Tchadien
PRC – People’s Redemption Council (Guinea-Bissau)
PRP – People’s Redemption Party (Nigeria)
PRP – Parti de la Révolution Populaire (Congo/Zaïre)
PRPB – Parti de la Révolution Populaire du Benin
PS – Parti Socialiste (
Senegal)
PSD – Parti Social Démocrate (Madagascar)
PSD – Parti Socialiste Destourien (Tunisia)
PSI – Pan Sahel Initiative
PTP – Progress Party (Togo)
PUN – Partido Unico Nacional (Equatorial (Spanish) Guinea)
PUNT – Partido Unico Nacional de los Trabajadores (Equatorial (Spanish) Guinea)
PWRM – Polaroid Workers Revolutionary Movement (South Africa)
RCC – Revolutionary Command Council (Egypt)
RCC-NS – Revolutionary Command Council for National Salvation (Sudan)
RCD – Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie
RCD – Rassemblement Constitutionnel Démocratique (Tunisia)
RDA – Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (Guinea)
RDA – Regroupement Démocratique Afar (Djibouti/French Somaliland)
RDC – Rassemblement Démocratique Centrafricain (Central African Republic)
RDP – Restruction and Development Programme (ANC – South Africa)
RDPC – Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais
RDR – Rassemblement Démocratique Républicain (Côte d’Ivoire)
Renamo – Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana (Mozambique National Resistance)
RND – Rallé National Démocratique (Algeria)
RPF – Rwandan Patriotic Front
RPP – Rassemblement Populaire pour le Progrès (Djibouti)
RPT – Rassemblement du Peuple Togolais
RSDG – Rassemblement Social Démocratique Gabonais
RUF – Revolutionary United Front (Sierra Leone)
SACC – South African Council of Churches
SACP – South African Communist Party
SACU – Southern African Customs Union
SADC – Southern African Development Community
SADCC – Southern African Development Coordination Conference
SADF – South African Defence Force
SADR –Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
SALF – Somali Abo Liberation Front
SAPs – Structural Adjustment Programmes
SASO – South African Students Organization
SCLA – Supreme Council for the Liberation of Angola
SDP – Seychelles Democratic Party
SLA – Somali Liberation Army
SLPP – Sierra Leone People’s Party
SMC – Supreme Military Council (Nigeria)
SNA – Somali National Alliance
SNM – Somali National Movement
SPLA – Sudan People’s Liberation Army
SPLM – Sudan People’s Liberation Movement
SPM – Somali Patriotic Movement
SPPF – Seychelles People’s Progressive Front
SPUP – Seychelles People’s United Party
SRSP – Somali Revolutionary Socialist Party