Between the ‘Colonial’ and the ‘Post-Colonial’: Portugal and Humanitarian Engagements During the Nigeria-Biafra War (1967–1970)

Portugal's role in the Nigeria-Biafra War has so far been overlooked in the literature on the humanitarian crisis it generated. This article seeks to fill that gap by looking into the Portuguese colonial and authoritarian regime's multifaceted intervention in support of Biafra and the ways in which humanitarian engagements became crucial to Portuguese policy. In doing so, it focuses on the relations between Portuguese authorities, humanitarian organisations working on the ground and the Biafran elites, as well as on the debates generated by the establishment and consolidation of the S & atilde;o Tom & eacute; airlift and other relief projects. It discusses cooperation and independence crafting between the humanitarian and political realms, focusing on the debates emanating from the relevance of S & atilde;o Tom & eacute; to the crisis. It shows the variety of humanitarian initiatives taken by the Portuguese and how these were framed within a strategy to promote a more palatable image of the regime. Finally, it argues that the Portuguese case is relevant to rethink the history of the Biafran crisis and the 1960s dynamics of relief, as it brings back the role of states to these debates and frames these within a more nuanced conception of colonial/post-colonial chronologies.