Umkhonto

Umkhonto we Sizwe, commonly known as Umkhonto or MK, was the armed wing of the African National Congress (ANC) formed in December 1961 to wage armed resistance against the apartheid state in South Africa. MK adopted sabotage and guerrilla tactics rather than conventional warfare, with the aim of pressuring the government toward multiracial democracy. Its early leadership came from ANC members including Nelson Mandela; over time, it developed a military command structure headed by figures such as Joe Slovo and Chris Hani.

MK operated from bases inside South Africa and from exile in several African countries. Training camps were established in places such as Algeria and Tanzania, where fighters learned guerrilla warfare, weapons handling, and operational security. The organization carried out a range of operations against military, economic and communications targets, focusing on sabotage to avoid mass casualties. Public recognition of MK's existence emerged during the Rivonia Trial of 1963–1964, which led to the imprisonment of several leaders, including Mandela.

During the 1980s and early 1990s, MK remained a central part of the anti-apartheid movement, coordinating with other groups and contributing to international pressure on the apartheid regime. Following negotiations to end apartheid, MK was dissolved as a separate entity and its members were integrated into the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission documented MK activities and related human rights abuses, while some MK participants received amnesty for politically motivated acts.