1927 - 1986

PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN, International Anti-Apartheid leader

Olof Palme, more than any other international head of state, came to represent international solidarity with the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa. He pledged his nations support to the countrys liberation movement and held the international community accountable for their lack of action regarding the countrys racist regime.

Under his leadership Sweden convened a Swedish Peoples Parliament on Apartheid in 1986. There global leaders could support the international call to solidarity and African National Congress (ANC) leaders could formally address the gathered dignitaries despite being dubbed terrorists back home. Palme pledged both political and financial support and under his administration no other single source donated more to the ANC. He supported many of the developing worlds liberation movements and acted as a social reformer in his home nation and abroad, where he advocated for parliamentary democracy in combatting oppression.

Palme was assassinated while walking home from a cinema with his wife, a brutal death that shocked his country and the world and fuelled speculation about the involvement of South Africas security police. His death to this day remains an unsolved mystery.

Did You Know?

More than 10,000 people were questioned and 134 claimed responsibility for the murder of Olof Palme but no verifiable leads to his death were forthcoming.