African Opinion - Freedom Archives

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AFRICA SUMMIT CONFERENCE REPORTS
The Assembly of the Organization
of African Unity (OAU) convened
its Fifth Ordinary Session in Algiers,
capital of Algeria, September
13th, 1968 and adopted two resolutions.
The first reaffirming stand taken
at the Fourth Session held in Kinshasa,
Kongo in September, 1967 on
the fractricidal war in Nigeria .
That Session delegated five members-the
majority of which believed
to be satelites, not by choice but by
necessity-to go to Nigeria and conduct
fraternal palava, calm the tempers
and bring the belligerents to
their senses at the very moment when
a foreign military alliance sealed its
existence at Pretoria, South Africa,
and begun military operation to take
control of the heart of Africa .
Strangely enough the "Consultative
Committee" went to Nigeria and
consulted with the Lagos Government
and ignored the secessionists in Biafra.
That strange action increased
the tension and unfortunately created
apprehension among some independent
states that presumably caused
them to give recognition to Biafrans,
without malice towards the OAU.
Wiggling in Face of Reality
Nevertheless the Assembly, expresses
concern over the resulting
sufferings and appealed to the Biafrans
to surrender and restore peace
and unity to Nigeria. This having
been accomplished, it recommended
that the Federal State declare a general
amnesty in co-operation with the
(OAU) to ensure physical security
of all until mutual confidence is restored
.
The OAU being young and believed
burdened by indirect imperialists
forces and not yet able to "federalize"
or continentalize the waring
forces in that state understandingly
is painfully concerned.
The second Resolution : after hearing
the case of the "Middle East" ;
re-affirmed its support for the United
Arab Republic and called for the
withdrawal of foreign troops from all
Arab territories occupied since June
5, 1967 . It backs the United Nation's
Security Council Resolution
of November 22nd, 1967 and calls
on all African States to press for its
implimentation .
The Council of Ministers, of the
Organization of African Unity, meeting
in its eleventh Ordinary Session
in Algiers, Algeria, from the 4th to
12th of September, 1968, adopted the
following resolutions :
The Council is aware of the gravity
and importance of the problem
of refugees in Africa and desirous
of achieving an African solution to
this problem . It recognizes the essentially
humanitarian nature of the
problem and anxious to adopt measures
to improve the living conditions
of the refugees and to help them
lead a normal life, with the assistance
of others . And it expresses
its gratitude to the specialized agencies
and humanitarian organizations
which are extending their generous
aid to refugees in Africa .
Resolution On Namibia
(South West Africa)
1) The Council of Ministers again
strongly reaffirms the right of the
people of Namibia to freedom and
independence in conformity with the
Charter of the Organization of African
Unity and the U. N. Charter.
2) It . pledges again its total and
unconditional support to the people
of Namibia in their legitimate
struggle .
3) It strongly condemns the South
African regime for its persistent refusal
to implement the U. N. resolution
terminating its mandate over
Namibia and for its continued defiance
of world public opinion by
forcing Apartheid on Namibia, under
U. N. responsibility .
5-6) It calls on the U. N. Security
Council once again to see to it that
the U. N. mandate is executed and
further demanded Chapter VII of
the Charter be applied .
(Chapter VII calls for the use of
force ultimately to bring the European
gangsters to their senses .)
7-8) The Ministers call upon all
states dedicated to peace, freedom
and the right to live without fear
and molestation to co-operate with
the OAU and the "U . N. Council for
Namibia" and further call upon the
international community to render
all moral and material assistance directly
through the OAU or to those
who are struggling in Namibia .
Territories Under Portuguese
Domination
The Ministers noting the reports
of the Administrative Secretary-
General of the Liberation Committee
and of the "Committee of Five" on
Angola and recalling the relevent
resolution by the Assembly and the
Ministers, welcomes the progress
achieved by African Nationalists in
their legitimate liberation struggle.
It deplores the assistance of all
kinds which Portuguese receives
from its NATO (North Atlantic
Treaty Organization) allies and from
its economic and financial partners .
Gravely concerned at the threats
and acts of aggression constantly
perpetrated by Portugal against the
African States adjacent to the territories
under its domination, Africans
generally are now convinced
that Portuguese crimes against Africans
cannot be terminated by wishful
thinking.
The Ministers therefore reaffirm
the Africans' rights of self-preservation
to battle against Portugal's war
of genocide being waged on African
soil in violation of the U. N. Charter.
Furthermore, resorting to the use of
napalm bombs, poison gases and
other United Nations' prohibited
weapons Portugal's fanatical action
constitutes a threat to international
peace and security.
Extending Provocation Seen
The Council condemns Portugal's
criminal acts of aggression and provocation
against African States bordering
foreign occupied territories,
in violation of U. N. resolutions.
And it further vigorously condemns
NATO for its military assistance and
request the NATO nations to stop
backing Portugal's war of genocide
in Africa .
While condemning the unholy al
liance between Portugal and the rac-
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AFRICAN OPINION