3. - usaid

invasion of Nigeria1 s Md-West State in August 1967. Biafra accused Nigeria
of genocide. In response, the Fa invited a team of observers fIwn Sweden,
Poland, United Kingdom, and Canada, as well as the UN and the OAU, to
investigate the charge. The teams reported fillding no evidence of genocide
in the military operations.
Reaction by WJ, OAU, Foreip Governments to Secession and Civil War
United Nations
The UN Secretary General sent a personal representative to Nigeria in
August of 1968, who served as an observer in FMG Territory. The Nigerian
war and humanitarian relief were not placed on the agenda of the General
Assembly, but the Secretary General strongly urged that a peaceful settlement
be sought through the Organization of mican Unity. UNICEF was active
in providing food and medical supplies and air transport to both sides.
FA0 authorized an emergency food allocation.
Organization of Af'rican Unity
The general position and attitude of the Organization of African Unity is
to oppose any act of secession within an African country. In September of
1967, the Heads of State of the OAU set up a Consultative Cornnittee composed
of Ethiopia, Ghana, Congo (K), Niger, the Cameroon, and Liberia with a
mandate to try to resolve the conf'lict within the framework of one Nigeria.
This decision by the OAU was accepted by the Federal Government, and the
Camittee met in Lagos in November. At that time General Ankrah of Ghana
was delegated to try to bring the two sides together. He was unsuccessful,
and for some time the OAU Camittee was inactive despite a nmber of efforts
to stimulate new initiatives. During the course of these negotiations at
Wala, Niamey, Addis Ababa, and Monrovia, the FMG made a nunber of proposals
aimed at assuring the Ibos of their security witWn a united Nigeria.
It proposed an international observer force to participate in overseeing
the reintegration of the Ibos into Nigeria; a qualified amnesty; an Ibo
police force to undertake a large part of the security responsibility in
the Ibo heartland; non-discriminatory recWtment of Ibos into the Nigerian
army and Federal civil service; and an Ibo Military Governor for the Ib
populated East Central State with Ibo members on his Executive Council.
These proposals were not acceptable to Biafra, which continued to insist
that only through recognition of its sovereignty could the survival of its
people be assured. While generally opposed to acceptance of an independent
BiafYa, the OAU continues to seek a solution that might be acceptable to
both sides.
Af'rican Countries Sm~ortirw Biafra
Of the forty members of the OAU, four, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and
Zambia, recognize Biafran independence.