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p The problem of African unity is being dealt with by various representative public and pan-African organisations and centres of trade-union, women’s and youth movements, regional economic alliances, cultural and educational associations, etc. All efforts undertaken on the continent 69 to achieve unity are coordinated by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

p The Soviet attitude to the OAU was expounded in a message from Alexei Kosygin to the Chairman of the Third Conference of Independent African States. "The Soviet Union”, it said, "regards the idea of African unity with understanding.... The realisation of this idea which was conceived in the course of the African peoples’ struggle for liberation has the sympathy and support of all champions of peace and friendship among peoples.”  [69•13 

p This assessment of the significance of African unity has been fully confirmed in the past years. It has played a fruitful role in the solution of inter-African problems. The joint efforts of African states have thwarted many attempts of the imperialists to interfere in the affairs of the continent and of its individual countries, and made the assistance to the national liberation movement more effective.

p In spite of the inconsistency exhibited by some African governments, the political solidarity of African states mobilises forces for defence of the gains of the national liberation revolution. At the same time the principle of unity does not restrict initiatives to extend foreign relations because it does not involve the establishment of a closed system of international relations.

p The idea of African unity was born at the end of the 19th century. Slogans of solidarity reflecting the common lot of the African peoples, the affinity of their cultural traditions, and the identity of their socio-economic objectives became very popular in the period of the upsurge of the national liberation movement. The rise of a large number of sovereign states did not weaken the urge for unity of action, and this became an important requisite for a success in the struggle for complete liberation of the African continent. In order to cope with the difficulties of building a solid foundation for their political gains, African countries had to strengthen their anti-imperialist unity. It was obvious to the more farsighted African leaders that the process of the national liberation of the African 70 countries was not confined solely to fighting for the liquidation of direct foreign domination.

p The Soviet Union expressed its positive attitude to the unity of African peoples and highly assessed the OAU’s role in a message to the Chairman of the 10th Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the OAU members. "The creation of the Organisation of African Unity”, it noted, "is a major political achievement of the African peoples. Having united on a continental scale, the African countries for the first time in history received the opportunity jointly to resolve the problems confronting them.”  [70•14 

p Since its establishment the OAU has been attaching major importance to the struggle against colonialism and racialism. The absolute loyalty to the cause of complete liberation of the continent and the elimination of all forms of colonialism in Africa which is written down in the OAU Charter is implemented through the Liberation Committee on the continent proper, and also through the African group in the UN and other international organisations. As they assist the national liberation movements, work towards political and economic isolation of the colonial and racialist regimes, and bring ever greater pressure to bear upon the chief imperialist allies of South Africa, OAU memberstates rely on all-round help and support from the Soviet Union.

p This help has been highly acclaimed by representatives of national liberation movements and leaders of independent African states. In an article specially written for the Soviet weekly Za Rubezhom, the OAU Assistant Secretary-General P. Onu pointed out that unity of action of independent African states and countries of the socialist community was vital for the struggle against the evil forces of colonialism, neocolonialism and imperialism. This unity repeatedly manifested itself in the UN and other international forums. Onu went on to say that the Soviet policy of supporting the efforts of African peoples to shatter the yoke of colonialism and racialism merited all-round approval, that the USSR was wholly on the side of the liberation movements and that its assistance was of great importance.

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p The need for African unity is dictated not only by internal political factors, but also by many external factors, chiefly by the strategy and tactics of imperialism. African leaders are wide awake to the danger of neocolonialism which wants to trap Africa in a new net of financial and economic dependence. Now that Africa faces increasingly urgent social and economic problems, African leaders are especially worried about the economic expansion of neocolonialism and its strategy of interfering in Africa’s social processes in order to impose capitalist relations there. The methods employed by neocolonialism today can only be countered by collective efforts, and the struggle against it has become an aspect of OAU activity.

p At the contemporary stage of Africa’s development the principle of African unity reflects (perhaps more fully than any other principle of the policy of African states) the desire of the most diverse strata of African society o get rid of foreign domination.

p Indeed, it is the masses which have the biggest stake in promoting the anti-imperialist tendencies of African unity. It should also be noted that the growth of national self-awareness helps to broaden the social base of this movement. At the same time an increasing role in strengthening these tendencies is played by the growing cohesion of the consistent supporters of unity who are also the most active opponents of all forms of neocolonialism. / The noble tasks and the peaceful aims of the OAU have placed this organisation among the world’s leading anticolonial and anti-imperialist forces. Thanks to the unity and solidarity of the African states, Africa now plays a much more important part in world politics. When the 28th UN General Assembly discussed the report of UN SecretaryGeneral Kurt Waldheim on cooperation between the UN and the OAU, the Soviet representative mentioned the latter’s outstanding contribution to the struggle against colonialism, racialism and apartheid and for strengthening the independence of young African states. He spoke of the OAU’s contribution to the fight for peace and against imperialist aggression, and pointed out that the stands of the USSR and the OAU countries on key aspects of UN activity were either identical or very close.

The consolidation of the anti-imperialist unity of African peoples opens fresh realistic prospects for broadening 72 international interaction of African and socialist countries in the interests of all peace forces and all nations.

After the Portuguese colonies in Africa won independence, the number of socialist-oriented states in the OAU increased. This enhanced the progressive potential of the Organisation, and invigorated its policy towards the racialist regimes in Southern Africa. The Soviet Union is confident of the constructive nature of African unity and is prepared to support all positive steps of the OAU aimed at normalising relations between African states in keeping with the spirit of peaceful coexistence and prevention of conflicts.