Suchergebnisse

The First Conference of Independent African States, attended by representatives of the independent states of western and northern Africa (Ethiopia, Ghana, Liberia, Libya, Morocco, the Sudan, Tunisia, and the United Arab Republic), was held in Accra, Ghana, from April 15 to 22, 1958. The purpose of the conference was: 1) to discuss problems of common interest; 2) to formulate and coordinate methods aimed at accelerating mutual understanding; 3) to consider means of safeguarding the independence and sovereignty of participating countries and of assisting dependent African territories in their efforts toward the attainment of self-government; and 4) to plan cultural exchanges and mutual assistance schemes.

The new African states show greater pol'al stability than older 'new states' in parallel periods. In comparative perspective, this judgment seems sound if one avoids confusing pol'al stability with stagnation, & if one recognizes the dependence of stability, in its widest sense, on the development of pol. Among African leaders, this recognition is widespread. A closer comparative analysis, even of (1) establishment of one-party systems, (2) sporadic violence, including pol'al assassination, (3) mutinies & coups, & (4) intertribal violence, can be interpreted as pointing in the direction of pol'al stability. The development of continental pol in Africa also suggests that recognition of the primacy of pol will lead to optimal pol'al stability. AA.

The new African states, as a group, show greater political stability than older "new states" in parallel periods. In comparative perspective, this judgment seems sound if one avoids confusing political stability with stagnation, and if one recognizes the dependence of stability, in its widest sense, upon the development of politics. Among African leaders, this rec ognition is widespread. A closer comparative analysis, even of (1) establishment of one-party systems, (2) sporadic violence, including political assassination, (3) mutinies and coups, and (4) intertribal violence, can be interpreted as pointing in the direction of political stability. The development of continen tal politics in Africa also suggests that recognition of the pri macy of politics will lead to optimal political stability.

Proceedings of the Summit Conference of Independent African States, Volume 1 Section II ; Speeches of the Summit Conference and list of officers, delegations and observers ; Proceedings of the Summit Conference of Independent African States: Speeches of the Summit Conference, List of Delegations, List of Observers and messages received from heads of State and Government

Since the Geneva Conventions were signed on August 12, 1949, the International Committee of the Red Cross has endeavoured to make these texts universal since they constitute the basis of humanitarian law. Recently, it has put the emphasis on their dissemination in Africa because, in the critical phase which this continent is going through, it seems particularly desirable that all African states feel themselves bound by these treaties.

At a meeting in Accra, which took place from April 27 to 29, 1961, Presidents Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Sékou Touré of Guinea, and Modibo Keita of Mali signed a charter formally establishing a tripartite Union of African States. The charter came into effect upon its simultaneous publication on July 1 in the capitals of Ghana, Guinea, and Mali after the three heads of state had met at Bamako, Mali, on June 26 in order to examine the extent to which decisions reached at their April meeting in Accra had been implemented. The drafting of the charter evolved out of a decision announced by the three government leaders at Conakry, Guinea, on December 24, 1960, envisioning common diplomatic representation and the creation of committees to draw up arrangements for harmonizing economic and monetary policies.

Popular att's to the armed forces in Africa are still affected by historical factors, ie, recollections of punitive expeditions. ES is, however, likely to determine these att's in future: certainly there is no problem over recruitment. This is organized sometimes by educ'al qualifications or on the basis of tribal balance, according to each country's need. The former emphasis on illiterate recruits from `martial' tribes could cause trouble. The officer corps are the keys to stability. Africanization has been gradual, slow, & in some cases negligible. Military elites in new states are more important in their relationship to the leadership elites as a whole, than in the case of developed countries. They can be expected to be professionally mobile, acting in diplomatic & other official roles, both before & after age retirement from the service. Modified AA.