What The Papers Say
What next in Southern Africa?
The Guardian (Nigeria)
On February 16, after months of complicated diplomatic manoeuvring. Angola signed a "non-aggression and good neighbourliness" pact with racist South Africa. A month later, Mozambique followed suit. These agreements provide that neither Angola nor Mozambique would allow the use of its territory for the launching of hostile actions against South Africa.In effect, the ANC, fighting the apartheid regime, and SWAPO, fighting for the liberation of Namibia from racist thraldom, can no longer take advantage of the contiguity of Angola and Mozambique to South Africa in their protracted liberation struggle. In return, the South African regime is supposed to stop any further aid to UNITA, its quislings fighting the MPLA government in Angola, and to Mozambican bandits who have wreaked havoc on Mozambique's economy.
Reactions to these developments have varied from consternation and a profound sense of disappointment in the ranks of the liberation movements, especially those far removed from the frontline. The real winner, apartheid South Africa, has predictably been thumping its chest at the success of its policy of aggression in the region. How long the South African laughter lasts depends on how soon and how effectively Africa fashions out a new strategy of liberation.
Undoubtedly, this new development constitutes reversal in the fight for the liberation of Southern Africa, which is one of the cardinal objectives of the OAU. It has arisen partly because of the limping contributions which member states have made to the overall struggle, thus leaving Angola and Mozambique, who have had no time to consolidate their hard-won independence, to bear the brunt of South Africa's aggression.
The success of South Africa's policies therefore represents Africa's collective failure.
We need to look at the whole liberation struggle afresh. First, a meeting of the frontline states of other key African states such as Nigeria, Libya and Ethiopia, should be con- vened speedily to study the full implications of these pacts, and to map out new strategies.
In this connection, Angola and Mozambique must be given all the help they need to decisively defeat the UNITA and Mozambican rebels who have been terrorising their populations and who have been key factors in South Africa's strategy.
It is most reassuring that both the ANC and SWAPO have said they will continue with the struggle. They will need an assurance of continuing support and solidarity from the other African states and from the progressive world. Rather than pious denunciations of apartheid South Africa, that support now needs to be expressed in more concrete terms.
It must also be recognised that South Africa has been able to pursue her aggressive policies because of an international environment which has deteriorated to Africa's disadvantage. This disadvantage follows from the hostility of the present occupant of the White House to currents of social justice and peace in the world. Because of America's powerful position, an important component of the liberation struggle must be an intensification of the propaganda war against racism and colonialism at every international forum and in the US itself. Advantage must be taken of the upsurge in black participation in the American electoral process to positively affect policies which any US administration would pursue that relate to Africa.
Sekou Toure
New Nigerian
Guinean President, Ahmed Sekou Toure, who died early this week was one of Africa's most outstanding leaders. In 1958 when some Franco-phone African leaders choose to retain neo-colonial ties with France, Sekou Toure opted for genuine independence. Feeling insulted by what he regarded as Mr. Toure's impudence President De Gaulle gave free reign to his gallic temper and took punitive measures against him. French public servants leaving Guinea removed spigots from water taps, burnt files and did everything imaginable to ensure a total breakdown of the new Republic of Guinea. Thanks to Sekou Toure's indomitable spirit and his power of mobilisation the new Republic did not collapse. And De Gaulle was embarrassed.The Democratic Party of Guinea Mr. Toure founded was based on sound progressive principles. But alas, Mr. Toure soon chose the path of dictatorship. From the mid-sixties, a major he became increasingly haunted by assassination complex. At every turn he saw only political enemies. Even a fly settling on his nose gave him cold sweat. Inevitably, he became increasingly repressive, incarcerating all those who either genuinely expressed differing views or those he thought were too ambitious. Many Guineans fled abroad. After the abortive Portuguese invasion of Guinea in 1973, the human rights situation further deteriorated. Prominent Guineans, including the first Secretary General of the OAU, Mr. Diallo Telli were clamped into jail and left to rot there.
In the last three to four years, however, Mr. Toure began to ease up a little on his methods. Still, virtually all the influential positions in government were occupied by his close blood relations. On the continental scene, Sekou Toure was a revolutionary who inspired and helped liberation movements, particularly in the former Portuguese occupied territories. But again, he could not keep that record clean. Towards the end of his long rule he abandoned the progressive side in Africa and chose to truck with the imperialist lackeys - the good boys of the west. Undoubtedly, he was anxious to improve on his public image and make new friends in the western world. What he would have regarded as the crown of his efforts in becoming an international statesman was hosting the OAU Summit scheduled for Conakry next May. As it turned out, he was not destined to be chairman of the OAU. That must make him feel sad in death.
As so often happens to a nation when its dictator dies. Guinea may face an immediate political uncertainty. Political in-fighting for the nation's plum job is, therefore, inevitable. But it should not be at the expense of Guinea. Despite his faults Mr. Toure's ambition to build a respectable nation was genuine
