SESSIONS OF THE TWO PREVIOUS HEADS OF STATE MEETINGS, THE CONCILIATION COMMISSION AND OF THE O.C.A.M. AND LAGOS MEETINGS. IT ALSO INCLUDES SOME OF THE LEADING PERSONALITIES OF THE O.A.U.




Initials



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Background: THE ORGANISATION OF AFRICAN UNITY IS DUE TO HOLD ITS THIRD MEETING OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT IN ACCRA, CAPITAL OF GHANA, ON OCTOBER 21ST. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF THE MEMBER STATES ARE DUE TO HOLD A PRELIMINARY MEETING ON OCTOBER 15TH.

THE ORGANISATION WAS FORMED IN 1963, WHEN THE CHARTER WAS SIGNED BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THIRTY COUNTRIES AT THE FIRST CONFERENCE IN ADDIS ABABA. AMONG ITS OBJECTS, AS LAID DOWN BY THE CHARTER, ARE CO-OPERATION IN DEFENCE, ECONOMIC, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL MATTERS, AND ALSO THE ELIMINATION OF COLONIALISM FROM AFRICA.

FOR THIS PURPOSE, THE FIRST CONFERENCE DECIDED TO SET UP WHAT IT CALLED A "LIBERATION COMMITTEE". IT ALSO CALLED ON MEMBER STATES TO BREAK OFF DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC RELATIONS WITH SOUTH AFRICA.

THE NEXT SESSION CALLED FOR A BOYCOTT OF PORTUGAL. THIS MEETING HAS HELD IN CAIRO IN JULY 1964. NO REPRESENTATIVE FROM CONGO (LEOPOLDVILLE) ATTENDED THIS MEETING, BECAUSE THE NEW PRIME MINISTER, MR. TSHOMBE, WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO SOME MEMBERS. A SPECIAL SESSION TWO MONTHS LATER SET UP AN O.A.U. CONCILIATION COMMISSION TO TRY TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THE CONGOLESE GOVERNMENT'S DISPUTE WITH ITS INTERNAL RIVALS AND ALSO WITH OTHER AFRICAN STATES WHICH, MR. TSHOMBE ALLEGED, WERE SUPPORTING THESE RIVALS. THE WHOLE CONGO PROBLEM HAS SINCE BEEN REFERRED BACK AGAIN TO THE FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE AT ACCRA.

IN MAY OF THIS YEAR, A MEETING OF THE FRENCH-SPEAKING AFRICAN STATES (O.C.A.M.) DECIDED NOT TO ATTEND THE ACCRA MEETING, BECAUSE FOUR THESE STATES ASSERTED THAT GHANA WAS BACKING SUBVERSION IN THEIR COUNTRIES. BUT A SPECIAL MEETING OF O.A.U. MINISTERS IN LAGOS IN JUNE URGED ALL MEMBER COUNTRIES TO ATTEND. SOME OF THE O.C.A.M. LEADERS HAVE NOT ANNOUNCED WHETHER THEY WILL IN FACT GO TO ACCRA.