Spiritual Vitality

"...PERHAPS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE
individual events of these months has been the demonstrated vitality of the Spirit of Africa, a vitality which has permeated every aspect of intra?African relations and has, in the short space of fourteen months, produced a basic and fundamental change in the African scene. During the past year, We paid State visits to nearly a dozen African nations and in the views which We exchanged with other African leaders We encountered a sense of purpose, of dedication, of vision, which We are persuaded, found its genesis in the common acceptance of the ideal of African unity, in the common response to the unique challenge which modern Africa presents to each of us, in the common crusade in which we are each enlisted...

... It is in this, We believe, that the real triumph of Africa lies today. Economic development may lag; difficulties may be
encountered in working out unanimously acceptable programmes and policies; temporary dissentions may interfere with harmonious relations between individual States. But so long as the Spirit of Africa prevails and stirs within us, so long as we continue to think and work and act within the African context which we have created, imbued by the African atmosphere which sorrounds and pervades us, We are confident that the goals We seek shall be attained.

What We Seek For Africa
"What do we seek for Africa? We seek to consolidate and guarantee our own precious liberty as independent nations. We seek freedom for our still dependent brothers. We seek Africa's economic growth and development, the betterment of the way of life of Africans and all men. We seek the closest collaboration with those others? Asians, Europeans, North and South Americans? who share our desires and who are willing to co?operate with us. We seek that self?sufficiency which will enable us to play our rightful role in international affairs and live in full harmony with all men. We seek to make our voices heard and our views heeded on the major problems confronting the world today.

Our quest, above all else, is to assure to Africa and to each African State the fullest and most complete measure of freedomfreedom from all remnants of colonialism; freedom from neo?colonialism, whatever form it may take; freedom from political and military threat; freedom from aggression; freedom from interference by others in our internal affairs; freedom from economic domination; freedom from the danger of nuclear destruction.
This is easy to state; how infinitely more difficult it is to achieve...

Neo Colonialism And Non Alignment
"...Neo?Colonialism today takes two forms: economic and political. We recognize that economic dominance is not only often the more difficult to eliminate, but often serves as the entering wedge for political domination. We further recognize that, given the history of our continent, and the conditions under which we came to freedom, it is not unusual that, despite our best efforts, the economic independence which we seek is long and difficult in coming. Long?established patterns of trade are not easily or quickly re?oriented. Let us not delude ourselves in thinking that these facts are of no significance for the future of Africa. But let us, at the same time, toil with all our strength to alter them.

When we consider political neocolonialism, our desires although perhaps no less difficult of attainment, are at least easier of articulation. We seek to avoid a rigid and inflexible posture which prejudices our position on the major issues before the world. We seek to avoid alignment, to achieve true non?alignment. Our late good friend, H.E. Prime Minister Nehru of India, put it thus: "The only camp we should like to be in is the camp ofpeace and goodwill." At Belgrade, in September of 1961, we stated that the essence of non?alignment was to be impartial, impartial to judge actions and policies objectively, as we see them either contributing to or detracting from the resolution of the world's problems, the preservation of peace and the improvement of the general level of man's living conditions. Those who righteously denounce one side on every major problem or issue, while reserving nothing but praise for the other cannot claim to be non?aligned. We may from one day to the next find ourselves now opposing, now supporting. now voting against, first the East, next the West. It is the worth of the policies themselves, We say, and not their source or sponsor, which determines the position of one who is truly non?aligned.

"...What we seek to create is flexible, not inflexible; a moral force to be used for world peace, for economic development, for the benefit of humanity. We cannot impose our views by force.. We have only the power of moral persuasion. This is our strength, and a great strength if we will but use it....

What must we do to transform our aspirations into reality, to overcome the dangers to which we have referred, to advance to the destiny we have marked out for ourselves: We have spoken in the past of some of the concrete measures to be taken. The creation of a permanent machinery to settle intra?African disputes is one such. We must take up where the colonialists left off in transforming the social and economic patterns of our nations. In order to decrease our economic dependence on the developed nations, trade among Africa's nations must be expanded. Transportation and communication fascilities among us must be expanded and improved. A unified African Development Programme which utilizes to the fullest the individual resources of the individual African States must be prepared and implemented. Techniques must be found and employed for the most efficient and economic use of our resources and financial means. In all of this, we can profit from the example of both the East and West...

"...We would however add these last requirements! What is needed, above all is patience which accepts delays while striving to overcome them and tolerance which comprehends our weaknesses, our selfish ambitions, and our narrow self?interest, while seeking to strengthen our will and stiffen our moral fibre and devotion to principle and international morality: which can alone arm and shield and support us in the daily strife which is our fate as we toil to better the lot of Africa and all men everywhere. Unless we find the requisite courage and fixity of purpose to rise above our petty selves; we shall be broken on the wheel of our own invention, slaves of our own despotism. The Spirit of Africa, which sorrounds our deliberations here, is deserving of the greatness which Africa demands of it. Let us prove ourselves worthy of it."