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(iv)
Economie factorsIn the discussion of economic factors that unite Africa it was
explained that the same level of economic development characteristic
of African countries facilitates to a certain extent the development
of the countries as they follow a common aim and apply the same methods
of comprehensive economic planning.
However, this similar level of development is at the same time
a serious obstacle to economic unity. A country at a fairly low level
of national income per caput produces and exports mainly agricultural goods and ores. In exchange it imports manufactured products. The
different levels of development of some countries create at least tem¬
porarily a certain complementarity between countries with agricultural
and extractive industry production and those with manufacturing industry production. Trade between countries at a different level is thus easy and one could say natural. Just as with similar agricultural production,
the same level of development prevents to a great extent the specialize,ti
of the countries and mutual exchanges. At the same time it creates
and strengthens the links between particular African countries and. their
former colonial metropolies which can import African agricultural pro¬
ducts and ores and export manufactured goods to Africa.
For these reasons, when countries like the U.A.R. and Ghana push
forward their industrialization faster than other African countries, they create conditions for greater intra-African foreign trade. It
goes without saying that simultaneous industrialization of African
countries with planned specialization would promote intra -African trade equally well or even better.
As it is at present, the similar level of development is more of an obstacle than a help on the way to unity from the point of view
of intra-African trade.
To sum up: there are a number of factors which divide Africa economically rather than unite it. The great desert making
transport-more costly, similar competitive agricultural production and exports,
two great British and French zones with different cultures and spheres
of influence and vested interests, nepotism, and finally competitiveness
IDEP/ET/XV/292
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rather than complementarity of countries at the same economic level,
create serious obstacles to economic development, A1 these obstacles
can however be overcome simply by coopération and coordination of plans.
One may say that a vicious circle is formed here. There are obstacles to unity which can be eliminated by unity, but this vicious circle
can be broken by the introduction of international African cooperation.
IV. - AC5IEV1MMT3 IB 1ETRA-AFRICAN COOPERATION
From.the very moment of their independence the African States
understood very well the need for cooperation among themselves. As à result of the feeling of this need they created a number of different organizations; some of them were regional or political groupings; some of them temporary, some more lasting. There is no place here to describe
all of them. For this reason, only the most typical economic organiza¬
tions are presented here.
(i)
Organization of African UnityThe Organization of African Unity is an organization of a
political character. It is nevertheless the first African Organization uniting ail African States, and this is of special importance. It was created at a meeting of the Heads of African States and Governments
in Addis-Ababa on 25th May 1963. Its permanent secretariat is in.Addis-Ababa. Every year there is a meeting of the Heads of State. Besides
this there are meetings of Foreign Ministers of OAU which are called when they are necessary.
The organization has five specialized commissions:
(a)
Economic and Social Commission(b)
Educational and Cultural Commission(c)
Health, Sanitary and Nutritional Commission(d)
Defence Commission(e)
Scientific, Technical and Research Commission.During the nearly two years of existence the OAU has mg.de a
great effort to preserve African Unity and to solve a number of
difficult problems arising in Africa, for example the dispute
between'
Algeria and Morocco, that between Ethiopia and Somalia and that in Con¬
go
(Léo).
IDEP/ET/XV/292
Page 22
(ii)
United Nations OrganizationThe United Hâtions Economie and Social Council is responsible
under the authority of the General Assembly for promoting:
ï.. "Higher standard of living, full employment, and conditions of
■ economic and social progress and development5
"Solutions of international economic, social, health and related problems§
"International cultural and educational cooperation"and
"Universal respect for and observance of human rights and
fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, lan¬
guage and religion". (
The economic and Social Council deals with problems of general
concern to all or most member states. It soon found, however, that
many economic problems could be better dealt with on a regional basis,
and it decided to set up regional economic commissions.
(a)
One was set up for Europe, one for Latin America, one forAsia and the Par East, and finally in
1958
the Economic Commiseion-for Africa
(ECA)
was founded with headquarters in Addis Ababa. All independent African States are full members, while the countries whichare not independent and countries having dependencies in Africa may be associate members. ECA is, on the African regional basis, respon¬
sible for the same problems as EC030C for the whole world. At present all the member states meet once a year for the sessions. The three
last sessions in 1962,
1963
and 1964 were held in Addis Ababa, in Leopcldville and in Addis Ababa respectively.ECA is composed of a number of divisions dealing with major pro¬
blems such as Economic and Social Development and Planning, Industry, Transport and Natural Resources, Agriculture, Foreign Trade, Statistics,
African Survey.
(b)
There are four sub-regional commissions of ECA:For North Africa
(Algeria,
Lybia, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia andUAR)
in Tanger(Morocco).
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For West Africa
(Dahomey,
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Kali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, SierraLeone, Togo and Upper Volta)
in Niamey(Niger)»
For Central Africa,(Angola, Burundi, Cameroun, Central African Republic Chad, Congo
(Brazza),
Congo(Leo),
Gabon andRuanda) in Leopoldville (Congo).
For East Africa,
(Ethiopia,
Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius,Mozambique,
Rhodesia, Tanzania, Uganda,Zambia)
in Lusaka -(Zambia)
Besides these sub-regional organizations EGA decided to create
two agencies on different lines to promote the development of Africar,
(c)
The African Institute for Economic Development and Planningin Dakar. The purpose of this Institute is ;
- to train African planners
- to conduct research in economic and social problems in Africa
- to advise African governments on the problems of planning
economic development.
(d)
African Development Bank. The aim of this bank is to contribute, to the ooonomic development and social progress of itsmembers individually and jointly. To implement this aim, the Bank
will finance investment projects and programmes relating to economic
and social development in Africa, but specially those projects which
concern several members, make their economies complementary and expand
their foreign trade. The Bank should start its activities in
1965»
(iii)
General Cooperation Organizaiions.Besides these U.N. Organizations there are other general orga¬
nizations in Africa composed of a limited number of countries. The biggest of them iss
(a)
African and Malagasy Union forEconomic Cooperation(UAMCE)
It is composed of former French colonies ; Cameroun, Central
African Republic, Chad, Congo