Looking Back at South Africa: Zine Is Undeliverable

AMERICA'S LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA

$4 (REPORT MAY-JUNE 1984

Mack America md U.S. Urica Policy

NCLUDES ARTICLES BY sse Jackson ndrew Young ulian Dixon ,eon Sullivan 'om Bradley

ilSQ IN THIS ISSUE:

Interview with Nigerian Foreign Minister Gambari Mozambique's Pact with South Africa CEUIA MELILLA

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A Publication of the (REPORT African-American Institute

The Black America and Africa African-American Institute The United States and Africa Chairman Under a Jackson Administration Randolph Nugent By the Reverend Jesse Jackson President Black America and Africa Donald B. Easum The U.S. Economy and African Development Publisher By Andrew Young Frank E. Ferrari Biack America r-m . and l.S. EJ'N-'I Editor Afrif« Polio Black America and Africa Margaret A. Novicki The Congressional Black Caucus and U.S. Policy in Souihern Africa 12 Assistant Editor Stb* ^ Michael Maren By Julian C. Dixon Editorial Assistant Interview Jason Zweig Tom Bradley, Mayor of Los Angeles 17 Editorial Secretary Interviewed by Margaret A. Novicki Alana Lee Mozambique's Peace Interns with South Africa Ronald Adelman The Economics of Desperation 19 George N. Archer By Joanmarie Kalter Laurie S. Newman Carol Watson Mozambique-South Africa The Nkomati Accords 24 Circulation, Subscriptions, Ad- By Jose Luis Cabaqo vertising, Management, and Pro- duction Services by Transaction Document Periodicals Consortium. IN THIS ISSUE The People's Platform 25 Editors In light of the role the Reverend Jesse Jack- Update 27 Alex Fundock III son's campaign for the Democratic presidential Editor: Michael Maren George P. Bassett nomination has played in raising black political consciousness and translating it into a powerlul Assistant Editor: Jason Zweig Art force in American politics, this issue of Africa Researcher: Stephen Adkisson Dena Leiter Report highlights black Americans' views of cur- Interview Scott E. Pringle rent U.S. policy in Africa. The Reverend JacK- son explains the Africa policies that would be Ibrahim A. Gambari pursued under his presidency and critiques Minister of External Affairs, Nigeria 44 Alnca Report (ISSN 0001-9036), a those currently being followed. We also exam- Interviewed by Margaret A. Novicki nonpartisan magazine of African ine issues in U.S.-Africa relations, ranging from affairs, is published bimonthly m trade and aid to corporate responsibility in Black America and Africa January-February, March-April, South Africa, in articles by Andrew Young, May-June. July-August, Septem- mayor of Atlanta: Congressman Julian Dixon. The Sullivan Principles and ber-October, and November-De- chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; Change in South Africa 48 cember, and is scheduled to appear at the beginning of each date and the Reverend Leon Sullivan, author of the By the Reverend Leon H. Sullivan period at 833 United Nations Sullivan Principles; and in an interview with Tom Plaza, NewYork.N.Y. 10017 Ed- Bradley, mayor of Los Angeles. Black America and Africa itorial correspondence and letters In two related slories, Louis Martin analyzes What Role for the Black Press? 51 \o the Publisher should be sent to the problems faced by the U.S. black press in this address. Correspondence By Louis E- Martin regarding subscriptions, distribu- expanding coverage of African issues, and Af- tion, advertising, and other busi- rica Report assistant editor Michael Maren as- The Africa Lobby ness matters should be sent to sesses the efforts of lobby groups seeking to in- Building a Constituency Transaction Periodicals Consor- fluence the formulation of policy toward the con- tium, Dept, 8010, Rutgers Uni- tinent. Milfred Fierce looks back at the 1981 re- Against Apartheid 55 versily, New Brunswick. New Jer- port South Africa: Time Running Out in light of By Michael Maren sey 08903. Telephone: (2011 the Reagan administrations southern Africa pot- 932-2280. Subscription rales: 'n- Sudan dividuals: USA, $21. Canada icies. $27, air rate overseas $45. Insti- We also provide coverage of three countries Nimeiry Under Siege 60 tutions: U.S.A. S28, Canada £34. recently in the news. Africa Report editor Mar- By Rick Wells air rate overseas $52. Second- garet A. Novicki interviews Nigerian Minister of class postage paid at New York, External Relations Ibrahim Gambari on the for- Special Review NY. and at additional mailing of- eign policies of the new government. In two fices, POSTMASTER if this maga- Looking Back at South Africa: zine is undeliverable. please send reports on Mozambique. Joanmane Kalter ana- Time Running Out 63 notice io Alnca Report. Transac- lyzes the economic difficulties that led to Ma- By Milfred C. Fierce tion Periodicals Consortium (ad- puto's nonaggression pact with South Africa, dress above). Telephones: Pub- and Mozambican Minister of Information Jose lisher (212) 949-5717: Editor Luis Cabaco explains his government s position {21?i 949-5731. Copyright (c on the accord. And from Khartoum, Rick Wells 1984 by the African-American In- Photo Credit stitute, Inc. examines the latest threats to the governmenl of The cover photograph of the Reverend Jesse Jackson campaign- Sudanese President Nimeiry. ing in New York was taken by Tannenbaum/Sygma. BLACK AMERICA AND AFRICA

The United States and Africa Under a Jackson Administration

BY THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON

ow and in the decades ahead, the select countries that have particular ting serious racial blunders made it nec- N United States in particular will be cold war significance for the U.S. The essary for the U.S. to steer clear of ac- called upon to respond to the triple Reagan approach is a failure and is tive involvement in independent Af- crises of world food, energy, and re- counter to U.S. national interests rica. source shortages. One of the primary throughout the continent of Africa. Africa is important to American regions involved will be Africa, both as Since decolonization of the African interests for a range of reasons, not least a donor, via its reserves in natural re- continent in the late 1950s, the Ameri- of which is its riches in strategic miner- sources and mineral wealth, and as a re- can public has been given occasional als and its security importance. The cipient suffering under these interna- media coverage of events in Africa. double standards of policy behavior tional shortages. For all the conscious- Though the Eisenhower and the Ken- towards Africa, however, must be re- ness of world economic inequalities, nedy administrations tried to build versed to assure U.S. access, and the and for all the world's efforts to seek bridges between the United States and inconsistency between what we claim remedies to these conditions, the gap these newly independent states through and defend domestically and what we between the rich and poor nations — a variety of means, the fact remains that do in Africa deserves and will receive specifically African nations — is Africa has remained on the back-burner immediate attention. Let me identify widening on a progressive scale. of U.S. foreign policy formulation. some of the key issues and areas where It is in the national interest of the Three reasons can be offered briefly American national interests are critical United States to reduce the widening as explanations for the low priority and demand responsible action. discrepancy that divides the northern given to African issues in U.S. foreign ECONOMIC PROBLEMS OF AFRICA and southern tiers of nations. The na- policy formulation. First and foremost tional interest of the U.S. demands is the priority given to the strategic and The economic situation in Africa is creative diplomacy geared to a devel- geopolitical factors aimed at containing very bleak. The major problems faced opment foreign policy approach to- communism in the international sys- by African nations are inflation, de- wards the African continent. My ad- tem. The second reason for the low pleted foreign exchange reserves, ministration will follow this policy ap- priority given was that most African negative terms of trade, and, for the proach because it is right and the pri- leaders embraced a nonaligned policy vast majority of them, serious drought mary emphasis is on the entire conti- posture in the 1960s which, to a certain and hunger. Because of the gravity of nent. Unlike this policy proposal, how- degree, allayed the fears of many U.S. the situation, African governments ever, the present Reagan policy of policymakers who had thought that the have been very keen about foreign aid "constructive engagement" is keyed Soviets were going to seize Africa from from industrialized nations and loans almost totally to South Africa and to Western control. The third reason was tor development from the World Bank the racial calculations of U.S. policy- and other such donor agencies. Under- makers. Because of the intensity and development is the root cause of inter- The Reverend Jesse Jackson is a candi- activity of the civil rights movement, nal and regional conflicts in Africa, not date (or the Democratic party's presiden- many policymakers felt that America's ideology. Yet instead of offering Africa tial nomination. greater involvement in African affairs support for its development, we pres- and the possibility of the U.S. commit- ently allocate the bulk of our modest

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 African aid program to military assis- Second, another current problem of bique about 100,000 deaths have been tance packages. Sudan, for example, African countries is the uncertainty of reported — let alone the unreported will receive $271 million for fiscal year the How of concessional aid. The Rea- ones. UN agencies have responded to 1985 and 75 percent of it is for military gan administration's policy of reducing this human tragedy and their estimates assistance; Somalia's fiscal year 1985 American contributions, for example, suggest that 3.3 million metric tons of allocation of $120 million provides 63 to the International Development Asso- food are needed to meet the emergen- percent lor military assistance. The re- ciation (IDA), and even to the United cies. Presently, only 1.7 million tons of maining percentages, 25 percent and 37 Nations Educational. Scientific, and food have been received or pledged. percent for Sudan and Somalia, respec- Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is The U.S., whose past record was tively, are available potentially for eco- harmful to ourown, as well as African, highly commendable, has contributed nomic growth and development. It is unfortunate that too often without political disputes, which give rise at least to enlarged military assistance, Ameri- can foreign aid allocations to Africa would be smaller than they are at present even when such allocations include development assistance, food aid (PL- 480), and Economic Support Funds. Israel alone receives more U.S. foreign aid than the entire sub-Saharan continent of Africa. The following factors are key economic issues that will receive serious exploration and analysis by American policymakers under my administration. First, Zimbabwe's land distribution program is critical in the sense that its implementation has serious implica- tions for the future stability of the country and, by extension, the region. Since the national liberation movement Rev. Jesse Jackson at a London press conference with Congressman Ronald selected the land question as one of the Dell ums (left) and ANC president Oliver Tambo: Most African leaders perceive the bones of contention against the former U.S. as an active partner in maintaining apartheid Ian Smith regime, it would be dangerous and unwise for the issue to remain unresolved. The American government helped in the resolution of this bloody interests. Africa has relied heavily on only 187,000 metric tons, about 11 per- conflict and we undertook a responsi- IDA funding to implement many of its cent of the estimated need (valued at bility to provide economic support to development programs. The critical $73 million) for the affected nations. In facilitate the peaceful implementation problem now is the uncertainty of rais- February 1984 the Reagan administra- of the independence agreement. The ing the $16 billion that the World Bank tion requested a $90 million supple- U.S. has tailed to keep its word. projected for the next three-year inter- ment in emergency food aid for Africa. The Reagan administration has val. The Reagan administration has not This is a meager sum when the U.S. committed $75 million recently in Eco- only refused to accept the $16 billion historically has provided about 50 per- nomic Support Funds for fiscal year proposal, but it has rejected a com- cent of the emergency food aid in simi- 1984. But because the sovereign gov- promise of $12 billion suggested by the lar cases. Had this historical pattern ernment of Zimbabwe decided to op- World Bank. As a result of this attitude. been applied in this crisis, our effort pose the UN censure of the Soviets sub-Saharan Africa alone will lose would be some 800,000 metric tons of regarding the Korean Air Lines episode nearly $500 million annually in ur- food, or about $320 million, a mean- and to condemn the U.S. intervention gently needed IDA concessional loans. ingful contribution to break the cycle of later into Grenada, this allocation was Third, the drought situation is pain and despair. cut by almost one-half. The 1985 fiscal another critical problem. More than The picture is not presently very allocation was slashed even further to 150 million people in at least 22 African reassuring, because Reagan has re- $15 million. The Reagan policy ap- countries are now threatened with death quested a total food aid level of only proach was to chastise the Zimbab- by starvation. Compared to the African $232 million for fiscal year 1985. weans for not following our lead and to famine of 1973-74, which claimed Statistically, such an appropriation reduce our support to teach them a les- 2.000 to 3,000 lives, this one is even translates into an annual per capita U.S. son — Reagan's cowboy adventurism. more devastating. Already in Mozam- food aid contribution of $1.50 to those

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 individual Africans most severely cations for agricultural policy, and it second is the Horn of Africa. What stricken by drought and starvation. has a negative impact on the activities these two crisis areas share is the exis- Fourth, the continent of Africa is also of such generally self-sufficient groups tence of political problems that owe facing a serious refugee problem. Ac- as the nomads, who have ferried their their origins principally to the colonial cording to UN figures, Africa has about herds for ages across the continent. A conquest of the continent. Or, there is a one-half of all the world's refugees. decline in the acreage of grazing lands feud that is magnified into dangerous This is due to the political and military and agricultural plots is exacerbated by bloodletting by the contesting forces. In turmoil in the Horn of Africa, the con- a serious threat from an urban popula- Chad, the northerners originally flict in Chad, the desert war in the tion explosion. My administration will claimed to have been discriminated Western Sahara, the ongoing liberation maintain U.S. support to the Interna- against by French colonialism and later struggles in southern Africa, and the tional Fund for Agricultural Develop- by the postcolonial regime. Frolinat's political and military difficulties in a ment (IFAD), for example, to assist, stance has been altered radically by the number of African countries. Insuffi- with other nations, in confronting this shifting political sands of Chad and the cient attention, however, is paid to this great crisis in Africa. Reagan currently changing alignments of the combat- monumental problem by present U.S. is considering withdrawing U.S. con- ants. What has altered this power strug- policy. 1 believe the refugee and eco- tributions from IFAD. Such a consid- gle was the intrusion of external forces. nomic development problems are far eration in light of existing reality dem- Since 197S, when the Felix Malloum more representative of destabilizing onstrates that our simplistic preoccupa- regime faltered after a fatal blow from factors than the threat of military ag- tion with ideology continues to shape the opposition, Chad has known no gression. Our program will encourage U.S. foreign policy and provide the peace, order, or stability. negotiations between Ethiopia and major litmus test by which we identify Today, Chad is divided into two Somalia, for example, aimed specifi- ourfriends, allocate ouraid, deploy our spheres of influence, namely the His- cally at settling the Ogaden dispute, military, and tailor our political sene Habre faction, supported by providing economic and technical as- rhetoric. France, the United States, Egypt, sistance to the region, and increasing Sudan, and Zaire, and the Goukouni the opportunity tor the refugees them- SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA ABOVE THE Woddeye faction, strongly backed by ZAMBEZI RIVER selves to return to a more adequate Libya. Each faction is pressing its livelihood. This area embraces all of the coun- claims at the Organization of African Fifth, the last economically related tries below the Sahara but above the Unity (OAU), and the question of Chad problem included here that deserves southern Africa region. Within this part has enlarged itself to become a divisive some immediate attention is the de- of the continent, two conflicts are pre- issue at the UN. forestation and soil erosion problems of sently raging and each poses an indirect Besides Chad, there is the more too many African countries. The pat- threat to U.S. national interests. The complex and serious problem of the tern of deforestation has serious impli- first crisis is the Chadian conflict. The Horn of Africa (which includes Eritrea). In this part of Africa, the problem assumes the character of an interstate dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia. What complicates matters here is that the Ethiopians feel that Somalia wishes to take their land by force. This policy, in Ethiopia's view, is evideni via Somalia's claims on the Ogaden and in Somalia's willingness to go to war for it alongside the liberation movement in the area. Moreover. Ethiopia's new alignment with the Soviet Union, which is a reversal of the political pattern of alignment during Emperor Haile Selassie's regime, pits Somalia against the Soviets and at the same time propels it towards the conservative Arab monarchies who previously were political allies of im- perial Ethiopia. This paradoxical situation should be noted by U.S. policymakers, for it reveals clearly that no situation is permanent and that U.S. A resident of Mogopa after being forced from his land by the South African government earlier this year: "Constructive engagement has not won any interests can best be served only meaningful concessions, rather it has encouraged South African intransigence" through a consistent foreign policy ap-

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 proach that seeks always to bring peace of international terrorism, prodded him has spread into the inner councils of the via diplomacy, and stability via devel- into an almost meaningless aerial con- OAU. opment support, to such troubled re- frontation, and finally introduced a In sum. the U.S. has a primary regions. mythical "hit squad"; nor were matters sponsibility to use its world power A strong and effective U.S. foreign aided by Qaddafy's regional policies status to assist the peace process in this policy toward Africa is perceived by and acts of verbal "Yankee baiting." region. Apart from the long historical others as one that clearly demonstrates Even though he is not in good stand- bonds between our early republic and our understanding of the moral respon- ing presently with the United States. these states bordering the Atlantic sibility that is linked to world leader- Qaddafy sends Libyan students in large Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, ship. Such a policy approach allows numbers to the U.S. and Western there are contemporary political, secu- this nation to live up to its nationally ar- Europe. This preference for Western rity, economic, and commercial ties ticulated values and ideals, and to sup- education and training is a window of that make our role as a mediator crucial. port international law and democratic opportunity for dialogue with Libya. and possible. principles evenhandedly. Such a policy The U.S. is too big to fear Libya, and SOUTHERN AFRICA approach, moreover, assures the pro- for this reason we must make it clear to tection of U.S. national, commercial, the world that our policy is not in oppo- South Africa will be a major eco- and strategic interests throughout the sition to Qaddafy's governance of his nomic and political concern in my ad- continent. The continued reservoir of ministration. Southern African states Africans' goodwill towards this nation have made enormous progress in the is based on their positive perceptions: last two decades in ridding themselves Americans are scrutinized more se- of colonial and white settler regimes, verely because they are respected more "A strong and effective U.S. but two interrelated problems remain sincerely by Africans. The Russians, foreign policy toward Africa is unsolved: independence for Namibia on the other hand, are perceived differ- perceived by others as one that and the elimination of the apartheid system in South Africa. The infamous ently — as insensitive to racial/ethnic clearly demonstrates our feelings, with a high tendency to alien- policy of "constructive engagement" ate locals everywhere they go, and. understanding of the moral has sought to bring about change by most importantly, they do not possess responsibility that is linked to currying favor with the South African the hard currency of the U.S. A Jackson world leadership. Such a regime, but this approach has not won administration foreign policy toward policy approach allows this any meaningful concessions. Rather, it Africa will not only be reactive to So- nation to live up to its has encouraged South African intransi- viet bad behavior, but will also take the nationally articulated values gence. By allowing South Africa to initiative necessary to create mutually and ideals." exploit the Cuban presence in Angola beneficial climates Tor meaningful as a stalling tactic on Namibia and by U.S.-Africa relations. giving South Africa a free hand to carry out aggression and destabiti/ation on a THE NORTH AFRICAN PROBLEMS regional level, the Reagan policy ap- There are two main problems iden- country; rather that we condemn his in- proach has not served America's, but tified under this heading — the U.S.- volvements in the internal affairs of South Africa's national interest. And Libyan dispute and the Western Sahara other independent nations without in- despite Reagan administration pro- question. Regarding the former, it vitation. This country, however, nouncements condemning apartheid, should be noted that the U.S. had good should welcome his moral support for many African leaders in southern Af- relations with Libya during the reign of freedom fighters who arc locked in bat- rica generally perceive the U.S. as an King Idris. Even in the formative years tle against the defenders of racism, na- active partner in maintaining the im- of the current leader, Muammar Qad- tional terrorism, and exploitation. moral apartheid system. dafy, the relationship was amicable. The Western Sahara problem is a My administration would reverse Things began to sour, however, when critical one for American policy. In the policy of the last two American the Libyan leader decided to close the fact, Morocco, with U.S. support and presidents and take the issue of the U.S. Air Force base in Libya and to in violation of international law, now recognition of Angola out of the con- pursue policies believed unfriendly to claims the entire territory. This act of text of East-West politics. The funda- the U.S. What was becoming a very illegal occupation has driven more than mental reason for the new approach is cold relationship reached the limits of 80,000 inhabitants of the region to flee that on the merits of the bilateral re- tolerance when the U.S. ordered the to neighboring Algeria. Because the lationship between the U.S. and An- Libyan diplomats out of the U.S. in Polisario front is backed by Algeria. gola, it is in the mutual interest of both 1981. Since that time, relations have and, until recently, Libya, relations countries to normalize relations, be- almost broken down completely be- between these states have not been very ginning with the act of U.S. recogni- tween Washington and Tripoli. Matters cordial. Again, because of the absence tion of that government. Normaliza- were not helped by the Reagan policy o\ dialogue between Morocco, the tion of relations between the U.S. and that branded Qaddafy ihe lone financier other states, and Polisario, the conflict Angola would underscore the support

AFRICA REPORT - May-June 1984 of the U.S. government for the sub- concessional loans in a depoliticized nological know-how to contain this stantial range of U.S. companies al- format. I would encourage U.S. com- danger and make the desert give back ready involved in doing business in panies to invest in Zimbabwe, help to some of its captured lands to bloom Angola, and would expand upon the increase the economy's capacity to ex- again with needed agricultural prod- productive trading relations between pand, and regain a viable trading part- ucts. the two countries, which are the bases ner. Moreover, I would support a sub- • 1 would assume the role of mediator for long-term relationships in other sidized land reallocation program by in the Horn of Africa, employing policy fields. the government to obviate problems of options toward Somalia that are Afri- land distribution and thus reduce this can-based, instead of the Middle East POLICY OBJECTIVES policy model pursued by the Reagan • Our values and interests as a nation administration. Rather than looking at cannot tolerate making ourselves party the problems in East-West terms, I in- to sustaining apartheid or promoting tend to address the Horn situation pri- South Africa's regional designs. If the marily us a conflict between two na- U.S. is to "engage" with South Africa, tionalisms, and to employ a cooperative then it should not be with those ele- partnership for agricultural and eco- ments that retard change, but with those nomic development of the region. Both that seek a democratic and just society. nations have an even more deadly If the U.S. is to support "linkage" it enemy than each other — hunger. should be through recognizing the link- • The Western Sahara conflict is very age of regional stability and develop- serious and is in desperate need of re- ment, which cannot be meaningfully sponse. With the political and financial addressed until there is significant power of the American purse, I would movement towards ending apartheid. call for a cease-fire, to be followed by My administration would bring to bear an internationally sponsored confer- the full range of diplomatic and other ence of all the parties to the conflict. resources at its command to encourage This negotiated settlement approach, change in this positive direction. moreover, wi 11 be used to seek an end to • Africa is a continent trying to de- the Chadian dispute. Knee-jerk re- velop for effective use its material and sponses to such eruptions would be re- human resources. 1 would seize the op- placed by a recognition of the realities portunity to assist this development that continue to frustrate the socioeco- effort by providing appropriate and nomic and political aspirations of adequate technical aid. and economic countries such as Chad, leading to na- and managerial assistance. Through tional disenchantment and turmoil. Ec- economic and developmental coopera- onomic development assistance in light Drought in the Sahel: The Reagan tion, the United States can create the administration has appropriated only of understanding local structures, val- needed climate for stable investments, 31.50 per capita for Africans severely ues, and priorities will be the cor- stable governments, and long-term stricken by drought and starvation nerstone of our policy approach to the diplomatic, commercial, and mutually region — including Libya and Sudan. beneficial relations. With the national interests of the U.S. • I will promote U.S. national inter- as their fundamental guide, the policy ests through a policy that is consistent question as a constraint to devel- options of my administration will be with American values and principles. opmental efforts in the country. designed to draw unto, not withdraw This will allow us to support freedom, • I would pursue multilateral channels from, the world's other peoples. justice, self-determination, and inde- for aid disbursements to assure that Africa represents a primary ally of pendence in Africa through the OAU; medium- and long-term socioeconomic the U.S. and the rest of the Western and it allows us to oppose dictatorships development needs of these nations are world, and it can assist in meeting the and racism. The OAU would be given a met and represent the priorities of our challenges of international resource clear message of support that the U.S. democracy — justice and human dig- shortages. I would take special care to is not against African interests; rather, nity. Special supportive arrangements devise an Africa policy to build upon it supports the OAU efforts to resolve similar to Ihe American-sponsored the natural inclination of African lead- African problems by keeping East- Marshall Plan tor post-World War II ers to develop and maintain long-term West rivalry and big-power politics European economic revitalization cooperative and meaningful African- from the continent. would be supported. American relations. The foundation for • The Zimbabwean government's • The desertification of much of West policy formulation will be diplomacy development efforts, as an example, Africa poses a particular threat to mil- and development, respecting, sharing, would be encouraged through an infu- lions of lives in the region. We will and cooperating with others for inter- sion of supportive economic aid and provide American leadership and tech- national peace and security. •

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 BLACK AMERICA AND AFRICA The U.S. Economy and African Development

BY ANDREW YOUNG

he key to economic and political ment banks, are very receptive to such and identify with the millions of op- T stability in the world is interna- cooperative efforts. pressed black South Africans in their tional trade and economic develop- Growth in the economies of the de- quest for simple human decency and ment. The United States should be ap- veloping countries clearly stimulates liberties because such a movement is proaching the developing world on the growth in the industrial world. This in not nearly as important as stopping the basis of our economic interrelatedness. turn promotes global economic stability "spread of communism" in southern The U.S. economy, with huge govern- and creates a more peaceful interna- Africa. ment deficits and an ever-expanding tional political climate. Governments, While the worst drought of this cen- imbalance in its world trade, is under in my view, have serious respon- tury rips across much of the continent, severe strain, a strain that cannot be sibilities to facilitate economic devel- destroying crops, livestock, and entire overcome until we respond to oppor- opment and trade, and the North-South populations, the Reagan administration tunities for increasing exports, espe- dialogue is a useful instrument in this ships unprecedented levels of new and cially to Africa and the rest of the Third process. But 1 am equally interested in more sophisticated weapons, with in- World. working with the private sector and adequate levels of humanitarian aid Africa, which has long been a source government officials to set examples of tossed in, to nations that are receptive of major raw materials for the United how North and South can really share in to their antieommunist preaching. States, increasingly has become a growth together. Meanwhile, the leaders of the most major market for heavy infrastructure The whole world today is threatened powerful nation on earth choose to projects, manufactured products, tech- by depression, debt crises, protec- punish those African states that suffer nology, and services. The U.S. private tionism, and war. Destruction is not the from starvation and neglect and are and public sectors have been slow to answer to any of these threats. The an- seeking help from the Eastern bloc. Not awaken to the potential of this market at swer lies in peaceful development and only do these nations not receive direct 11 time when African nations are pre- economic security for all nations and U.S. humanitarian aid. but the U.S. pared to cooperate with the U.S. in peoples. attempts to block multilateral aid in- trade and development projects. It is evident from the African policy tended for them. These nations are no 1 believe that we must make greater pursued by Ronald Reagan that he does less affected by the disastrous eco- efforts to bring together African nations not grasp the paramount importance of nomic conditions in Africa than are with specific development needs, U.S. peaceful economic relations between pro-Western nations, yet we refuse to private resources capable of meeting the U.S. and Africa. Instead, President provide them with even the low levels those needs, and international financial Reagan views the nations of Africa with of aid we supply our "friends." institutions that can help package the the same bipolar tunnel vision as he This misguided policy has resulted in projects. I have found that both African views the entire Third World. In his the erosion of American influence and and U.S. leaders, as well as develop- eyes, and in his policies, they are only credibility throughout much of Africa, inconsequential pawns in his ever- increased tension in the continent, and heightening cold war with the Soviet the exacerbation of an already devas- Union. Such an erroneous policy pre- tating human tragedy. This ideologi- mise could be dismissed as the fond cally based policy can last no longer Andrew Young is mayor of Atlanta, Geor- oversimplification of a man longing for than Ronald Reagan's tenure as presi- gia. The former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is also president of Young life in the nineteenth century were it not dent. Our policy in Africa must be Ideas, Inc., a Washington-based public for the immense human tragedy this founded upon the interrelated princi- policy group that focuses on trade and development questions between the United policy has perpetuated. ples of nonintervention in the affairs of States and the Third World. This administration represents a sovereign states and a refusal to coop- stark contrast to the Africa policy in erate with the horrid system of apart- place in 1980. It has refused to assist heid.

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 Political and economic realities reorganized and more powerful on the most significant factor in the destabili- quire a pragmatic approach to the na- national level. Even Ronald Reagan has zation of the world monetary system is tions ol Africa. The economic impor- begun to recognize this as he and his the $600 billion of military expendi- tance of Africa to the U.S. is under- policymakers have made some cosme- tures by the nations of the world. It is scored by the fact that Nigeria is now tic changes in their approach to Africa, $600 billion spent on death and de- our second-lead ing supplier of oil, particularly toward South Africa. struction. When you compare how while most of our mineral imports come The economies of Africa were de- much is being spent on life and devel- from southern Africa. These paramount veloped not lor Africans themselves, opment, you get the clear message of economic relationships do nol exist in a but for others. The adjustment of those why our world economies are in trou- vacuum. The U.S. cannot continue to colonial economies to self-serving ones ble. Therefore, when looking at the support the intractability of South Af- has been one of the major struggles of economies of Africa and the world, it is rica over Namibian independence and the last lew decades, and despite trie important not to separate economic de- slash funding of important multilateral upheavals that have gone on with na- velopment from the political and mili- aid organizations, and still expect to tion-building there is far more stability tary chaos of today. benefit from trade and business re- on the African continent than American In order for Africa to deal with these lationships with the countries of the business and newspapers recognize. In problems, the continent must do more continent. Economic realities com- almost every country the civil service business with the United States. The bined with the growing international has remained functioning despite only hope of combating neocolonialism political power of African nations re- changes in government, and obliga- and the domination of national quire that pragmatism replace irrele- tions incurred by one government have economies by former colonial masters vant ideology as the basis of American been respected by its successor. is to develop a more diversified ap- policy toward the nations of Africa. proach. The creation or a public-private The first step toward such a pragma- sector mix is necessary for African de- tic policy is to recognize that Africa is velopment. In addition, American not just another forum for the battle "The U.S. economy is under business should seek out those coun- over global influence between the tries that are willing to work together, United States and the Soviet Union. severe strain that cannot be as there are the competitive markets of Only a policy that is premised upon the overcome until we respond to some 41 countries in sub-Saharan Af- individual circumstances, culture, and opportunities for increasing rica to choose from. needs ot each African nation can be exports, especially to Africa Ultimately, American recovery de- successful. Such an approach neces- and the rest of the Third pends on the Third World. The Euro- sarily entails the formulation of 52 World." peans and the Japanese very aggres- separate policies — one for each na- sively subsidize their exports and are tion . More than three years after he took very involved in Africa, hoping that it office. President Reagan has shown no takes the U.S. a longtime to wake up. It inclination to engage in such an exer- As these nations move to establish would not be helpful for the United cise. indigenous economies, they should States to go into the African market j usl This country's historic position as further regional cooperation endeavors lo match others' cutthroat competition. promoter of self-determination and na- such as the Southern African Devel- Instead, a new Bretton Woods ap- tional liberation as well as our stated opment Coordination Conference proach should be formulated, as the commitment to the ideals of equality, (SADCC) and the Economic Com- world developed from 1945 to 1970 be- justice, and human freedoms dictates munity of West African States cause people sat down and made that our African policies be based upon (ECOWAS). Their needs have essen- agreements by which everyone could these fundamental moral imperatives. tially been in the area of capital forma- prosper and profit. Agreements on A policy that does not actively encour- tion, technology, management skills, monetary stability, commodity consis- age the freedom of all people of Africa and access to markets, none of which tency, and restructuring of the long- is not consistent with our historic moral has been offered to any extent by the term financing of development are responsibility. Soviet bloc. The U.S. has tended to ig- called for now. Our pragmatic interests and moral nore the fact that much of the develop- Under the Reagan administration, concerns are not antithetical or even ment process in Africa is Western-ori- economic aid to the nations of Africa competitive; rather they are intertwined ented. has been largely distorted by a heavy and complementary. Any policy not Africa is aware of the extent to which increase in military aid. This, of based upon these principles cannot be the world's economies are linked. The course, is consistent with President effective or credible. Such a policy difficulties faced by the continent today Reagan's view of Africa as a battle- would be immediately suspect and then are documents of inflation exported by ground in his cold war with the Soviet rejected by most African leaders. In ad- the West. The increasing cost of devel- Union. Overall bilateral U.S. aid to dition, such a policy would be met by opment technology has not only sub-Saharan Africa has remained at swift disapproval in this country as the created inflation, but imposed a heavy about $960 million under Reagan. Mil- constituency for Africa becomes better debt burden on African countries. The itary aid, however, accounts for at least

10 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 teous rhetoric to a people whose very survival is threatened. We must use our vast resources and wealth in a concerted effort to stem the growing tide of human tragedy in Af- rica. Our aid must be aimed at the human needs and inlrastructural development ot the people of Africa. In concert with this effort, the U.S. role must be in the area of developing a coherent trade policy so that American enterprise can become more aggressive in competing for some of the long- range development projects on this important continent. The Third World would welcome a new administration in Washington that is determined to use its clout in the world community to assist in the reor- dering of ihe international financial institutions. The task is to bring together the surplus-capital nations, the developed nations, and representatives ol the developing nations to conclude agreements on price stability for raw materials, essential infrastructure technolo- Andrew Young, mayor of Atlanta, greeting Zambian Foreign Minister Lameck gies, and certain consumer necessities. Goma: "In order for Africa to deal with its economic problems, it must do These will be extremely difficult dis- business with the United States" cussions, but painfully necessary for continued growth in developed and developing countries. The experience o( 14 percent ol'this total. This proportion tion's request is woefully inadequate to the Lome Convention is a small but ot" military aid is significantly higher meet the tremendous needs of the peo- positive example that can be built upon. than under previous administrations. ple devastated by the drought. Should the U.S. see it as in its self- The increasing militarization of Af- This administration's emphasis on interest to make economic allies of the rica comes at a time when much of Af- military aid to Africa shows no grasp of developing nations, the result will be rica is experiencing the worst drought the reality or gravity of the situation. greater prosperity for all. Until such a of the century. Again, this is an exam- We in this, the richest nation on earth, consistent and coherent policy is fol- ple of an impractical and misguided cannot continue to ship more weapons lowed, our influence will continue to policy, for military aid cannot save to a continent caught in the grip of star- decline in a region of the world that we starving nations from communists. vation. We must provide more than greatly depend on tor our own growth Starvation cannot be defeated with token monetary assistance and righ- and prosperity. D more military hardware and Marxism cannot be stemmed by a nation starving to death. The Reagan administration has asked Congress lor an additional $90 million in emergency food aid to attempt to offset the effects of the drought. This level, however, is far below what the U.S. must contribute if the continued starvation of millions of Africans is to be curtailed. It is estimated by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization that $300 million would be needed to provide half the necessary disaster relief. Traditionally, the U.S. has provided 50 U.S. food aid arriving during 1970s Sahel drought: "The current level of food aid is percent of such emergency aid. Viewed far below what the U.S. must contribute if the continued starvation of miMions of in this context, the Reagan administra- Africans is to be curtailed"

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 11 BLACK AMERICA AND AFRICA

The Congressional Black Caucus and U.S. Policy in Southern Africa

BY JULIAN C. DIXON

frica, unlike so many other geo- vyn Dymally (D-Calif.) are on the A graphical areas, docs not have a House Committee on Foreign Affairs; powerful lobby in the United States to Congressman Crockett is also a guard its interests and advocate on its member of the Subcommittee on Af- behalf. It is therefore the responsibility rica: and Congressman William Gray of those of us in the U. S. Congress who (D-Pa.) and I both sit on the House Ap- care about the continent to continue propriations Subcommittee on Foreign exerting pressure on Pretoria to force it Operations, the committee that controls to reevaluate constantly the cost of the purse strings for all foreign assis- apartheid. That cost should increase tance legislation. until the white-ruled government in MERE SURVIVAL: THE ECONOMIC South Africa finds that it is no longer in Congressman Julian Dixon testifying its interest to deprive its fellow citizens before the House Banking Committee STRUGGLE of their dignity, or of the basic birth- on legislation restricting U.S. support Over the past 18 months, African for IMF loans to South Africa right worshipped so devoutly in the nations have been faced with the real United States — freedom. problem of mere survival. South Af- Since 1971, when the Congressional rica, either directly or through surro- Black Caucus (CBC) was established. gressman Charles Diggs (D-Mich.), gate guerrilla forces, has waged a brutal international affairs have been a major who was also the longtime chairman of military campaign to demonstrate its area of importance to its members. The the House Subcommittee on Africa. At power and to destabilize the border CBC has been particularly concerned that time, a specific focus of the CBC states that surround it. Even more de- with United States policy as it affects was to explore ways in which it could vastating than the military threat has Africa. influence the formulation of a more been the severe drought that has en- The first CBC chairman was Con- constructive policy towards Africa; by gulfed the entire continent and con- 1979, the CBC was the leading force in fronts 20 million people with the threat the fight to maintain U.S. sanctions of starvation. This, together with the against Rhodesia. decade-long decline in food produc- Several members of the CBC sit on tion, a rising level of debt, and a slump Congressman Julian C. Dixon (D-Calif.) is congressional committees that play a in exports, has leftmost African nations chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus. crucial role in shaping the direction of desperately searching for political se- U.S. foreign policy: Congressmen curity and economic stability. George Crockett (D-Mich.) and Mer- Those of us in the Congressional

12 AFRICA REPORT « May-June 1984 Black Caucus know well that the inde- vital importance, they have correctly tration is to be commended for its per- pendent African nations have been surmised that the money will be forth- sistent pursuit of a peaceful resolution plagued by a history filled with frustra- coming regardless of their internal of the tensions in southern Africa. The tion and disappointment. Of the situations. Consequently, in countries State Department clearly has not ig- world's 36 poorest countries, 22 are like Zaire, the carrot without the stick nored the region, but it is unfortunate African. Colonial administrators fo- removes the incentive for rectifying its that the strategy has been so misdi- cused the pre-independence economies difficult political and economic prob- rected. on exports rather than on food produc- lems. The Congressional Black Caucus has tion. Then, most of the postcolonial The U.S. sorely needs to modify its objected to this approach since its ar- African governments accorded too low foreign assistance strategy for Africa. ticulation by the Reagan administration a priority to the rural sector, with gov- Only as an integral part of a multilateral in 1981. We have collaborated with in- ernments investing very small amounts lending scheme can the U.S. be an ef- terested organizations such as Trans- in agricultural research and education fective donor. Many African nations Africa and the Washington Office on and in development ol rural infrastruc- are in a desperate condition. U.S. eco- Africa to seek congressional support ture. nomic strength and technical expertise for stronger policies against apartheid. Western donors are also to blame for can be a catalyst for progress. How- As implemented by the Reagan admin- some of the failures in Africa. Many ever, a renewed and progressive vision istration, constructive engagement has competing donor nations initiated pro- must precede any further allocation of resulted in unprecedented U.S. dip- grams and projects but failed to provide resources to that continent. lomatic and technological cooperation, adequate training, maintenance, and with lew, if any. concessions in terms follow-through. Many of these projects U.S. DIPLOMACY IN SOUTHERN of expanded rights for black South Af- are monuments to dubious Western in- AFRICA: CONSTRUCTIVE ricans. fluence and embarrassments to both the ENGAGEMENT Many factors have contributed to donor and the host countries. The U.S. diplomatic policy of "con- South Africa's recent peacemaking More recently, the Reagan adminis- structive engagement" in southern Af- gestures, with constructive engagement tration has impeded African economic rica could be more accurately defined being only one. Within the South Afri- development prospects by decreasing as "'simple accommodation.'' Con- can government, those who have ar- the U.S. contribution to the World structive engagement has allowed the gued that their security will ultimately Bank's International Development As- United States to be in the position of be best ensured by pursuing peaceful sociation (IDA). The cut in the total broker to some of the interested parties. relations with their black African three-year replenishment, from $12 Therefore, the U.S. is now in a position neighbors have gained more influence billion to $9 billion, is harsh and short- to attempt to claim a diplomatic coup recently. This is probably due to the sighted. Because of the administra- should a miracle occur and South Af- South Africans' desire for legitimacy tion's weakening of its commitment to rica consent to freeing Namibia. How- and acceptance both within the conti- this international lending institution, ever, that is the only fruit that three nent and in the international community aid to Africa will be drastically re- years of simple accommodation has at large. duced. borne. No more, no less. The adminis- Also, Pretoria has borne a heavy ec- IDA and other international lending institutions are often able to obtain changes in economic policies from re- cipient governments. These are impar- tial and independent entities and are therefore more likely to be able to per- suade host countries to adopt difficult policy changes that the United States is unable to obtain through bilateral means. U.S. efforts to encourage economic and political change abroad have also been undermined by the administration's increasing reliance on the Eco- nomic Support Fund (HSF). This cate- gory of U.S. foreign aid is provided to countries that are of particular strategic value to the United States. The theory is that more direct aid ensures that more leverage can be exerted upon these Members of the Caucus, Congressmen Oixon, Fauntroy, Mitchell, and Dymaily; countries. But in reality, because these Congressman Britt; and Caucus members Deltums and Conyers (I to rj testifying countries know that they are of such in support of Martin Luther King Day

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 13 onomic burden in conducting the wars tourism should also improve under the following measures: requiring that the against Angola and Mozambique. The new peace treaty. fair employment practices embodied Angolan campaign has taken the lives Press reaction to recent devel- within the "Sullivan Principles" be ot many South African soldiers, and so opments has been enthusiastic, but the made mandatory for U.S. corporations the spirit within the country now sup- media has routinely tailed to recognize doing business there: banning importa- ports the government's moves to end the role that U.S. legislative pressure tion of the krugerrand gold coin; re- the lighting. has played in bringing the South Afri- stricting exports to the South African One must, however, keep this recent cans to the bargaining table. Last fall, military and police: and expanding ex- diplomatic progress in perspective. Congress passed legislation that report controls on nuclear-related mate- South Africa's current posture was pre- strains economic relations between the rials. ceded by harsh, punishing military United States and South Africa. When Moreover, many state and local pressure against both Angola and President Reagan signed the new Inter- legislatures have also passed divest- Mozambique. Pretoria, with U.S. con- national Monetary Fund (IMF) bill into ment laws that force their respective sent, intimidated those nations and law, it included a provision I introduced governments to withdraw any funds demonstrated its unquestionable mili- that prohibits the United States from from companies operating in South Af- tary superiority. In addition. Prime supporting any future IMF loan to rica. Minister Pieter Botha has never been South Africa unless the loan is con- stronger politically, thanks to the re- ditioned on the South African govern- THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS ferendum on the new constitution. ment's agreement to end apartheid by The administration is committing a critical policy error in refusing to ac- knowledge the existence of the most popular political organization in South Africa, the banned African National Congress (ANC). The ANC's basic- equal rights agenda is already supported by hlack South Africans regardless of ethnic group, class, age, or education, and it has the backing of the vast majority ol Coloureds and Indians, and a small minority of whites. The Reagan administration does not understand the role and the history of the ANC. The central platform of the Congress is its Freedom Charter, the most important feature of which is the declaration that "South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white." Not very radical. Only because South Africa does not permit open criticism of its society did the ANC find itself banned in I960. After five decades, the most popular of all the South African political organizations was denied any Congressman William Gray (right), vice-chairman of the Caucus, with legal means ot' expression. SWAPO leader Sam Nujoma in Harare, Zimbabwe While being outlawed in no way di- minished the need for means of protesting the increasingly brutal repres- which gave his government an over- dismantling various elements of the sion of blacks, the organization was whelming mandate. system, including labor mobility re- forced to go underground. It continued South Africa stands to benefit tre- strictions, lack of access to education to grow, but the government in Pretoria mendously from the nonaggression and training, and the pass laws. would not consent to any political dis- agreement with Mozambique. The port Several other significant bills im- sension. As a result, the continued at Maputo will be a great asset, and the posing sanctions against South Africa repression of the ANC has culminated Cabora Bassa dam, one of the world's have also been passed by the House. in the death or imprisonment of many of largest, could easily provide most oi the Congressman Gray has introduced the most visible opponents of the gov- power needs ot the region were it not legislation that prohibits new U.S. cor- ernment, including the spiritual father constantly under siege from South Af- porate in\estment in South Africa. The of the South African civil rights move- rican-supported guerrillas. Trade and various other House bills contain the ment, Nelson Mandela.

14 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 President Reagan, despite the crises and civil rights: however, it has yet to gion in mythical East-West terms, in the region, refuses even to speak to surface — the Group Areas Act that rather than acknowledging the validity the ANC, thereby exacerbating the controls the segregated racial com- of the nationalist struggles of a people problem. The administration ulso munities is still enforced: blacks' ac- desperate only for the most elementary carefully avoids taking it clear position cess to urban areas remains strictly human and civil rights. on the South African government's efforts to eliminate the ANC. South Af- rica has waged a vicious campaign to crush the ANC by increasing repression inside its borders, and by launching extensive military strikes against neighboring states suspected of being sympathetic to the ANC. The present administration sees regional stability primarily as a problem of relations between states. That view is only partially correct. In fact, the political instability in southern Africa is rooted primarily in South Africa's insistence on repugnant, despicable apartheid.

SOITH AFRICA'S NEW CONSTITUTION Last year, some 400 prominent Congressman Dixon with Bernadette Mosala of the South African Council of South African political, labor, and reli- Churches: "Constructive engagement has resulted in few if any concessions in gious groups from all corners of the rights for black South Africans" country formed an umbrella organization, the United Democratic Front

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 15 At PepsiCo, our corporate family has a firm grip on excellence.

We strive for the best in everything we do at PepsiCo, Inc. We are one of the world's largest and most successful consumer products and services companies, with 1983 sales totaling nearly $8 billion. We are distinguished by brand names that are leaders in their markets, including Pepsi-Cola Company soft drinks, Frito-Lay snack foods, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants, North American Van Lines and Wilson Sporting Goods. And we are distinguished by an enviable record of success achieved by our 135,000 employees. Excellence is a continuing commitment at PepsiCo—and a very personal one. INTERVIEW Tom Bradley, Mayor of Los Angeles

NTERVIEWED BY MARGARET A. NOVICKi

AFRICA REPORT: Could you describe the work of the countries have been an impediment to substantial trade be- Mayor's Task Force for Africa/Los Angeles Relations? tween our country and African nations. But we believe that BRADLEY: We formed the Task Force in 1978 with the these constraints can be overcome and we are continuing to purpose of increasing two-way exchange in the area of edu- work at it. cation, culture, commerce, and trade between the Los AFRICA REPORT: What products do you manufacture Angeles area and several of the African nations. We visited in southern Calilornia that are appropriate exports to Africa? five African countries in 1979 to launch this program and it BRADLEY: Everything. We have perhaps one of the most has been very successful in the field of cultural exchange. In diversified regions in the country in terms of products pro- 1981, we held an exhibit in Los Angeles, "Treasures of duced, from aircraft to electronics, from the smallest items Ancient Nigeria: Legacy nf 2000 Years," one of the most ol hardware to the large wide-body airplanes. We can also spectacular art exhibits ever held in our city. We have con- help with technology exchange in the field of agriculture. tinued to work on educational exchange involving students All of these are fine subjects for trade between Africa and from both Africa and the Los Angeles area. Our most am- the Los Angeles region. bitious program has been in the field of commerce and AFRICA REPORT: There are a number of corporations trade. We have been able to develop contacts in Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Cameroon that have produced orders for timber from Africa in the amount of about $3 million. We have held additional negotiations on trade and investment valued at over $3 million that we think will be successful as well. We have had several programs involved in trade in Africa that deal with everything from cosmetics to ultraviolet water purification systems, so it has been a very rewarding experience. AFRICA REPORT: What led you to set up the task force? BRADLEY: We had long been very actively involved in educational matters, as thousands of African students attend the universities in the Los Angeles area. We felt that there was an opportunity for an increase in our cultural exchanges as we've had a number of troupes and exhibits from Africa here, but we felt that that could be enhanced. We decided that the main area in which there was practically no activity was in the field of commerce and trade. We are looked upon as being so far away from Africa that hardly anybody ever thought of that as a possibility. We thought it did have merit and went over to explore. We were able to bring together representatives from some of the African countries and our fishing industry, our tuna industry. We were able to take some people in the timber industry to Africa. They found a goldmine there in terms of the kinds of wood products that are badly in need here and not available anywhere else in the world. AFRICA REPORT: What have been the difficulties in promoting trade and commerce between Africa and southern California? Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley: BRADLEY: 1 think the relative strength of the American Strengthening ties of friendship and trade dollar and the economic difficulties in some o! the African between southern California and black Africa

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 17 in California with substantial investments in South Africa. AFRICA REPORT: Do you think there is black political Is the task force's promotion of trade and commerce with consensus developing on foreign policy issues, and, if not, black African countries a way of offsetting ties between Cal- how do you think it could be developed? ifornia-based corporations and South Africa? BRADLEY: I don't believe there is a consensus at this BRADLEY: No, the task force was not designed for that point. But there are certainly a number of very strong black purpose. It is strictly aimed at strengthening the ties of congressional leaders who have a particular interest in friendship and trade between the southern California area foreign affairs. But 1 don*t think there is any broad-gauged and the black African nations. There was no thought what- awareness or interest or consensus among the masses of soever about what impact this would have on companies blacks on foreign policy issues. doing business in South Africa. AFRICA REPORT: Is Africa a major foreign policy con- AFRICA REPORT: Have black businesses in California cern among black Americans at this point in time'.' shown a particular interest in expanding trade with Africa? BRADLEY: On the basis of my experience, contacts, and BRADLEY: We have encouraged that. Some of them are discussions with people, it is not. 1 believe that blacks in thus tar not able to make the connection. But one company, this country have not fully appreciated the tremendous im- a cosmetics firm based in Los Angeles, was a part of our portance of Africa to the United States and its foreign pol- trade mission in 1979, and did in fact establish substantial icy. I think that as this growing interest develops, we'll see contracts in one of the African countries. a greater awareness and a stronger degree of pressure on the AFRICA REPORT: It seems that the Reagan administra- U.S. to respond fully to this tremendous possibility and po- tion favors promoting private enterprise and the "magic of tential. the marketplace" as an approach to development in the AFRICA REPORT: How has Jesse Jackson's candidacy Third World at the expense of official development assis- affected the role of blacks in the political process? tance and financial support for multilateral aid organiza- BRADLEY: On the question of blacks involved in the po- tions, such as the World Bank and the International Monet- litical process. 1 think there is no question about it. The rate ary Fund. Do you think this is a reasonable approach to take of voter registration among blacks and the high turnout ex- with regard to Africa? perienced in the primaries has clearly demonstrated that BRADLEY: I don't think that it is reasonable to expect Jesse Jackson has been a force in that regard. I think that that that concept is going to work in light of the serious eco- New York is perhaps the best example of the tremendous nomic woes that are experienced in some of the Third World outpouring of interest, given the huge turnout that was ex- and African nations. perienced in the primaries. D

Timber in Gabon: "Our contacts have produced orders for timber from Africa in the amount of $3 million"

18 AFRICA REPORT - May-June 1984 MOZAMBIQUE'S PEACE WITH SOUTH AFRICA The Economics of Desperation

BY JOANMARIE KALTER

ozambique is a country in eco- African boats will receive fishing M nomic collapse: licenses and Mozambican harbors will enjoy increased South African use and • Drought has killed an estimated investment. A joint takeover of the 100,000 people and left another four Portuguese-controlled Cabora Bassa million threatened by starvation. dam will presumably end the MNR • Guerrillas of the Mozambique Na- sabotage that left power lines down for tional Resistance (MNR) have six months last year, will provide South penetrated nine of 10 provinces. burning villages, attacking railway Africa with cheap energy, and give lines, mining roads -- making relief Mozambique a steady stream of reve- efforts impossible in many areas. nue. • Sick and hungry peasants have But all this has its price. The begun fleeing into neighboring Zim- agreements would lead Mozambique babwe at the rate of 1,000 a week. back to its vassal-like status as a service • January's cyclone ""Domoina" rav- sector for South Africa. They would aged agricultural projects, swept "Mozambique's government, headed undercut the efforts of the Southern bridges away, and inundated whole by Samora Machel, has remained one African Development Coordination villages. In Inhambane province of the best intentioned, most idealistic, Conference (SADCC) to break Pre- alone, the storm left 80 percent of the and least corrupt in the world" toria's economic hegemony in the re- citrus trees uprooted. gion. And the weight of this turnaround • At a shop in Magul. in Gaza pro- has already fallen most heavily on a be- vince, the scene is typical: peasants trade chestnuts for tea, matches, sieged African National Congress tinned sardines — the only goods locked in a downward spiral — crippled (ANC). In return for South Africa's available. Local currency is worth- by the legacy of Portuguese col- withdrawal of support for the MNR, less, a villager explains. "At least onialism, battered by South African- Mozambique has agreed to cease pro- chestnuts the people can eat." backed sabotage, withered by three viding sanctuary for the ANC. The past straight years of drought, and wracked nine months have seen Lesotho, It is against this backdrop of starva- by its own mismanagement. Today, the Swaziland, and now Mozambique cut tion, war, and natural disaster that the country is desperate. As one of the del- back their support to the merely moral Mozambican government has now egates to the talks with South Africa and diplomatic level. And the sealing of struck a deal of its own, bartering its bluntly put it, "If we continued our past these borders will undoubtedly set back stance against apartheid fora surprising policies, there would soon be nothing the struggle against apartheid. peace with South Africa, and for the left to destroy in Mozambique." What makes Mozambique's plight same reason as the peasants in Magul: So for a new beginning, Mozam- all the more poignant is its vast poten- at least the people can eat. For years, bique now looks to the past, hoping its tial. It is rich in resources, with reserves the Mo/ambican economy has been new security pact, signed in March, of coal and other strategic minerals. will lead to agreements on tourism, The country is crossed by nine river trade, and energy exchange. If these go systems and blessed with the longest Joanmarie Kalter is a freelance journalist through. South Africans will once coastline in Africa. Its 12 million peo- who has traveled throughout southern Af- again lounge in the hotels and beach ple are scattered on land twice the size rica and recently returned from Mozam- houses of Mozambique's coastal re- of California; indeed, of 150 million bique. sorts. More migrant mine workers will acres of arable pastures and forests, less bring home needed remittances. South th;m 7 percent are currently utilized.

AFRICA REPORT « May-June 1984 19 The Frelimo party rode to power in Still, it is in the war-tom villages of the 1975 virtually unopposed. With no countryside where the true human price landless peasants, Frelimo was not has been paid. laced with the problems ol" traditional The roads outside Chibuto, in Gaza land reform, nor was there a richly province, can only be traveled with a landed class to block its socialist goals. military escort — convoys of soldiers The government, headed by President in front and behind. The escort winds Sumora Machel, has remained one of past one village where empty, charred the best intentioned. most idealistic, buildings are all that remain. At and least corrupt in all of the world. another, villagers dig trenches to pro- What went wrong? To some degree, tect themselves, and show visitors the a.s with all developing countries, food they live on: ground leaves. What Mozambique has been caught in the little the drought has not ruined here squeeze of a changing world economy. the rebels have taken away. The truck that Mozambique could buy The MNR, now an estimated 10,000 for 5.3 tons ol' cotton in 1975 cost 13 strong, has been unable to translate tons of cotton in 1982. While a ton of Mozambique's economic depression Mozambican sugar had the value of a into widespread political unrest. But no ton of steel in 1975, that steel was worth resistance movement could so cripple a lour tons ol sugar by 1982. And during country without some support from the same period, the price of oil shot up hungry, disgruntled peasants. fourfold; Mozambique spent $235 mil- Gathered in Changanine, one of 11 lion in 1980 on oil alone — more than camps in Gaza, are women and children half the total value of its exports. displaced by the fighting between both But Mozambique also inherited sides. They have received no food in deeply embedded economic problems three months. They are covered with all its own. Before independence, a scabies. Some have cholera. A woman sign outside city hall in the capital pro- named Enora suckles her 18-month-old claimed, "Here is Portugal." It more baby — his belly bloated, his hair correctly should have read, "Here is a turned copper — at a dry and withered satellite of South Africa." Portugal was breast. She has been here live months, a developing country itself, on the fixed-price remittances in gold. The re- she says, ever since her husband went verge of bankruptcy, and lacking the sulting loss in revenues amounted to a looking for food and never came back. export capital necessary for Mozam- staggering $2.6 billion — almost twice Did he join the MNR? Was he killed by bique's development. Because ag- the size of the $1.4 billion debt owed to them? She cannot say. "We have both riculture, mining, and industry contrib- Western governments, banks, and friends and enemies in this camp,'' says uted a mere 37 percent of total gross international financial institutions that an official. "We cannot tell them national product, the colonial economy Mozambique must now reschedule. apart." was essentially subsidized by its South Africa slashed its rail and har- It may be true that the MNR would neighbor. The port of Maputo bor traffic as well, especially over the collapse without South African sup- nourished as the nearest outlet for last three years. In 1973, Maputo han- port. But it is undeniable that Mozam- South Africa's minerals and industry. dled 6,8 million tons of South African bique itself has contributed to its own And the remittances ol migrant mine exports and imports: by 1983, after decline. With a population that is 85 workers kept the colonials afloat. South Africa had built its own port at percent rural, agriculture is central to its Under a 1928 accord, South Africa Richard's Bay, only an estimated 1.1 long-term development. Yet with inde- provided Portugal with 60 percent of million tons entered or left Maputo. pendence, and the flight of the Por- migrant wages in gold. With that gold The harbor now stands near idle, with a tuguese, Mozambique made a grave supplied at a fixed price, well below the spare capacity of 9 million tons a year. mistake. It turned abandoned colonial world rate. Portugal could sell it, pay its Yet no economic war can quite com- plantations into large state farms, neg- miners, and pocket a substantial profit. pare with the devastation of a military lecting to nurture cooperatives, and But with independence, South Africa struggle. From Rhodcsian border in- providing no support to the millions of launched what Mozambique now calls cursions to the South African-backed family farmers. This was to be a quick "an undeclared war" on both the eco- MNR guerrilla movement, independent solution: state farms would prevent the nomic and military fronts. Employment Mozambique has known barely a day of plantations from falling into ruin, of Mozambican miners plummeted 60 peace. In the past two years, according rapidly produce exports, and meet the percent, from 118.000 men in 1975 to to the government, the cost of the war food needs of the cities. The family 41,000 in 1977 — where, roughly, it — together with direct attacks by South sector would make do on its own. In has remained. The following year. African armed forces — has roughly fact, it has been a disaster. Food im- South Africa unilaterally withdrew its equalled the total value of its exports. ports have risen. Foreign exchange has

20 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 been squandered. Total production has by 1981. imported food accounted for cooperatives may provide the only declined. more than half of all imported con- practical model for modernizing peas- Sadly, these problems could have sumer goods. ant agriculture in Mozambique. In- been foreseen. Portugal had left Most significantly, in that year the vestment of scarce resources in a Mozambique profoundly underdevel- Ministry of Agriculture admitted that cooperative serves more people than oped not only in infrastructure, but in not a single state farm had been profita- investment in an individual farm. But in human resources. At independence, a ble. Greater mechanization required Mozambique, coops have not received staggering 93 percent ol all those above greater productivity to cover costs. that help. In 1977. there were ISO age seven were illiterate. Of 3.X00 stu- While state farms thus had to produce cooperatives with 25.000 members; in dents at the university in 1974. only 40 at least two tons of corn per acre, they 19X1, there were 375 with 37,000 were black. Unlike Africans in in fact produced half a ton. At CAIL. members. In those four years, coopera- neighboring countries, black Mozam- outputs of rice reached only I. I tons tives received only 2 percent of ag- bicans had been barred from running per acre (in comparison, Spain reaped ricultural investment. their own businesses — indeed, from 2.6 tons and China 3.6). In a forth- The state encouraged peasants to join all but the most menial labor. With the coming book. Joseph Hanlon notes by promising them seeds, tractors, and lightning exodus of skilled Portuguese that with the majority of state farm other inputs. But at the 1980 Confer- — their numbers falling from 200,000 purchases — fuel, fertilizer, ma- ence on Cooperatives, peasants com- to 20.000 in a matter of months — chinery, and pesticides — paid in for- plained that these came too late, or banks, factories, and hospitals were left eign exchange, it actually would have never arrived. Nor were the peasants to be run by people who until then had been cheaper to import this grain than trained in the difficult tasks of collec- only swept the floors. produce it. tive decision making: how to organize There was. therefore, almost a total the work, market the produce, and di- lack of technical and managerial exper- vide the profits. Though there have tise in modern agriculture. Yet state been some successes, coop production farms require a high degree of both. "Peasants trade chestnuts for overall fell by 50 percent from 1979 to From plowing to harvesting, tasks must tea, matches, tinned sardines 1981. be done precisely on schedule. Ma- — the only goods available. Frelimo had intended agricultural chinery must work. And the costs are Local currency is worthless, a cooperatives to become the core around simply enormous: in I97K, heavy villager explains. *At least which members would later build equipment for state farms consumed chestnuts people can eat.'" housing and set up schools, shops, and $25 million of the $38.5 million clinics. Such "communal villages" budgeted lor agricultural development. would gather the widely dispersed But given the lack of expertise, ma- population, raise the peasants" living chinery purchased was not always ap- In land-rich Mozambique, every standards, and discourage migration to propriate; and when it broke down, re- peasant — even workers on state farms the cities. In fact, the villages often pre- pairs were difficult. In the fertile Lim- and cooperatives — has a family plot. ceded the coops and the coops never popo Valley of southern Mozambique, In colonial times, peasants had been took hold. the Limpopo Agro-Industrial Complex forced into agricultural lahor. working Ties de Fevereiro is a communal (CA1L) imported combines that could six months a year on Portuguese plan- village in Gaza province. Like many not harvest the kind ol' rice planted in tations, then returning to their own others, it was formed in response to a I97K: 30.000 volunteers were called in land. In independent Mozambique. natural disaster — the Hoods that swept to pick the crop by hand. The need for however, the pattern was not far dif- lowland areas in 1977 — rather than spare parts taxed the country's limited ferent. Many put in their time on state evolving from a cooperative core. In- foreign exchange. Of CAIL's 200 farms, but with only a wage and no deed, its agricultural coop is its only tractors for the 1979-80 season. 130 did stake in the (arms' productivity, they striking failure. not run. turned their attention to the family The coop has been hit hard by the State farms such as CAIL came to plots. According to Fernando Sambo, drought, as have the villagers' family dominate the production of marketed director of the agricultural research farms. But those farms have remained crops, and reaped some modest gains. station in the Limpopo Valley, "Fam- more productive. As Jose Sitoe. f-'re- According to Allen and Barbara Isaac- ily farms here are more productive. limo's organizing secretary in the vil- man, authors of Mozambique: From The people feel closer to the land, they lage, explains: "The cooperative's land Colonialism to Revolution, with 4 per- are dedicated to it. They care." For all is especially dry. And when the water cent of the land under state cultivation the government's good intentions, pump broke, it couldn't be irrigated, in 1981, state farms produced 15 per- then, and for all the resources poured even though it's right near a river. The cent of all agricultural output and 56 into the state sector, its essential so- land there is vast, so planting and ir- percent of marketed produce. B ut cialist goal was not met: the relation- rigating need to be planned and or- population growth and increased con- ship of the worker to the state had not ganized. The family farms are smaller. sumer demand from higher wages changed. They could respond faster and more drove food imports up each year. And With state farms doomed to failure. easily to the drought." The coop's

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 21 members would spend half their time country once had about 1,600 such make huge profits selling almost any- on the coop fields, half on their own vehicles, it was left with about six. thing. In some places, even the army farms. But as the drought wore on, they Frelimo encouraged private shop- and state farms reportedly pay double devoted less time to the coop. With 111 keepers to return and sent marketing for the locally grown food they buy. original members, only 40 remain. brigades to rural areas to purchase Some estimate that fully half of all What is worse, in the long run, the peasant surpluses. By 1981, a new peasant produce is marketed this way, coop's failure has only reinforced the marketing network was in place, and making guesswork of any official pro- peasants' more backward and tradi- there are now again about 6,000 traders duction figures. tional farming practices. throughout Mozambique. But the inevitable result is that with But Mozambique's greatest agricul- Still, the problems remain. Too few little to buy, peasants have little incen- tural mistake has been its total neglect trucks have been allocated. Roads are tive to produce. A Western food broker of the family farmer. Before indepen- impassahle from rebel activity. Many estimates that of 250,000 metric tons of dence, this peasant sector produced of the new traders are inexperienced, cashews grown last year, only 27,000 one-third of all marketed goods, in- and the government has no programs to tons reached the factories; peasants ate cluding almost all the cashews and half assist them. According to Vincent what they gathered, and didn't bother to the cotton — Mozambique's two main Tickner of Agricom, the state pick any more. Cotton production has exports. As they also produced food for wholesaler, of the roughly 250 in the plummeted to its lowest level in de- themselves, they accounted for three- marketing staff for Zambezia province, cades as peasants switch from cash quarters of the country's total agricul- only 12 were employed before 1979. crops to food crops, and grow only ture. But with so much of independent But the biggest problem is that the what they need. A vicious cycle is set in Mozambique's resources devoted to government has given priority to the motion. Fewer consumer goods drive state farms, the family sector received purchase of machinery and capital down surplus production; that de- few tools, seeds, or extension support. goods for state farms, and has spent lit- presses exports and leads to fewer for- For instance, where colonial Mozam- tle on supplying the peasants with what eign exchange earnings. With less bique produced 700,000 hoes per year they want: sugar, salt, soap, cloth, foreign exchange, fewer consumer — crucial to the family farmer — inde- bicycles. Peasants have lots of money goods reach the stores. pendent Mozambique produced less and nothing to spend it on. Tickner At the bottom line, Mozambique than half that. calculates that for every five meticais a faces a critical balance of payments The crisis in the family sector is due, peasant received for his crops in 1982, problem. As exports (mainly sugar, most of all, to a lack of consumer he could buy only two meticais' worth cashew nuts, cotton, tea, and shrimp) goods. Shortly alter independence, of goods. Throughout Mozambique, have decreased by half, imports Mozambique's entire marketing net- people have reverted to the barter sys- (mainly equipment, oil, spare parts, work collapsed. Of 6,000 Portuguese tem. And the black market thrives. A and raw materials) have surged, leav- and Indian shopkeepers and traders, all dollar brings 40 meticais at the official ing Mozambique with an accumulated but 2,000 tied. They took their trucks as rate; on the black market it can fetch deficit over the last four years of capital and drove off into South Africa, 1,000. And private traders, who buy roughly $| billion. Rhodesia, and Swaziland. Where the South African goods in Swaziland, can The neglect of Mozambique's family agriculture has moved many to seek jobs in the cities. Food rationing, begun in Maputo in 1980, attracted the hungry from the countryside; by mid-1982, Maputo had to issue residence cards, entitling the holder to a share of the basics — sugar, cereals, beans, peanuts, soap, and cooking oil. Maputo, a city built for 250.000, has now swelled to 850,000. Decrepit shantytowns stretch for miles around the center of the city. People line up at shops before dawn, hoping some produce will be for sale. With no credit, there is little gas, and shortages spark long lines at service stations; with no goods, many clubs, restaurants, and cafes have closed. A pall has settled on Maputo. There has been much talk since in- At Changanine, a camp in Gaza for women and children displaced by fighting dependence about these problems, but between the MNR and government forces only recently has anything been done.

22 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 19B4 The Fourth Party Congress, held in the broadening of foreign tics, there are sector rather than to cooperatives. In- 1983, resolved to divert resources from some who are dubious about its change deed, the Central Committee told the the state farms, and Joao Ferreira, a in agricultural strategy, suspecting this Fourth Congress that private and family man known for his support ot'the family may undermine the country's socialist farmers will provide "a short-term sol- sector, became the new agriculture successes. An example is Dezesseis de ution to the current food supply prob- minister — the fourth since indepen- Junho, one of 144 cooperatives that lems." Shortly after his appointment, dence. The disastrous CAIL was bro- surround Maputo in what are known as the new Agriculture Minister Ferreira ken up into smaller units, and much of the "green zones." Since 19X1, these met with the private farmers of Maputo the underused land redistributed to small abandoned Portuguese farms province and promised them credit, peasant and private farmers. Millions have been supplying food for the city. seeds, and machinery. Some who fled of hand tools have been imported along Here, the 38 members — 35 of them to Portugal are being encouraged to re- with $1 million of used clothing women — grow cauliflower, lettuce, turn. And though Gallipoli and others bought from the United States for sale potatoes, and onions, and raise chic- believe the private sector can help, they in rural shops. A new policy of decen- kens and pigs. With no irrigation, no insist this is no solution to Mozam- tralization has sent many of the gov- well or water pump, they produced al- bique's long-term problems: the mod- ernment's officials into the rural areas most four times their target yield this ernizing and socializing of peasant ag- to be in better touch with Mozam- year. With the profit, they paid off the riculture. Private farming will mostly bique's ground-level reality. And in benefit a few. they say. and only in- 1982, in an effort to break the urban crease the country's class differences. bias, both producer and consumer Nor will ii be easy to dismantle the prices of com. cassava, and other prod- "The U.S. would like to call it state-farm sector. Though unprofitable, ucts were raised by 50 percent. a 'diplomatic triumph.' Yet the country now depends on its produc- Most dramatically. Mozambique has the talks reflect little more tion, and a hopelessly clogged bureau- changed its stance toward the West. than Mozambique's economic cracy impedes significant change. A From 1978 to 1982. the So\iet Union desperation." planned 100 million-acre state farm in poured in about $350 million in military the north, to be run by Rumanians, is iiid, but only about half that in eco- still going forward, despite the conclu- nomic aid. Mozambique is now ac- sions of the Fourth Party Congress. tively seeking Western investment. Il equivalent of $8,000 on their $56,000 And Mozambique has set its 19K5 corn will soon join the European Economic bank loan, invested in a refrigerator, productivity targets on the remaining Community's Lome Convention, and and distributed the rest in monthly div- farms at one ton per acre — twice the talks have opened for membership in idends to their members. Nor is De- current yield, but still half that needed the International Monetary Fund. zesseis de Junho unique; about hall of for profitability. The government will President Machcl has promised a the green /ones cooperatives have been apparently still subsidize these large foreign investment code. Already, in almost as successful. and inefficient ventures. the first large American private in- Prosperino Gallipoli is the passion- The Mozambicans now place their vestment since independence, Exxon ate, socialist ex-pricst who oversees greatest hope for change in help from has signed an onshore oil exploration their progress. "See these profits." he South Africa. On the streets of Maputo, agreement, and seismic testing is now says, pointing emphatically and eagerly the rapprochement receives high underway in Cabo Dclgado, Mozam- to page after page of figures. "'This is praise. But officials here and abroad bique's northernmost province. how people discover their abilities, seem deluded. In Mozambique, they Indeed, relations with the United build their confidence. These are more say gloatingly that South Africa has States have changed most of all. Only than farms, they are schools for human bent under the weight of its own dif- three years ago, Mozambique expelled development." ficulties. The U.S. government would four American diplomats on charges of Gallipoli would like to advance fur- like to call it a "diplomatic triumph." spying for the CIA. President Reagan ther loans to the most successful coops Yet in fact, the talks reflect little more responded by cutting all planned aid for offices, warehouses, trucks, and than Mozambique's economic desper- except emergency food assistance. windmills. "They can be fully inde- ation. By its own policies, and those of Today, there is a new ambassador in pendent, productive enterprises," he South Africa, the country has been Maputo, and the State Department re- says. But he is also pessimistic, "lseea beaten to the ground. Whether Pretoria cently passed a partial waiver of its ban crisis at the government level. And 1 am can be trusted to call off the MNR re- on developmental assistance, allowing afraid that if coops become too strong, mains to be seen. Certainly, Mozam- the flow of U.S. aid to specific projects. the slate apparatus will want lo destroy bique now has no alternative. But re- In a stunning reversal. Mozambican them. They will threaten the bureau- turning South African investment to the officials now credit Reagan's "con- crats' power." level of 10 years ago can only deepen structive engagement" policy — which Though the government has lost faith Mozambique's dependence, and pro- they so recently decried — as the key to in state farms, he says, it still believes vide Pretoria with a heavy club should their new accord with South Africa. in quick results. And for that reason, it Mozambique need heating once While manv Mozambicans welcome is now turning more to the small private again. •

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 23 MOZAMBIQUE-SOUTH AFRICA

The Nkomati Accords

BY JOSE: LUISCABAQO

The Nkomati Accord is a result of Mozambican policies to the Zimbabwean liberation movement, composed in whose origins can be traced back to the founding of the 1976 of guerrillas from both ZAPU and ZANU. And it is national liberation movement, Frelimo, 22 years ago. worth recalling that from the time ZAPU left the alliance These policies, the pursuit of peace and national later that year, only two countries in the world gave total, sovereignty, were adhered to by Frelimo's first president, unconditional support to ZANU until the end- the late Dr. Eduardo Mondlane, and have remained con- Mozambique and Tanzania. This was our government's stant features of Mozambique's political position ever sovereign decision, influenced by no one, and we are since. proud of it. Under Mondlane's leadership, Frelimo explored every Mozambique supported all Zimbabwe peace initia- avenue for a peaceful solution to the problem of Por- tives, including the Geneva conference at the end of tuguese colonialism before embarking on an arduous 1976. And when Britain launched its initiative for a set- armed struggle that cost the lives of thousands of tlement in 1979, Mozambique was among the first to see Mozambicans. And in 10 years of anticolonial war, Fre- the opportunity for peace and played an active and con- limo tenaciously defended the principle of national structive part at the Lancaster House conference. sovereignty, never bowing to the wishes of foreign pow- The talks Mozambique has held with South Africa are ers, even friendly powers. equally a part of this policy of peace and sovereign inde- Mondlane's belief in peace and national sovereignty pendence. Mozambique has had contacts with South Af- has been consolidated by President Samora Machel, rica, aimed at establishing peaceful coexistence, since and these principles are enshrined in the constitution 1975. that was adopted when independence was finally won in From the time of the first ministerial-level contacts in 1975. But it has to be admitted that Mozambique's lead- 1982, Mozambique has proposed the principle of a non- ers have not been able to convince all of the world all of aggression and good-neighborliness pact. Efforts to the time that we are serious about these matters. reach a security agreement with South Africa were not Both before and after independence, we have been helped by the initial attitude of the Reagan administra- depicted in some countries as (1) warlike and (2) ele- tion, which we felt was one-sided and based on the old ments in the East-West conflict. We are neither. Mozam- idea that Mozambique was a pawn in the East-West cold bique's position in the struggle for Zimbabwean inde- war. pendence proves this. Shortly after our own indepen- Perhaps encouraged by Washington's attitude, South dence, we were active in promoting the Victoria Falls Africa became increasingly belligerent towards Mozam- talks between the Zimbabwean nationalists, the Rhode- bique, launching army and air force attacks and recruit- sians, and the South Africans, which were aimed at ing Mozambican malcontents to wage a terror and finding a peaceful solution to the Rhodesian problem. sabotage campaign against my country. Mozambique's representative was Oscar Monteiro, who Over the last few years, however, and after many dip- is now justice minister, and who has played a prominent lomatic contacts, it appears that the U.S. administration part in the recent security negotiations with South Africa. has had the ability lo understand the true essence of the When all attempts to solve the Zimbabwe problem by conflict in southern Africa and to understand the peaceful means failed, Mozambique gave its full support sovereign nature of the Mozambican state. This has led to agreement on points of view on how to solve the problem of destabilization in southern Africa. Modifica- tions in the U.S. position have been a positive element in Jose Luis Cabaco is the Mozambican minister of information. the search for peace in the region. The Nkomati Accord, an agreemeni on nonaggression and Mozambique will continue to pursue the objectives of good neighborhness, was signed by the governments of defending its national sovereignty and independence, Mozambique and South Africa on March 16, 1984. and promoting peace and development. The Nkomati Accord is a part of this policy. •

24 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 DOCUMENT

The People's Platform

The People's Platform, a document that examines a dialogue with Third World nations to rectify imbalances number of domestic and international issues and presents wrought by neocolonialism and an overreliance on East- a series of policy recommendations to which candidates West confrontation as a means for determining foreign pol- for public office in the 1984 election will be asked to re- icy. Moreover, we firmly believe in the right to self-determi- spond, has been put forward as an alternative to the nation for all peoples, and that human and political rights policies of the Reagan administration, the effects of which must be respected. have been felt very keenly in black America. This requires a foreign policy characterized by sensitivity The platform was prepared by the National Black Coali- to the basic security and development needs and sharing of tion for 1984, in conjunction with the National Black Lead- international resources. It also requires the mutual elimina- ership Roundtable (NBLR). The coalition is headed by the tion of weapons of mass destruction and cessation of the Reverend Joseph E. Lowery, president of the Southern worldwide arms trade that diverts precious resources from Christian Leadership Conference. The NBLR is headed by the process of development. Congressman Walter E. Fauntroy (D-D.C.) and is com- Finally, we note with concern the virtual absence of posed of the heads of more than 150 national black organi- minorities and women in the nation's foreign policy-making zations, representing civil rights, religious, labor, social apparatus. In order to secure the best talent, and to fraternal, business, youth, media, and political organiza- guarantee that sensitivity to and interest in all parts of the tions. world are brought to bear—in the national best interest—on The platform was written after issues conferences were the making of U.S. foreign policy, we urge greater participa- convened in states across the country where blacks are a tion by minorities and women at all levels in U.S. foreign pol- significant percentage of the electorate. The purpose of the icy-making. platform is to provide blacks in every state with 'one standard and one agenda by which to judge all candidates SOUTH AFRICA seeking support at the polls in 1984." Excerpted below are The Reagan administration swiftly unveiled a new policy the portions of the People's Platform that are relevant to toward South Africa. Called "constructive engagement" by U.S. policy toward Africa. its proponents, it purportedly was designed to encourage South Africa to gradually discard the most odious elements THE PEOPLE'S PLATFORM of its apartheid system; to hasten an international settlement and an end to South Africa's illegal occupation of STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLE Namibia; and to defuse tensions in southern Africa In the choice between war and peace, we choose the caused—in the main—by South Africa's repeated acts of reduction of tension—leading to peace—through the instru- aggression and destabilization against sovereign ment of diplomatic negotiation and a policy of nonmilitary neighboring states. intervention. An immediate reduction of tensions can be Constructive engagement—flawed and wrong-headed achieved by elimination of the East-West framework for from its inception—has been a dismal failure. More criti- United States relations with other nations, especially with cally, it has provided tacit encouragement to the racist Pre- the Third World. We specifically encourage a North-South toria regime, and has given it a shield behind which it could

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 25 increase its desultory tactics on the Namibia negotiations permitted the negotiations to sink in a quagmire of its own mandated by UN Resolution 435; tighten the noose of op- making. By introducing an irrelevant issue—Cuban troop pression on its indigenous population through its home- presence in Angola—the United States has given South Af- lands policy, state-sponsored terrorism, torture, and deten- rica yet another reason to act in bad faith on the question of tion of those who oppose apartheid; and increase acts of ending its illegal occupation. The United States must imme- military aggression. Constructive engagement places the diately uncouple the Cuban troop question—an issue not at United States firmly on the side of a pariah state that has all a part of UN Resolution 435, and the result of a bilateral violated all norms of international law and conduct. It has agreement between two sovereign nations in keeping with discredited the United States in the eyes of would-be allies, Angola's urgent defense needs because of repeated South African incursions and financial support of antigovernment guerrillas—from the ongoing negotiations. Since the other parties to the negotiations have continued to strive for Reso- lution 435's implementation, the United States must adopt a firmer policy and use all means at its disposal to secure South African cooperation, including the implementation of various political and economic pressures or multilateral Black sanctions permitted by Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Coalition Finally, the policy of constructive engagement, and its tacit support for the racist regime, flies in the face of repeated bipartisan pronouncements of U.S. support of the political freedoms, civil liberties, and human rights of all the peoples in the region. The denial of democratic majority rule in South Af- rica and Namibia places the economic development of the region and U.S. economic and strategic interests at great risk as domestic and trans-country violence escalates. The recent domestic bombings and South African retaliatory raids are but a harbinger of tragedies to come. Without a radically changed policy and salutary actions by the United States, the often predicted upheaval within South Africa and the region Peoples will only come more quickly.

Platform RECOMMENDATION The current administration's policy of "constructive engagement" towards South Africa has been thoroughly discredited. The policy must be immediately abandoned in favor of a more realistic, and more compelling, policy of isolation of South Africa until it ends the repugnant policies of apartheid; provides full human and political rights for all its citizens, including the majority black population; and ends the wanton acts of aggression against sovereign neighboring states in the southern African region.

• The United States must renew its efforts to secure good- faith negotiations by South Africa on the question of Nami- bian independence, as required by UN Security Council and has, ironically, created a situation in which Soviet influ- Resolution 435. In addition, the question of Cuban troops ence in Africa may increase as the official United States in Angola should be uncoupled from the negotiations. position on South Africa continually is repudiated. • In light of South Africa's continued intransigence on the Constructive engagement must be immediately dis- Namibia question, and its repeated incursions against carded in favor of a more stringent, compelling stand against sovereign states within the southern African region South Africa. Elements of constructive engagement—in- amounting to a campaign of destablilization, the United cluding the relaxation of trade restrictions and arms embar- States must consider imposition of comprehensive eco- gos, the exchange of high-level military missions, the nomic and political sanctions as permitted by Chapter VII opening of more South African consulates in the United of the UN Charter. States, the provision of landing rights to South Africa Air- • The arms embargo against South Africa must be reim- lines, and U.S. support for South Africa in multilateral organ- posed without conditions. izations—must be rescinded. For example, the U.S.' • All diplomatic links with South Africa in this country in- shameful support for the recent $1 billion International cluding the opening of new consulates, visits by military Monetary Fund loan to South Africa—a loan amount which, attaches and other high-ranking government officials, air- not so coincidentally, tracks the amount of South Africa's craft landing rights, training of military and security per- projected military buildup—can only increase instability in sonnel, and provision of other services should be curtailed the region. until South Africa conforms its behavior to international With particular regard to Namibia, the United States has norms and law. c

26 AFRICA REPORT - May-June 1984 Pretoria's staunches! critics, have acquiesced to South Africa's bid- South Africa presses its neighbors ding. The joint monitoring commission in an effort to isolate ANC, Swapo of South African and Angolan Pretoria's success in extracting a which Mozambique found itself. troops in southern Angola clashed nonaggression pact from Mozam- Zimbabwe has long claimed that at least three times with Swapo in- bique, the revelation that South Af- dissidents in Matabeleland are surgents during March while the rica and Swaziland have had a for- armed and trained by South Africa. South Africans continued their mal peace agreement for over two But now the South African-backed withdrawal into northern Namibia. years, and recent South Africa-An- Mozambique National Resistance Angolan troops joined South Afri- gola joint military actions have (MNR)—which, underthe Nkomati can forces lo seal off a large section given South Africa's other neigh- accords, is supposed to be cut off of southern Angola to prevent bors reason to be concerned that from South African support—has Swapo fighters from filtering into they too will be pressured into sign- also taken aim at Zimbabwe. In Namibia. South Africa claims to ing agreements. South Africa ap- March, the MNR attacked a convoy have killed 135 Swapo guerrillas pears to be trying to recreate the of trucks traveling from Malawi to since the joint monitoring commis- "buffer zone" that it enjoyed be- Zimbabwe, causing more than $2 sion was set up on February 16. An- fore Angola and Mozambique be- million in damage. MNR slogans gola denies that its troops have came independent and Zimbabwe calling for the downfall of Mugabe's killed any Swapo forces. gained majority rule. government have appeared outside ANC vows to fight alone Botswana and Lesotho have Harare. As the Mozambique-South Af- stated that they believe Pretoria is Clashes in Angola rica joint security commission met trying lo intimidate them as a part of The most disturbing element to for the first time last month in Ma- its effort to isolate the banned Afri- the other southern African states is puto. Mozambican soldiers and po- can National Congress (ANC). the apparent readiness with which lice raided virtually all the homes of Though Botswana and Lesotho in- Mozambique and Angola, formerly Continued on next page sist that there are no ANC military bases on their territories. South Af- rican security officials claim that there is "some ANC military activ- Congress ready to compromise and ity" in the two nations. Botswana's President Quctt Ma- approve sanctions on South Africa sire said, "South Africa is bullying Members of a U.S. House-Senate statement. . . there is room for ma- us all [frontline states| into signing conference committee on the Ex- neuver." accords." And Lesotho charges port Administration Act are pre- The House version of the bill also that South Africa is carrying out a pared to sit down to a lengthy de- contains four other amendments constant "campaign of destabiliza- bate on the differing versions of the which ban imports of Krugcrrands. tion and unbridled interference" legislation. The House version of prohibit U.S. banks from lending aimed at the government of Prime the bill contains amendments which money to South Africa, forbid U.S. Minister Leabua Jonathan. place controls on U.S. investment nuclear exports to South Africa. Still, southern African states in South Africa. The Senate bill has and make the Sullivan Principles have little choice but to deal with no such restrictions, but Senate mandatory for U.S. firms operating South Africa. The South African staffers have reported that "the in South Africa. foreign minister, R. F. Botha held senators have indicated a willing- Proponents of the House amend- security talks with his Botswanan ness to compromise." ments don't expect to get every- counterpart, Archie Mogwe. in The most controversial part of thing they want, but most are confi- Cape Town in February and in the legislation is the Gray amend- dent that some of the sanctions will March. Botha also met with Le- ment, which would prohibit new survive the conference. "It will be sotho's foreign minister. E.R. U.S. investment in South Africa. extremely difficult to pass the con- Sekhonyana. in Johannesburg in Conference committee member ference report in the House if all late February and again in April. Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.) was quoted those provisions are dropped." said As for Zimbabwe. Prime Minister in the Washington l*ost as saying Rep. William Gray HI (D-Pa.). Robert Mugabe said that he sup- that the Gray amendment "would The Reagan administration has ported the Pretoria-Maputo accord. sink the bill." but a congressional lobbied against the restrictions and but added that there were signs that aide commented that Heinz's re- threatened to veto the legislation if South Africa was trying to force mark "was not a no-compromise it contains the sanctions. • Zimbabwe into the same situation in

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 27 SOUTH AFRICA continued ing the next months. The nonaggression pacts may the ANC in the capital, confiscating The ANC will now have to use its have the unexpected result of mut- weapons and money and detaining influence in trade unions, quasi-po- ing the animosity among the diver- several ANC members. Although litical organizations and student and gent political views of black South Mozambique will now be keeping church groups to step up its organiz- Africans. The Azanian People's Or- close tabs on the ANC, it has so far ing within South Africa. But the ganization (AZAPO) has called on resisted South African pressure to ANC's role in legal organizations black South Africans to "galvanize completely expel the organization. will have to be delicately balanced all the forces we can marshal to to avoid government crackdowns come together and work out a joint on signs of effective political action. strategy." • Army steps in after Sekou Toure dies While Guinea was still stunned by was begun quickly. The new gov- the death of President Ahmed Se- ernment, calling the Sekou Toure kou Toure only days before, the; regime a "bloody and merciless dic- armed forces deposed the civilian tatorship," announced a general cabinet. The April 3 coup was led by amnesty for all citizens imprisoned Col. Lansana Conte, the 39-year- under the previous government, old commander of the Boke region and the released political prisoners near the border with Guinea-Bis- thronged the streets of Conakry. sau. Observers believe that the The CMRN also pledged to exam- coup was timed to prevent a power ine cases of citizens whose property struggle among Sekou Toure's had been seized by revolutionary close relatives, several of whom committees under Sekou Toure. were eager to succeed him as head Conte claimed that no officials from of state. the previous regime would be exe- ANC President Oliver Tambo: Sekou Toure, who died during cuted, although many would face Preparing to stand alone emergency heart surgery in Cleve- trial. land, was one of the founding fa- In Swaziland, police have staged thers of African nationalism and The CMRN then began abolish- raids throughout the country in had been Guinea's only president ing many of the socialist economic since independence in 1958. structures established by Sekou search of fugitive ANC members Toure. Many state-run corpora- accused of entering illegally from Two days after the coup, the Mili- tions will be privatized, and free en- Mozambique. Other South African tary Committee for National Re- terprise will be encouraged. Al- exiles in Swaziland, many of whom covery (CMRN) announced the for- though Guinea has enormous po- have been living there for years un- mation of Guinea's new govern- tential—with two-thirds of the der official refugee status, have ment. Conte became president. world's proven bauxite reserves, as been ordered to leave the country. Col. Diarra Traore was named well as gold, diamonds, iron ore, The ANC issued a statement ex- prime minister, and six civilians uranium, petroleum, and abundant pressing "grave concern lover the were included among the 30 minis- hydroelectric power—its economy expulsions| particularly since there ters and two secretaries of state. All was battered by Sekou Toure's de- are persistent reports that some of three of Guinea's major ethnic structive policies, which included a these refugees may be handed over groups—the Fulani, the Malinkc. complete ban on private business to the police of the murderous Pre- and the Sousou—are represented in activity. Sekou Toure's political re- toria regime." the new cabinet. (In recent years. pression also drove at least a million ANC President Oliver Tambo has Sekou Toure had purged his gov- Guineans into exile, further crip- refrained from criticizing Swaziland ernment of officials not belonging to pling the economy. and Mozambique and vowed to in- his own Malinke people.) tensify the struggle. "If we are left According to the CMRN, there French sources claim that the last to stand alone and fight alone, then was no opposition to the coup, and reserves in Guinea's central bank— that is what we shall do." he said. "not a single shot was fired." Only 17 tons of gold—ran out in the final Tambo has maintained that the three days after it took over, the weeks of Sekou Toure's life, and ANC has decreased its reliance on CMRN was able to drop restrictions that the Guinean treasury is now ab- outside countries and has infiltrated on union activities, open the air- solutely empty. The CMRN has large numbers of guerrillas into port, and lift the curfew. been warmly welcomed by the South Africa since the agreement The CMRN named the restora- Guinean people, but it now must at- with Mozambique was signed. tion of human rights and the renova- tempt to resurrect the nation's Tambo said that ANC activity tion of the Guinean economy as its economy after two decades of de- would "reach its highest peak" dur- two highest priorities. The first task pression. •

28 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 the monopoly over politics once re- Sankara defies history in tained by a small elite, but observers believe that he also hopes that challenge to Upper Volta's unions the CDRs will counterbalance the In Upper Volla—where illiteracy All of Sankara's predecessors enormous power of the trade un- is as high as 90 percent and where found the unions a constant hin- ions. party politics have been monopo- drance. Near the end of the Lami- One of the teachers* unions, the lized by a tiny elite—the trade un- /.ana government. Upper Volta av- National Union of African Teachers ions, composed of more than 10.000 eraged one strike every three of Upper Volta (SNHAHV). which civil servants, have dominated po- weeks. The unions' strikes and im- helped lead the union drive for a litical life to an extent unrivalled perious demands have made it im- "'return to normal constitutional elsewhere in Africa. possible for any administration to life" in the 1970s, has clashed re- By calling a strike, the unions can enact effective austerity measures peatedly with Sankara. accusing cripple Upper Volta's scanty public or a comprehensive development him of "taking anti-worker mea- services at will, causing complete plan. sures." SNEAHV's criticism is economic paralysis. The unions Since coming to power. Sankara partly motivated by rivalry with have used their control over the has repeatedly pledged to ensure Toure's union, the Confederation of fragile economy to extract conces- the independence of the Voltaic la- Voltaic Unions (CSV), which has sions from every government. Go- bor movement. But recent events close connections to the Patriotic ing far beyond considerations of sal- indicate that Sankara may become League for Development, a party ary and work conditions, the unions ensnared in a continual wrangle heavily represented in Sankara's have insisted on the removal of cor- with organized labor. government. rupt public officials, demanded a Sankara's most important inno- But Toure is also concerned more equitable distribution of food vation is the Revolutionary Defense about the possible encroachment of aid. and forced successive govern- Committees (CDRs). a "mass the CDRs on union authority. He ments to withdraw decisions that movement" seeking to mobilize the said in an interview that "the unions the unions considered unjust. One populace in a combination of con- have always been the driving force administration was even forced to struction, maintenance, and agri- for democracy in Upper Volta. . . appoint Zoumana Toure. Upper cultural work. Sankara has stated the CDRs are a catch-all. What are Volta's most powerful union leader, that the coal of the CDRs is to end they going to do'.' Inform on people? as minister of labor. Governments seeking to restrict or outlaw the unions have either The Africa Cup goes commercial been forced to back down after mas- The Africa Cup. the championship of Africa's national soccer teams, was sive strikes or have simply been held in Abidjan in March. Cameroon defeated Nigeria in the final, 3-1, but squeezed out of office by the un- the greatest prize may have been won by a Swiss promotional firm. Rofa ions. Since independence in 1960. Sport Management, which was awarded the first contract ever given to the trade unions have been instru- market commercial rights during the tournament. The African Football Fed- mental in every change of govern- eration, which runs the tournament, granted Rofa exclusive commercial ment; and, until 1982. all of Upper rights through 1987. Volta's coups were bloodless, Rofa paid just under $300,000 for permission to sell and distribute televi- largely because of the unions' sion time, programs and tickets, sponsorship rights, advertisements in offi- power to make governments resign cial publications and in the stadiums at Abidjan and Bouakc. products bear- peaceably. ing the mascots and insigniasof the competing teams, and even the contracts Massive strikes forced President to compose special music for the tournament. Maurice Yameogo to abdicate in While Rofa will reap substantial profits from the deal—one source 1966. pressured President Sangoule claimed that Rofa was selling broadcast rights to television stations for Lamizana to form a civilian govern- $100,000 each—local merchants were left out in the cold. Small business- ment a decade later, and weakened men, who had expected to manufacture the trinkets and paraphernalia nor- that government so drastically by mally associated with sporting events, suddenly found that they could not 1980 that Col. Saye Zerbo seized obtain legal rights for any products. Furthermore, although negotiations power. Zerbo's restrictions on un- were underway with African television officials, it was possible that the ion activities and his arrest of Toure Africa Cup would not be seen in many African nations unable to pay the high were cited among the reasons for cost of the broadcast rights. his overthrow by Maj. .fean-Bap- The money paid by Rofa to the Federation will subsidize general operating tiste Ouedraogo in 1982. In the costs for the tournament and will help defray travel and lodging expenses power struggle between Ouedraogo when the African champions play other teams around the world. Many of and his prime minister. Thomas those foreign teams are also promoted by Rofa and have benefitled from the Sankara. who overthrew him last international exposure the Swiss company provides. The Federation hopes August, the unions supported that African soccer will gain new prestige from the same exposure. • Sankara.

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 198-1 29 The resolution of differences between employers and workers will still have to depend on the unions, Press notes not the CDRs." So far, Toure has The Washington Times has published a series of editorials criticizing the stopped short of stronger criticism. Reagan administration's policies in southern Africa. The thrust of the pa- SNEAHV, however, clashed per's commentary is that the U.S. should be actively working for the over- openly with the government in throw of the MPLA government in Angola and the entrenchment of the March. The union went on a two- South Africans in Namibia because a South African withdrawal would leave day strike in response to the arrest the "pro-democratic" forces in the area, presumably Unita, "scrapping for of three university teachers accused whatever they could negotiate, which would end up being a choice between of "subversive activities." The the firing squad and the crocodile pit." government retaliated by firing all "The political future of Namibia remains uncertain," says the Times, the teachers who participated in the "and will so continue as long as a single Cuban soldier remains on Angolan strike. soil, imperiling the free choice of Namibia's voters if the territory is declared In the past, teachers' strikes have independent." usually spread throughout the civil Much of the Times' reporting from Angola has come from Fred Reed, service, inspiring the other unions a.k.a. Rick Venablc, roving correspondent for Soldier ofFortune. to join in a crippling general strike. But this time, the government has Doe squeezes, Stevens eases stood firm. The three arrested teachers have not been released, After closing down the independent Daily Observer for its "hostile" atti- and the summary dismissal of the tudes, the government of Liberian head of state Samuel Doe arrested Willis strikers was supported by the uni- Knuckles, a writer for the paper. Knuckles was detained after filing a report versity students' CDR. The strike with the foreign press about the shutdown of the Daily Observer. Liberia is has not yet spread to other trade un- now without a daily newspaper. ions. In neighboring Sierra Leone, however, the press has recovered some of its Sankara remains popular among freedom after 11 newspapers ceased publishing in late 1983. At least five Voltaic students, and he is counting independent newspapers have been revived so far this year. Difficulties in on their loyalty and the strength of publishing the government papers have apparently led the authorities to the CDRs to keep the other unions relax the restrictions placed on independent publications. The independent from turning against him. It will be a press in Sierra Leone has traditionally been outspoken, covering stories of difficult balance to maintain. No corruption and ethnic unrest ignored by the government press. president of Upper Volta has ever been able to retain authority once BBC'Hocks the Botha' the trade unions have begun to op- The South African embassy in London has lodged an official protest to the pose his policies. • BBC over the airing of a show called "Rocking the Botha." The embassy reported that in the show "three draft dodgers spoke of sickness and brutal- GHANA ity within South African society." The show in question was produced under a 10-year-old program in which Protests to neighbors the BBC provides different groups with a camera crew, production facilities, Ghana has protested to Ivory and a free editorial hand in putting together a show. Three white South Coast and Togo over their alleged Africans now living in Britain were responsible for this particular broadcast. roles in the March 23 infiltration of South African officials specifically objected to a satirical skit in which a Ghana by dissidents opposed to the black house maid, described as an "afromatic," ("the efficient, economical government of Fit. Lt. Jerry Rawl- South African labor-saving device which does the job indoors or out") is ings. The Ghanaian government hauled off by men dressed as South African police. The officials complained claimed to possess ' 'evidence that the scene left the impression that it had been filmed in South Africa which established beyond all rea- when it was actually staged in Britain. • sonable doubt that some of the dissidents. . . |wcre] trained and sures. The cedi. Ghana's unit of gulf between official and black-mar- planned in Ivory Coast and Togo." currency, was devalued by 14.3 per- ket currency exchange rates, is ex- Seven dissidents were killed by cent in the 19X4 budget announced pected to reduce inflation and help government forces at points near in March; that move comes after control smuggling and shortages of the lvorian and Togolese borders last October's 90 percent devalua- food. But it will reduce the actual and three others were captured and tion. The Trades Union Congress gain to be derived by workers from executed by firing squad. The exe- (TUC) had demanded a 1000 per- the increased minimum wage. cuted men had been sentenced to cent increase in the minimum wage. In his speech on the anniversary death in absentia for their role in a but Rawlings" government felt that of Ghanaian independence, Rawl- coup attempt last June. 60 percent was the largest possible ings announced plans to form a rep- Meanwhile, the government has increase within IMF guidelines. resentative national assembly. proceeded with its austerity mea- The devaluation, by narrowing the Rawlings said that "the govern-

30 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 ments and people of our country In granting asylum to Saiide Ma- maintaining the French presence have failed to work together to im- ria, Portugal is departing from its re- will be reduced by 20 percent, and plement policies and programs. . ." cent policy. Because the violent re- the 1985 cost will be half that of and that "there is evidence of pression of the independence move- 1983. mounting despair, deepening apa- ment in Portugal's African colonies The French technical advisers, thy, and growing withdrawal and re- led to the 1974 military coup in Lis- known in Ivory Coast as "atls jection of national responsibility on bon. Portugal has tried since then to blanc.s" (white-tails) from the color the part of the ordinary people." improve relations with its former of their license plates, have been Rawlings pledged that, in prepara- colonies. important to the Ivorian economy tion for the new political structure, In 1979, when the ousted prime since 1965, when President Felix the membership of the Provisional minister of Sao Tome and Principe. Houphouct-Boigny embarked on National Defense Council

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 31 MAURITANIA NIGERIA All shook up The military agenda In March, less than two weeks af- As the evidence of corruption un- ter extending diplomatic recogni- der the Shagari regime piles up to tion to the Sahaiawi Arab Demo- mountainous proportions, the gov- cratic Republic (Western Sahara), ernment of Gen. Muhammadu Bu- President Mohamed Khouna Ould hari is moving to establish trial pro- Haidalla announced an extensive cedures to judge the accused. A tri- cabinet reshuffle. Haidalla moved bunal has been set up to try the 475 his prime minister, Maaouya Ould currently detained politicians and Sid'Ahmed Taya, to army chief of businessmen, as well as any exiled staff and demoted Col. Ahmed Ould figures who can be repatriated, on Abdallah from minister of interior charges of corruption and economic to commander of the Zoucratc ad- mismanagement. The tribunal con- ministrative area. Haidalla himself sists of High Court judges as well as assumed the portfolios of prime senior military officers. Among the minister and minister of defense. President Mohamed Khouna Ould Haidalla most prominent defendants will be Days later he also shook up the mili- deposed President Shchu Shagari, tary command, dropping the deputy tion were arrested in late March. against whom no concrete allega- chief of staff. Lt.-Col. Moulay Ould They were accused of distributing tions have yet been made; ex-Vice Boukhreis. "seditious leaflets" and were impli- President Alex Ekwueme. accused cated in recent disturbances at of hoarding cash in his home and of Prime Minister Taya was shifted schools in Nouakchott. The radio "fixing" contracts and commis- to army chief of staff after having also accused the group of "foment- sions: and the former governor of tried to remove the military gover- ing racial hatred." which may sug- Kano state. Sabo Bakin Zuwo, who nor of Nouakchott, a close friend of gest that blacks from the south, is alleged to have stashed more than Haidalla's, on charges of financial where a separatist movement is $4 million in his home. mismanagement. Haidalla retained growing, are behind the distur- the Nouakchott governor and in- bances. The southerners resent the Attacking the debt stead removed the governors of predominance of ethnic Moors in Nouadhibou and Zoueratc. the central government and oppose Army Chief of Staff Tunde Boukhreis refused to be posted as the recognition of the SADR. • Idiagbon recently said that the Ni- governor of Ncma region, so he was gerian external debt now exceeded placed in charge of the military NIGER $7.5 billion. Nigeria's trade arrears academy at Atar. amount to nearly $6 billion. Interim consolidation The magnitude of the debt has The reshuffled officials were no Niger's ambitious 1979-83 devel- forced the government to seek re- longer considered "unconditionally opment plan could not be com- schedulings from private creditors loyal" to Haidalla. Their new posts pletely fulfilled when the price of and a new loan from the IMF. At scatter the officials into the remote uranium, Niger's principal export, least $3 billion of Nigeria's trade ar- areas of the country, a banishment fell sharply during that time. In rears is being renegotiated with a intended to prevent them from place of a new five-year plan, the group of more than 350 foreign com- forming coherent opposition to government of President Seyni panies, while in late March Nigeria Haidalla's rule. Kountche has adopted an "interim renegotiated the $300 million it There have recently been signs program for economic consolida- owes to ITT—the government's that Haidalla's authority is weaken- tion" for 1984-85. largest single private debt. The ne- ing. Several of the demoted cabinet The interim program cuts back gotiations on the aggregate $3 bil- members opposed the recognition public investments by 50 percent lion sum are contingent upon the of the SADR. which they felt would and continues previous commit- IMF granting a new loan in approxi- draw Mauritania back into the ments, adopted under the advice of mately that amount. Western Sahara war, from which the IMF, to reduce parastatal or- The progress in relieving the bil- the country officially withdrew in ganizations. Several economic ac- lions in trade arrears will not affect 1979. tivities formerly monopolized by the cost of servicing the national Nouakchott radio also referred state companies, including the im- debt. Debt service costs, estimated recently to a "secret organization portation of processed foods, have at $3.8 billion for 1984. are expected that, with the collaboration of hos- been turned over to private busi- to rise to $5.3 billion by 1986. and no tile foreign sources, was intent on ness in recent months. decline is foreseen until at least disturbing the security and stability Niger's public debt service in 1988. In the next two to three years. of the country." The foreign 1984 is now expected to exceed $70 debt service costs will consume half sources were not named, but the million, more than $27 million of Nigeria's oil export revenues, broadcast said thai a group of peo- above the amount allotted for debt causing further shortages of foreign ple belonging to the secret organiza- service in the 1984 budget. • exchange and forcing the govern-

32 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 merit to reduce imports. Business- men and consumers accustomed to greater availability of imports are Europeans call U.S. aid 'inadequate' likely to grow restless. Buhari him- Europe's finance ministers tentatively decided in carh April to lake up self said recently, "We never imag- some of the slack left by the U.S. decision to reduce its funding for the ined the economy was so bad, but International Development Association (IDA). The IDA provides interest- now we have seen how bad it is." free long-term loans to the world's poorest countries. The government has already The European countries have not hidden their irritation with the U.S. come under pressure from the labor decision to provide only $750 million per year out of the SI billion that was unions. The pilots, crews, and engi- expected. Since the U.S. is committed to contributing 259? of the total fund. neers of Nigeria Airways went on the unilateral American reduction decreased the total pool of funds from $12 strike in late March, protesting cuts billion to S9 billion over the three-year period 1985-87. The British Chancel- in (light allowances. The govern- lor. Nigel Lawson. called the reduced figure "inadequate and a matter for ment ordered the strikers to return regret." by March 26 or be fired. The airline "Europe's irritation is understandable." said the Financial 'limes. "It is employees did not heed the dead- exacerbated further by the fact that many of the developing countries' finan- line and were fired as promised. cial problems stem partly from the imbalance in U.S. monetary and fiscal However, negotiations continued policy, while the U.S. spends only about halfasmuehonaid. in relation to its after the dismissals. national income, as France. Germany, or Britain." Potentially more serious is the The rules of the IDA prohibit other members from raising the ceiling on verbal sparring match between Bu- funds without the agreement of the U.S. Therefore the European countries hari and the Nigeria Labor Con- have proposed the creation of a separate $3 billion fund to circumvent the gress (NLC). Since assuming U.S. rejection of the $12 billion figure which all the other countries have power, Buhari has often said that it agreed upon. • was more important to control prices than to increase wages. He tional Assembly is now full. The President-for-Life Siaka Stevens. has called that approach "a real seat won by Cheikh Anta Diop. In February, members of the Sierra wage policy," saying: "If your leader of the National Democratic Leonean community in the U.S. money wage can buy ten loaves of Rally (RND). was finally occupied staged a protest in Washington, bread and we manage to reduce the in March by Babacar Niang. who D.C. The protestors expressed soli- price of bread so that the same heads a faction of the RND known darity with the FBC students and money can buy 20 loaves of the as the Party for the Liberation of the demonstrated against what they same size bread as before, your real People (PLP). Diop refused to take called Sierra Leone's "oppressive wage has doubled." The NLC, his seat as an act of protest against economic conditions." After (he however, has stressed the impor- the results of the general elections, march, the groups began to plan tance of wage increases as well. which he claimed had been rigged in their merger into an umbrella organ- In a late March meeting with the favor of the ruling Socialist Party ization of opposition forces that NLC. Buhari reiterated his view (PS) of President Abdou Diouf. would seek to achieve "democracy that workers would only hurt them- Niang announced his agreement to and development in Sierra Leone." selves and the nation by demanding take Diop's seal during an extraor- Ambrose Ganda. the founder and higher salaries. In reply, Alhaji Ali dinary session convened on the de- chairman of the London-based Si- Chiroma, head of the NLC. pledged mand of the 81 PS deputies. erra Leone Alliance Movement overall support for the government The Assembly also adopted a bill (SLAM), made a six-week tour of but strongly criticized specific gov- reducing the term of the assembly the U.S., calling for unity among ernment policies, especially cut- president from five years to one the opposition groups. He was as- backs instate schools and hospitals. year, subject to renewal at each an- sisted by Pios Foray, the former ed- He added that a devaluation of the nual session. That move weakens itor of the banned Freetown newpa- naira. which the government has the tenure of Habib Thiam. who per The Table!, who fled to the U .S. been hinting at, would only add to in 1981. the dissatisfaction of the workers. was named as assembly president According to Chiroma, the NLC when Diouf abolished the post of The first sign of unity among the might have no choice but to call a prime minister, which Thiam for- opposition movements was a joint general strike if the government merly occupied. Thiam, as assem- statement that they issued in sup- does not change its policy on wages bly president, is Diouf's designated port of the FBC student movement and cutbacks. • successor as head of state. • and a return to multi-party rule in Sierra Leone. SIERRA LEONE SENEGAL At home, Stevens' government Opposition alliance faces more immediate problems. In- Parliamentary changes Student riots earlier this year at flation and smuggling have caused After more than a year of disputes Fourah Bay College (FBC) in severe food shortages. At the urging following the general elections of Freetown have galvanized coopera- of the president. Parliament re- February 1983. the Senegalese Na- tion among exiled opponents of cently amended a 1962 price control

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 33 law. giving the government more change. ary. Though these reports were de- control over marketing and distri- Stevens claims that the resched- nied when Mengistu visited Mos- bution of food. The new law also uling and the new IMF loan will en- cow, sources insist that the expul- stipulates that hoarders or smug- courage industrial and agricultural sions did occur after the Soviet glers of food will be severely fined production and will help revive Si- officials tried to promote the ad- or imprisoned for long terms. erra Leone's debilitated economy. vancement of some pro-Soviet The "ParisClub" of international However, the new financial ar- Ethiopian officials. financiers recently rescheduled $50 rangements will not affect the de- Critics of U.S. policy in the Horn million of Sierra Leone's $400 mil- creasing value of the national cur- feel that the U.S. has ignored op- lion debt, the third rescheduling in rency, the leone, and the high ex- portunities to capitalize on open- seven years. Just before the meet- port taxes which encourage ings offered by the Ethiopians, giving of the Paris Club, the Interna- smuggling. Nor will these measures ing the Soviets the upper hand in tional Monetary Fund approved a improve the situation of the subsis- Ethiopia. They say that the failure $5! .7 million loan to Sierra Leone to tence farmers, who make up 75 per- of the U.S. to pursue high-level con- provide badly needed foreign ex- cent of the population. • tacts has undercut the iniluence of pro-Western factions within the Ethiopian government. A U.S. Congressional delegation which visited Addis Ababa last Au- Mengistu visits Moscow to firm gust returned with the impression that the Ethiopians were interested up shaky Ethiopian-Soviet alliance in improving bilateral relations. The During his late March visit to tion; and a group that has been de- delegation recommended a U.S. Moscow, Ethiopian leader scribed as radical nationalists, some diplomatic initiative to strengthen Mengistu Haile Mariam received a of whom lean toward the West, ties. Last October. Ethiopian For- welcome befitting one of the Soviet while others favor the Soviet Un- eign Minister Goshu Wolde, in the Union's closest allies. He met with ion. Sources with high-level con- U.S. for the opening of the UN Gen- Soviet Communist Party leader tacts in the Ethiopian government eral Assembly, met with U.S. Sec- Konstantin Cherncnko. Foreign have estimated that the pro-West- retary of State George Shultz. None Minister Andrei Gromyko, and De- ern faction, together with their sym- of these gestures, however, has fense Minister Dimitry Ustinov. pathizers among the radical nation- been followed up by any aggressive Tass reported that the meetings alists, constitute around 859£ of the diplomacy. were "warm and friendly." Central Committee. Still, the formation of a commu- Chernenko. in a speech honoring Soviet pressure on the Ethiopians nist party continues under the aus- Mengistu, criticized U.S. foreign to form a communist party is in part pices of the Commission for Orga- policy, singling out recent events in an effort to institutionalize the party nizing the Party of Working People southern Africa. The Soviets also before the individual inclinations of of Ethiopia (COPWE). If the proc- pledged to continue aid to Ethiopia, members of the Central Committee ess continues on schedule, by Sep- and Mengistu praised the Soviet send the revolution "astray." The tember Ethiopia will have the only Union for its aid to Africa. Soviet pressure was illustrated by completely functioning Soviet-style Despite this exchange of pleas- reports that Ethiopia had expelled communist party in Africa. • antries, the purpose of Mengistu's two Soviet diplomats in late Febru- visit was to reinforce the shaky So- viet-Ethiopian relationship. The DJIBOUTI Soviets, who feel that they are los- Staying neutral ing influence in Angola and Mozam- Ethiopian head of state Mengistu bique, are trying to solidify their re- Haile Mariam visited Djibouti in lationship with Ethiopia and are late March, and Djibouti's Presi- anxious over the lack of enthusiasm dent Hassan Gouled Aptidon took with which the Ethiopians have the opportunity once again to offer been moving toward the formation his country's services as a regional of a communist party. Much of this mediator. "The Republic of Dji- reluctance can be explained by bouti pursues a non-aligned policy Ethiopia's internal politics. in the current tension prevailing in The country is ruled by the 93- this region, and urges, and is always member Central Committee, which prepared to take on. a mediation Mengistu heads. Observers of the role if those countries concerned re- regime have categorized the com- quest it." Thus far, however, no mittee members into three factions: one has taken up Gouied's offer. a pro-Soviet faction; a basically Mengistu's visit to Djibouti came Western-educated pro-West fac- Mengistu: Feeling Soviet pressure a few days after a Kenyan delega-

34 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 tion visited, and while joint French- with an attack upon the politicians Djibouti military maneuvers were in who first reported the incident. The progress. There are over 4000 government said that the claims French military personnel perma- were •'meant to incite loyal Somalis nently stationed in Djibouti. • against their good Kenyan government." A government official accused the Wajir politicians of "per- KENYA petrating clanism for their own Massacre in Wajir ends." Kenyan security forces have The government has also charged been accused of the massacre of that the current violence in the ethnic Somalis in Wajir district in Northeast Province is an organized I he predominantly Somali-inhab- effort with "an eventual foreign ob- ited Northeastern Province. Inde- jective." It was claimed that an or- pendent esiimates of the number of ganization called Inria (Somali for people killed have ranged from 300 tribal confederation), backed by to 1000. Kenyan Somali leaders and a Nai- The massacre, which took place robi-based firm acting as a livestock Njonjo: Implicated in Mboya assassination over a five-day period in February. agency, has been responsible for was first reported by two members the recent violence in Wajir district. and an early supporter of Njonjo. of Parliament from the area. Ahmed Aside from publishing the gov- has also been dragged into the in- Khalif and Abdi Mohammed ernment's denials, the Kenyan quiry with the allegation that he was Sheikh, While making the charges, press has ignored the claims. The slated for the vice presidential post Khalif produced photographs reluctance of the independent press in the planned Njonjo government. showing piles of charred bodies. Af- to cover the stories, however, is un- According to testimony. Oloitipitip ter receiving no response for over a derstandable. In 1980, a similar was supposed to have travelled the month. Khalif again repeated his event took place in the town of country making impossible prom- claims in lale March, and he asked Garissa, further to the south. Re- ises on behalf of the Moi govern- for the resignation of the district ports from foreign missionaries ment in order to sow discontent. commissioner. charged that the government troops Observers have noted that the in- The violence reportedly started killed hundreds of people, looted quiry, which is clearly designed to with a clash between two Somali and burned homes, raped women. discredit Njonjo. is also having the clans, the Degodia and Ajuran. Lo- and even attacked and set fire to a effect of discrediting the govern- cal police (hen called for assistance mission orphanage. The Kenyan ment. The abuses and petty corrup- from the General Service Unit press also ignored that incident with tion with which Njonjo is being (GSU). a special branch of the Ken- the exception of Kenya's Viva mag- charged are not uncommon among yan military which several years azine. Viva's editor at the time and other members of Kenya's ruling ago had been banned from the prov- the reporter who covered the story elite. As a powerful figure under ince after similar allegations of both now live in exile, partially as a both Kenyatta and Moi. and in all atrocities. The GSU rounded up result of that incident. likelihood the most powerful man in Degodia men for questioning and The government has set up a Kenya during Kenyatta's final searched their homes for arms and commission to investigate the latest years. Njonjo. more than any other ammunition. Acording to a Wajir charges. individual, is a symbol of post-colo- town counselor. Sugal Abdullahi nial government in Kenya. By rais- Unshur. "Some I of the victims] Njonjo inquiry continues ing the issue of Mboya's assassina- were burned alive, some were killed A Watergate-like mood prevails tion, the inquiry has revived ques- with stones, and some were shot in Kenya, where the proceedings of tions about the role played by dead." the Charles Njonjo treason inquiry Kenyatta's government. Daniel Except for issuing a denial, the continue, with the newspapers arap Moi became vice president af- Kenyan government at first ignored printing every word. While many ter Mboya's death. the MPs* claims. The ruling party's charges are being heaped on paper said, "It is regrettable that Njonjo, the most significant devel- Death sentences some local leaders and the foreign opment is that he has now been im- Hezekiah Ochuka, the air force press have set upon themselves to plicated in the 1969 murder of Vice private who led Kenya's August distort the truth about the situation President Tom Mboya. Charges 1982 attempted coup, and Pancras in Wajir." have also been made that he at- Okumu, a former air force sergeant, In late March, the government fi- tempted to enlist the help of other have been sentenced to death by a nally admitted that 57 people had MPs to depose President Daniel court martial for treason. Ochuka been killed, but vehemently denied arap Moi. was convicted of 31 counts of trea- that the number was as high as 300. Stanley Oloitipitip. minister of lo- son. Employees of the Voice of The admission was also coupled cal government in Moi's cabinet Kemu radio station testified that on

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 35 the morning of the attempted coup, zambique proposed that Nyerere been a candidate, resigned in Ja- Ochuka entered the station, calling again stand unopposed for the presi- nuary. himself the chairman of the Peo- dency, a suggestion which was then ple's Redemption Council, and echoed by many Tanzanian organi- New president of Zanzibar forced them to announce the over- zations. Hassan Ali Mwinyi, who was throw of the government. If the 62-year-old Nyerere does named acting president of Zanzibar Once it was apparent that the resign, he will probably be a major in January, was the only candidate coup had failed, Ochuka and force in Tanzanian politics for some and landslide winner in Zanzibar's Okumu hijacked an air force plane time. It has been suggested that he presidential election which was to Tanzania, where they remained might retain the chairmanship of the held April 19. As president of Zanzi- until Kenya and Tanzania reached ruling party, a situation which could bar, he also holds the posts of chair- an agreement on the exchange of leave his successor as a figurehead. man of the Zanzibar Revolutionary political refugees late last year. Nyerere can be expected to ensure Council and vice president of Tan- Both men pleaded not guilty. that his departure will not lead to a zania. Ochuka claimed that a Kenyan offi- change in ideology in the part of the Mwinyi became acting president cial had offered him amnesty if he Tanzanian government. "It is not following the resignation of former would agree to implicate the former strange to change leadership. It Zanzibar President and Vice Presi- minister of constitutional affairs, would be shocking if we were to dent of Tanzania Aboud Jumbe. Charles Njonjo. in the plot. Okumu change our ideology." he said. Jumbe resigned in January after tak- claimed that he had participated in There has been much speculation ing responsibility for the growing the coup only after learning that about who will succeed the man secessionist movement on Zanzi- Njonjo was involved in another plot who has ruled Tanzania for 23 bar. which was scheduled for a few days years. The most obvious candidates Mwinyi. who is from the main- later. He said that the August I coup are Prime Minister Edward Sokoine land, has held several cabinet posts, attempt was designed to "destabi- and party secretary general Rashidi including minister for home affairs, lize" the Kenyan Air Force before Kawawa. Former vice president and was formerly Tanzania's am- Njonjo could use it for his own Aboud Jumbe, who might have bassador to Egypt. • coup. The court martial rejected this defense, saying that it was a matter for the Njonjo inquiry to look into. Ochuka and Okumu are the 12th Ahidjo loyalists fail, but take heavy toll, and 13th men to be sentenced to death in connection with the abort- in Cameroon's first coup attempt ive coup, though two of the earlier On April 6, at least 150 members "mopped up the last pockets of re- sentences were later commuted and of the Republican Guard, the spe- sistance." none has been carried out. • cial contingent of troops assigned to Casualties were heavy on both protect the presidential palace, at- sides. The government radio re- tempted to overthrow the govern- ferred to "massive destruction" TANZANIA ment of President Paul Biya.Lcd by and "many bodies in the streets." Nyerere to step down Col. Ibrahim Saleh, a close associ- The presidential palace was se- President Julius Nyerere has con- ate of Biya's predecessor Ahmadou verely damaged, and the residential firmed his intention to resign from Ahidjo, the rebels moved against neighborhoods of Meleng and Obili the presidency when his term ex- four targets: the presidential palace, were partially levelled. However, pires next year. Four years ago, Yaounde airport, the national radio no government officials were killed, Nyerere's announcement that he station, and the home of army chief and the rebel leader. Col. Saleh, would step down at the end of this of staff Gen. Pierre Semengue. was taken alive. term was met with some skepti- The rebels occupied the radio sta- The coup startled Western ob- cism. He had earlier pledged to re- tion long enough to announce the servers, who had considered Cam- sign in 1980 but then accepted the deposition of Biya's government eroon one of Africa's most stable nomination, he said, because it and the formation of a "Superior nations. But political tension had would have been negligent for him Military Council." But loyalist rein- been increasing in Cameroon since to leave Tanzania in such dire eco- forcements, landing in C-130 translate 1982, when Ahmadou Ahidjo nomic straits. port planes, retook Yaounde airport resigned from the presidency and Despite the further deterioration and the radio station. In tank battles named Biya as his successor. of Tanzania's economy, most ob- and exchanges of heavy artillery Ahidjo had intended to retain his servers believe that Nyerere will fire, Biya's troops defeated the own prominence in Cameroon's follow through on his promise this rebels by the morning of April 7, al- politics as an advisor and power- time. Nyerere's recent confirma- though sporadic fighting continued broker. But since his accession, tion of his intentions came after in the streets of Yaounde for at least Biya methodically eroded Ahidjo's President Samora Machel of Mo- two more days as the government position, supplanting him as head of

36 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 the sole political party and. in five placed them with francophone In earlier reshuffles, Biya seemed cabinet reshuffles, gradually replac- southerners, a shift that alarmed determined to preserve ethnic and ing cabinet ministers loyal to Ahidjo western anglophones and northern regional balances. The recent cabi- with new officials closer to Biya. Muslims alike. Cameroon's econ- net changes and the "treason trial" Last August, Biya announced omy is dominated by southerners, have compromised the reputation that a coup plot had been discov- primarily from the Bamileke peo- for deliberate and careful change ered. Two of the alleged conspira- ple, and other ethnic groups are which he earned early in his presi- tors went on trial before a military worried that an increased presence dency. The trials which are certain tribunal in Yaounde earlier this of southerners in the government to follow the attempted coup will year. The two defendants testified will lead to "complete southern he- further strain Cameroon's national that Ahidjo had masterminded the gemony." unitv. • plot, and the court sentenced Ahidjo and the two men to death for treason. Biya later commuted the sentences to life imprisonment. French woo Bongo with nuclear reactor Many army officers reacted with The long saga of President Omar raged by French press reports of indignation to the verdict. The trial Bongo's irritation with the French corruption and decadence in his ad- was mentioned specifically in the may have reached its denouement ministration. Among the reports rebels' broadcast announcing the in April. French Prime Minister were charges that Bongo's govern- deposition of the government: Pierre Mauroy visited Libreville in ment had contributed illegally to the "You can judge the shame brought the latest of a series of efforts to pla- campaigns of Mitterrand's right- upon Cameroon by the mockery of cate Bongo, and his mission culmi- wing opponents. Bongo accused the justice in this last trial. It was time nated in the announcement that French government of officially fi- lo cut the (iordian knot. . . the France and Gabon had reached "an nancing the publication of Pierre nightmare is over."Another moti- agreement in principle" for the con- Pean's book. Affaires africaines, vation for the coup may have been struction of a nuclear reactor in Ga- which—among numerous other an order reportedly issued by Biya, bon. scandals—claims that Bongo ar- transferring all northerners in the On a visit to Gabon last year. ranged the murder of his wife's Republican Guard to other posts French President Francois Mitter- lover, a French citizen. outside the capital. There was, rand "visibly blanched" when Accusing France of "destabiliz- however, no independent confirma- Bongo spoke publicly of Gabon's ing" his government. Bongo threat- tion of that report. wish for a nuclear reactor, a subject ened with increasing vehemence to The French press was quick to Bongo had never brought up in their expel all French expatriates from call the coup attempt "a Fulani re- private discussions. Gabon and to restrict or end trade volt," referring to the predominant with France in reprisal for the nega- ethnic group in northern Cameroon. tive publicity. Rather than an ethnic or regional re- In an interview with brance-Soir volt, however, ii is more likely that published on the eve of Mauroy's the coup attempt was simply an ef- visit. Bongo warned: "You cannot fort to restore Ahidjo to power. love Gabon if you do not love The revolt makes it evident that, Bongo. If (the French] government despite all his maneuverings. Biya continues to make a fool out of has not succeeded in banishing me. . . I will tell the French workers Ahidjo from the national scene and in Gabon to go home to France and has not yet secured the loyalty of look for work there. . . some of officers and officials who had them want to stifle Gabon and the served Ahidjo for two decades. Gabonesc to make a place for them- The continuing schism between selves. For now. they are in no dan- Ahidjo and Biya docs not merely di- ger. But Gabon is an independent, vide their own loyalists. It brings sovereign nation, and I am free— other tensions to (he surface in like the water in the estuary beside Cameroon. Disgruntled factions us—to go where my best interests have expressed their concern that Tie." Biya may be granting too much '' You cannot love Gabon if you do not love Bongo's scarcely veiled threats power to Christian francophones Bongo." against the French expatriates— from the south, thereby jeopardiz- But France purchases large coupled with fears that he might ing the heritage of regional and eth- amounts of oil. manganese, ura- move to nationalize Elf-Gabon, the nic balance bequeathed by Ahidjo. nium, and limber from Gabon and extremely lucrative oil corporation In his most recent cabinet was anxious to appease Bongo, who in which France has a 70 percent changes. Biya removed two impor- has been squabbling with France interest—persuaded the Mitterrand tant anglophone officials and re- since late 1982. Bongo has been en- administration to approve his re-

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 37 quest for the nuclear reactor. Bongo sabotage of Chadian mining instal- viet and Cuban troops on the is- had made the reactor an "essential lations, and the taking of European lands. According to the sources, the precondition for the improvement hostages may be among the mea- troops are stationed at two radar in- of Franco-Gabonese relations," ac- sures planned by the commandos. stallations which are also guarded cording to Le Monde. The envi- Already the economic conse- by SAM-5 missiles. Despite da Cos- sioned nuclear project will produce quences of the civil war have forced ta's denial, it is generally accepted more electricity than Gabon needs, Habre's government to take ex- that the Soviets maintain some mili- at a cost three limes greater than hy- traordinary measures. The govern- tary presence on Sao Tome and droelectric power. ment has levied an emergency Principe. The nuclear reactor will be the "contribution for national recon- first in sub-Saharan Africa and is al- struction" from all workers and em- While denying the Soviet pres- ready arousing concern. Observers ployers, amounting to a full month's ence, da Costa said that he might expect other francophone countries salary for paid employees (Chad's accept a Portuguese offer to send to demand their own nuclear reac- minimum monthly wage is around military instructors to the islands. tors; and France may be obliged, $25) and as much as $5000 from He added, however, that he would oulofa sense of fairness, to provide large employers. Only students, the not allow any foreign country to es- them. • elderly, and the seriously ill are ex- tablish bases. empted from the tax. • In mid-March. Portugal's Presi- CHAD SAO TOME & PRINCIPE dent Antonio Ramalho Eanes vis- Pounding the rubble ited Sao Tome as a part of his coun- 'No Soviets' try's continuing efforts to The factions in Chad continue to President Manuel Pinto da Costa strengthen ties with its former colo- blast away at each other, reducing has denied that there are Soviet ba- nies. Eanes said that Portugal the rubble of their country to pow- ses or military personnel in his wanted to establish relations that der. In early April, nine French sol- country. The denial, which was re- were free of any kind of paternal- diers were killed and six wounded ported in Portugal through the An- ism. Observers noted that Portugal when, according to the French gov- golan news agency, came in re- may have been attempting to ease ernment, they attempted to defuse sponse to an earlier Portugal news tensions caused by the repeated re- an artillery shell found in a "rebel agency report which quoted uniden- jection of its requests to participate vehicle" near Oum Chalouba. tified Western diplomatic sources in the summit meetings of Lu- French sources insisted on the "ac- as saying that there were 2000 So- sophone African countries. • cidental nature" of the incident, claiming that it was "neither sabotage nor aggression." Acts of terrorism were previously Qaddafy talks about his neighbors rare in the Chadian civil war, but Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafy, never known for biting his tongue, they are expected to become a com- has been characteristically vocal in 1984. In a March interview with Jcune mon feature. In March, a booby- Ajiique, Qaddafy discussed his neighbors. President Chadli Benjedid of trapped suitcase exploded in a Algeria—once Qaddafy's closest ally in the region—is now "in the process French airliner during a stopover at of sliding Algeria into the bosom of imperialism." "Algeria," Qaddafy Ndjamena airport, wounding two added, "is behaving like a satellite o\' Fiance. . . and has abandoned its dozen French passengers. positions on international problems." French intelligence sources said On Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba, Qaddafy commented that "the that commandos from the rebel older he gets, the tougher he gets." "I don't understand these Tunisians. forces of former President Not only do they refuse the riches we offered them on a silver platter— Goukouni Oueddei had sabotaged preferring to ally themselves with Algeria, which could absorb them—but the plane after filtering through the they hit below the belt." One of Qaddafy's close aides said: "We have the "red line" drawn across the center means to destabilize [Tunisia]. If Bourguiba continues to want to ridicule us, of the country by French military he'll soon be counting the coup attempts in his country." advisers and the army troops of King Hassan II of Morocco. Qaddafy said, "has a rare intelligence; he President Hissenc Habrc. The dominates the international scene. . . .Lastly, he is a lot like me." French soldiers killed in April were After the Omdurman bombing in Sudan, Fgypt alerted its patrols along the also south of the red line. Libyan border, based on "American reports" that Qaddafy might be prepar- The commandos are believed to ing "a mass march" into Egypt. In the preceding two weeks, however. have driven south from Goukouni's Qaddafy denied any suggestion of a mass march. Expressing his usual con- bases, and the French analysts be- tempt for the government of President Hosni Mubarak, Qaddafy said, "Who lieve that these mobile units may is going to rejoice by going to Egypt'.' Has Egypt been liberated that we begin a methodical campaign of ter- should go to Egypt?" Speaking to the Egyptian people, he said: "The U.S. is rorism and destabilization. The in- laughing at you and shows contempt for your intelligence [by warning of a telligence sources fear that attacks Libyan march|. . . .There is no march on the borders." • on French interests in the capital.

38 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 9 JUTE

ZAIRE MNCL communique said that the tempts to defeat the guerrillas bombing was in retaliation for '"the would be facilitated if Sudan cut the Bombs in Kinshasa deaths of more than 200 militants rebels" supply lines. At least one person was killed and killed at Kivu in November 1983 on Though it is not true, as Sudanese five others injured when explosions Mobutu's orders." President Gaafar al-Nimeiry often damaged the headquarters of Days later, the Belgian govern- proclaims, that Ethiopia is solely re- Zaire's national radio station and ment expelled the secretary-general sponsible for the rebel activity in the central post office in Kinshasa of the MNCL, saying that Belgium southern Sudan. Ethiopian assist- at the end of March. "would not permit acts of terrorism ance does play a large role in the Two Brussels-based opposition to be organized from Belgian terri- mounting violence. Any agreement groups, the Congolese National Lu- tory." The MNCL leader, Fran- between the two countries would mumba Movement (MNCL) and cois-Emery Lumumba Tolenga. necessarily be based upon an end to the Zairean Socialist Party, claimed was deported to France; he was ex- assistance for both of these groups. responsibility for the blasts. The pected to continue on to Senegal. • Though the solution to the problems might seem simple, there are other fj •;.-*/;«.-JAITOCA factors involved which complicate any agreement. Sudan-Ethiopia talks collapse after The aid which Sudan funnels to the EPLF comes from some Arab announcement of V ,S. arms airlift' states which have pressured the Su- Talks between Sudanese and stormed by Sudanese refugees liv- danese to keep the supply lines Ethiopian officials scheduled for ing in the area. Gambela is home to open. Sudan, which has already mid-March in Nairobi fell through many Sudanese refugees from the jeopardized its standing in the Arab when Ethiopia withdrew, charging 1955-72 civil war. and now from the League by supporting the Egyptian the U.S. and Sudan with "collusion recent fighting in the south. Sudan position on the Camp David ac- and conspiracy against Ethiopia." charged the Ethiopians with recruit- cords, is anxious to avoid any fur- The Ethiopians claimed that just being the attackers, but the Sudanese ther isolation. Likewise, the Ethio- fore the scheduled talks, (he U.S. living in Ethiopia probably needed pians are under pressure, though began an airlift to Sudan of "four or little provocation to display their not as much, from Libya to con- live planes a day" loaded with hostility toward the Sudanese gov- tinue supporting the rebels in south- weapons. ernment. ern Sudan. The earlier decision to hold the There were again positive signs in Upon his return from the U.S. in discussions came after an unusual late February when, before the early March. Sudanese First Vice interlude of friendliness between OAU Council of Ministers meeting, President Tayib referred to "fla- the two countries. In late January, a Sudanese Foreign Minister Mo- grant acts of aggression by Ethio- group of Ethiopian soldiers was hammed Mirghani announced that pia," and reported that the U.S. captured by Sudanese troops when Sudan would, as a goodwill gesture, would be supplying Sudan with mil- they accidently strayed across the unilaterally end its information itary equipment. "The U.S. admin- border into Sudan. Rather than tak- campaign against Ethiopia. After istration has taken a political deci- ing advantage of the incident for meeting with the Ethiopian ambas- sion of supporting Sudan against propaganda purposes, the Suda- sador in Khartoum. Mirghani re- this major conspiracy. . . and has nese quietly returned the soldiers in ported. "I told him that what was decided to begin in the next few the spirit of what they called 'good going on between Sudan and Ethio- days airlifting weapons and equip- neighborliness." The soldiers re- pia benefitted no one but a third ment from the United States di- ported that they were well-treated party." He also said that the Ethio- rectly to Khartoum." Nimeiry also while in captivity, and Sudanese pian ambassador had welcomed the stated that "Reagan has pledged to First Vice President Omar Mo- Sudanese initiative. The dialogue dispatch equipment shortly." hammed al-Tayib said that his con- was aided by Egyptian Minister oi' The next day retired U.S. Gen- tacts with the Ethiopians were "en- State for Foreign Affairs Butrus eral Vcrnon A. Wallers, an aide to couraging." Ghali. who traveled from Addis Secretary of State George Shult/., The Sudan-Ethiopia relationship Ababa to Khartoum carrying the arrived in Sudan to discuss the situ- then took a quick downward turn message that Ethiopia was willing ation in the south. The U.S. State when, in early February, a Chevron to negotiate. Department said that no decisions oil installation was attacked by Both countries have much to gain had been made about sending mili- guerrillas from the Anya Nya 11 by a cessation of hostilities. Sudan tary assistance aid to Sudan beyond movement. Sudan claimed, as it al- is the main supply line for rebels of the $166.5 million slated for this ways does after an attack, that the the Eritrean People's Liberation year and the $190.7 million that the guerrillas came from Ethiopia. Front (EPLF) which has recently administration is requesting for Then, less than a week after the been gaining ground in its efforts to next year. Chevron attack, the Sudanese con- control all of Ethiopia's Eritrea After the meeting with Walters. sulate in Gambela, Ethiopia, was Province. The Ethiopian army's at- Nimeiry again said that the U.S.

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 39 UP'JM-

had promised military equipment. missed in Nairobi in mid-March people have been detained, but that Though Nimeiry may have been re- may not come around again for a rumors of "several thousand miss- ferring to the already promised as- while. • ing" were unfounded. The visitors sistance, most observers, including were unable to obtain from the gov- the Ethiopians, assumed that the MOROCCO ernment a list of the 29 people said U.S. was sending additional mili- Tax break for farmers to have been killed in the riots, and tary aid to be used against the south- In March, less than two months the Federation spokesman said the ern rebels. The Ethiopians feared after widespread rioting provoked group believed that the actual death that Sudan was preparing for a mili- by the government's increase of toll had been higher. The delegation tary solution to the southern prob- food prices. King Hassan II an- found no evidence to prove allega- lem which, if successful, would de- nounced that Morocco's farmers tions of torture, but did say that the stroy Ethiopia's bargaining posi- would be exempted from paying two-to-three-year prison terms im- tion. taxes until the year 2000. posed on people not directly involved in the riots were "exorbi- Ethiopia then pulled out of the The farmers would have been the 7 talks, accusing the U.S. of supply- chief beneficiaries of the increased tant.' • ing arms in order to deliberately dis- food prices, which would have rupt the negotiations. Ethiopian helped supplement their meager TUNISIA Foreign Minister Goshu Wolde said earnings. According to the World Food riot aftermath that Ethiopia would not negotiate Bank, 46 percent of Morocco's ru- In the aftermath of January's until "favorable conditions were ral population falls below the pov- "bread riots," the government of laid down for the peace talks." erty line, and more than half of Mo- President Habib Bourguiba has There has been no confirmation rocco's farmers own less than 2.5 taken firm measures to revitalize its that the alleged airlift ever took acres of land. The small land-hold- authority and restore order. The place. The U.S. vehemently denied ings, the severe drought of recent minister of the interior, Driss it, but the Sudanese remained delib- years, the government's emphasis Guiga, was dismissed from his post erately vague on the issue, saying on expensive agro-business pro- and then was tried in absentia by the only that the Ethiopians' excuse for jects, and the restrictions imposed Supreme Court on charges of high cancelling the talks "constitutes an on European importation of Moroc- treason. Guiga left Tunisia in late interference in Sudan's internal af- can produce by the EEC have com- January. He was accused of allow- fairs." bined to weaken Moroccan agricul- ing the riots to get out of hand in a The suspicious bombing raid on ture, which once was the mainstay calculated attempt to bring about Omdurman (see story, page 60) led of the national economy. the downfall of his chief rival Prime many observers to the conclusion Once the riots forced the govern- Minister Mohamed Mzali, architect that Nimeiry was not able to "sell ment to revoke the increases in the of the price increases which trig- the Ethiopian threat" to the Ameri- price of food, some other means had gered the riots. cans and that he was returning to lo be found to ease the farmers' Guiga's police department in the the reliable strategy of raising the plight. The suspension of the tax on Tunis region has been disbanded "Libyan threat." The bombing has farm income, which accounted for and U.S.-trained Gen. Zine el-Abi- worked in Nimeiry's favor, as he around 10 percent of state reve- dine Ben Ali nominated as director has used it to invoke his mutual de- nues, is expected to cost the gov- general of public security in orderto fense pact with the Egyptians, ernment more than $7,000,000 an- "unite the national security struc- bringing enough support to possibly nually. ture." Ben Ali's nomination was launch an offensive against the The food riots have also resulted opposed by the General Union of southern rebels. in the conviction of at least two Tunisian Workers (UGTT), among One week before the Omdurman groups of detainees on charges of whom Ben Ali is remembered for bombing, Numeiry told Egypt's violating Morocco's internal secu- his harsh treatment of strikers dur- President Hosni Mubarak, "Sudan rity. In early March, 66 students ing the riots of January, 1978, when is a big country and we are not able were sentenced to terms ranging he also occupied that post. to cover every spot through aerial from six months to two years for In another reshuffle, party stal- surveillance to monitor whether or their part in the riots, and two wart and public relations man Hedi not there are hostile aircraft." The weeks later 91 students and teach- Baccouch has replaced Mongi AWACs which arrived after the ers received similar sentences. Kooli as head of the ruling Socialist Omdurman bombing have solved Many of the defendants were mem- Destourian Party in an effort to re- that problem for now. bers of the Socialist Union of Popu- habilitate the party's flagging im- A Sudanese offensive in the south lar Forces (USFP) or the Party for age. will probably be coupled with in- Progress and Socialism (PPS), two The government has also demon- creased assistance to the EPLF in of Morocco's opposition parties. strated new firmness in its handling Ethiopia. If past trends continue, A delegation from the Interna- of the rash of strikes which broke Libya and Ethiopia can be expected tional Federation for Human Rights out in February and March. A strike to further reinforce the southern Su- visited Morocco in mid-March. The by the postal workers lasted 10 danese guerrillas. The opportunity delegation found that at least 1,500 days, the longest walkout by public

40 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 servants in Tunisian history. The sider the SADR to be a state, he cused Mauritania of allowing Poli- government, refusing to accede to refuses to negotiate with it. "The sario to establish bases in Maurita- the workers" demands and calling problem of the cease-lire and the or- nian territory. the strikers "enemies of the re- ganization of a referendum remain Meanwhile, Morocco has gime," arrested some of the union essential in our eyes." Hassan launched several successful offen- members. The strike was ended wrote to OAU Chairman Mengistu sives against Polisario and is fortify- through negotiations with the Haile Mariam. Morocco maintained ing its positions in the Western Sa- UGTT. The UGTT has often been that it was ready to hold the referen- hara, constructing a second giant antagonistic toward the govern- dum but was prevented from doing wall that will split the territory in ment, but the powerful union has reso by unspecified "others," and ac- two. • cently been weakened by struggles with internal leftist factions and by the formation in February of a rival :1! AFRICA organization, the National Union of Tunisian Workers (UNTT), led by Abdela/i/ Bouraoui. Namibian independence still remote The press has also been newly restricted. El Mostaqbal, the organ of despite South Africa-Angola accord the Movement of Socialist Demo- The main obstacle to Namibian gola would send home the 25.000 crats (MDS). has been suspended independence has been South Afri- Cubans and called the UN plan for for publishing a communique from ca's insistence that all Cuban troops Namibia "moribund." It was the the outlawed 'Islamic Movement" leave Angola. Despite the recent first public dismissal of the UN plan and two other articles considered Angola-South Africa security by a South African official. "disruptive." The director of the agreement and Cuba's offer to re- South Africa had previously pro- journal Maghreb, Omar Chabou. move its troops if certain conditions posed a regional conference encom- has been sentenced to four months are met. Namibian independence is passing "all groups"—Unita, in prison for publishing an article no closer than it was a year ago. Swapo. and five or six other Nami- "defaming" Syrian President Ha- The Cuban-Angolan offer to re- bian organizations as well as the fez Assad. move the troops was made in mid- governments of the states in the Many feel that the government's March when Angolan President area—to settle the Namibian issue. increasingly authoritarian measures Jose Eduardo dos Santos visited South Africa denied repeated threaten the "democratization" of Havana. The conditions for the charges that the aim of the confer- Tunisian politics, recently high- withdrawal—the removal of all ence would be to circumvent the lighted by the legalization of opposi- South African troops from Angola United Nations. The proposal that tion parties. • and Namibia: independence for the other Namibian groups partici- Namibia and elections under the pate was a direct challenge, how- provisions of UN resolution 435; ever, to the UN resolution which and a guarantee that South Africa, holds that Swapo is "the sole legiti- WESTERN SAHARA the U.S., and their allies would not mate representative of the Nami- Mauritania recognizes SADR aid the Unita rebels—precisely bian people." By recognizing the SADR in late matched the concessions that South The South African-proposed con- February, Mauritania followed Africa had said it would be willinglo ference would also have included through on the promise it made last grant once the Cubans left Angola. Unita. a condition which Angola year to do so unless Morocco de- Instead of responding to the sub- categorically rejected as having clared a cease-fire and held a refer- stance of the Cuban-Angolan offer. nothing to do with Namibia's inde- endum in the territory by the end of South Africa hit back at the lan- pendence. South Africa replied that 1983. guage of the communique. The it is a matter of common sense that Mauritania insists, however, that South Africans objected to the the Angolans will not be able to it remains neutral in the dispute be- statements in which dos Santos and send the Cubans home as long as tween Morocco and the Polisario Castro expressed •'admiration and they are threatened by Unita. for control of the territory. Mo- solidarity with the heroic struggle Since Unita leader Jonas Savimbi rocco responded ihat "Maurita- being waged by the people of South has vowed to continue fighting until nia's recognition of the mercenaries Africa and Namibia" and to the he is accepted into some kind of was fully in conflict with the princi- clause which called Swapo and the governing coalition with the ples of neutrality and good-neigh- ANC the "sole legitimate repre- MPLA. the South African-pro- borlincss." sentatives of the Namibian and posed talks would have been a way While Morocco's King Hassan II South African people." for Unita to achieve peacefully continues to affirm his willingness Several days after the Cuban-An- what it has not yet gained militarily. to negotiate, he qualifies that by golan offer. Willem van Niekerk. In mid-April. Angola charged saying that he will only negotiate administrator general for Namibia, that Unita forces were being "mas- with "states." As he does not con- said that he did not think that An- sively installed" by South Africa in

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 41 southern Angola. The Angolans effort on the part of the British gov- tion. The BDA is unlikely to be rec- said that South Africa was "not ernment, but Britain cannot be seen ognized as a legal party by Jona- keen to fulfill the Lusaka agree- as endorsing a revolt. Dr. Savimbi is than's government, so the South ment" which provided for the ex- the wrong horse." African threat has provoked clusion of all outside forces in the Unita will clearly be able to carry charges by Lesotho that South Af- area. Angola also charged that, as of on a long war of attrition with or rica intends to overthrow Jonathan April 10, South Africa had not com- without South African support. The if he wins the elections. pletely withdrawn as promised. unanswered question is whether The outcome of the elections, if South Africa can also be ex- Savimbi can make good on his they are held, is in no doubt. Ntsu pected to take advantage of the mid- threat to carry the war to the cities. Mokhehle, the only opposition April bomb blast in Namibia which In an attempt to demonstrate its leader popular enough to strongly killed two American diplomats and strength, Unita attacked the town of challenge Jonathan, is in exile; a Namibian. Pretoria immediately Sumbe. 175 miles south of Luanda. without Mokhehle, no party except blamed Swapo for the bombing, and Though Unita claimed to have the BNP can expect to win. • the South African administrator taken the town, most reports indi- general for the territory charged cate that the rebels were quickly ex- that "while virtually everybody in pelled by government troops. • southern Africa is working for MOZAMBIQUE peace," Swapo "still clings to bar- More violence feared LESOTHO baric violence." Swapo spokesmen Though South Africa has prom- denied any connection with the Election complications ised to end its aid to the Mozam- bombing. At the end of 1983. Prime Minis- bique National Resistance (MNR), Observers believe that South Af- ter Leabua Jonathan announced which has been terrorizing Mozam- rica, fresh from a string of diplo- that national elections—the first bique, that does not guarantee a halt matic victories, will now be content since 1970—would be held this to the MNR's activities. to let pressure build on the MPLA year. The elections are now in MNR guerrillas struck at the government before proceeding to doubt. A census must be taken be- Moamba power station on April 5, the next phase of negotiations on fore voters can be registered; but, plunging Maputo into darkness for a Namibia. • according to a source in the govern- week. The MNR then attacked ment's statistics bureau, the next pumping stations, disrupting the ANGOLA census will be held no sooner than city's water supply, and opened fire Savimbi blackmails Britain 1986. on a passenger train 45 miles north At a dramatic news conference at Meanwhile, South Africa has of the capital, killing one person and Jamba, Unita's "capital" in the An- provided support to an alliance of wounding 31. golan bush. Jonas Savimbi prom- politicians opposed to Jonathan, These episodes may only be des- ised to take his guerrilla war to the provoking charges from Lesotho perate attempts by the MNR to cities unless the MPLA government that South Africa is interfering in its show that it can survive without agreed to meet with him and forge a internal affairs. South African support, but Mozam- government of national unity. With South African Foreign Minister bicans privately fear that South Af- his South African allies lobbying on R.F. Botha met in Pretoria on Janu- rica may be keeping the rebels on his behalf for a conference. Savimbi ary 6 with several veteran politi- reserve in order to ensure that the paraded his troops and 100 foreign cians from Lesotho, including government of President Samora prisoners in front of journalists who PhokaChaolane of the legal opposi- Machcl "stays in line." had arrived on a charter flight from tion Basotho Congress Party (BCP) In mid-April, the Mozambican South Africa. and ex-cabinet ministers CD. Mo- government began an offensive Savimbi also announced that he lapo and J.T. Mokotso of Jona- against the MNR. which reportedly would release all the hostages ex- than's ruling Basotho National crossed into Mozambique from cept the 16 Britons whom he has Party (BNP). South Africa in large numbers just held since late February. He de- Botha, along with his assistant. before the nonaggression pact was manded that Britain engage him in Louis Nel, and the chief of South signed. • direct negotiations for their release, Africa's security police, lien. Fran- a move that he would regard as a de cois Steenkamp. urged the politi- facto recognition of Unita. The Brit- cians to form a new organization, ish, announcing their willingness to called the Basolho Democratic Alli- SOUTH AFRICA negotiate, said that they will make ance (BDA), which would receive Panel urges legal reforms no policy concessions to Unita. "assistance from South African A government-appointed com- Critics in Britain have accused friends and businessmen." mission of inquiry has recom- the government of "giving in to ter- Botha told the members of the al- mended sweeping reforms in South rorism." Britain's Guardian edito- liance that South Africa might have Africa's legal system. The commis- rialized: "The fate of the unlucky If> to "intervene directly" if the new sion's most significant recommen- rates the maximum humanitarian organization failed to win the elec- dation was that (he influx control

42 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 system—also known as the pass laws—be abolished. The recommendation that the pass laws be abolished hits at the heart of the Apartheid in a new vein apartheid system. Blamed for giv- The South African Blood Transfusion Service recently admitted that ing South Africa the highest per blood from blacks is never supplied to white patients, although "white" capita prison population in the blood could be used in treating blacks. world, the pass laws are the legal Furthermore, blood from black donors is "stored separately" from white- wedge that the government uses to donated blood, and all blood is clearly labelled not only with its type but with deport black South Africans to the its "origin" as well. "independent" homelands, making The Blood Transfusion Service defends its policy by claiming that "hepa- them foreigners in their own coun- titis is more prevalent in black blood. . . We arc as non-racial as the policy in try. this country permits, but because of hepatitis, certain blood is not ethnically Noting that the cabinet has the acceptable. . . A certain amount of white blood goes to blacks, but for right to appoint judges and that medical reasons no black blood goes to whites." magistrates are civil servants, the The National Medical and Dental Association commented: "This racial commission's report also called for attitude is a relic from the colonial approach to medicine and has no founda- measures to increase the indepen- tion in science. The people who implement these policies should bear in dence o\' the judician . These re- mind that black people have suffered much more from diseases introduced forms, the report said, would an- by white people than the other way around. The legacy of diseases such as swer blacks' suspicions that the tuberculosis and measles which came as a result of the white people is well- court system is "an instrument. . . documented. . . Not satisfied with segregated toilets and segregated love, to subjugate the black man." the authorities now wish to maintain what they believe is a pure race. It is The panel also rejected a recom- ridiculous in the extreme. . . These people are prepared to use the hearts and mendation by the Department o\' kidneys of blacks without any qualms. Don't they realize the same black Cooperation and Development— blood is in those organs?" • the ministry which handles black affairs— that there should be separate legal systems for blacks and whites. panies which, linked together, can ment troops in Matabeleland. the "By any civilized standards," the buy goods and transport them any- government of Prime Minister Rob- report said, the principle of having where in the world without trace- ert Mugabe has relaxed the strict separate courts for different races able origin or destination—allowing curfew imposed on the region. "is unnecessary, humiliating, and South Africa to keep doing business Since the imposition of the latest repugnant." even if trade embargoes are im- curfew on February 3, store hours The report was welcomed by opposed by other nations. were cut back, travel was limited, position politicians. David Dalling Freight Services is best known as and supplies of incoming food were of the Progressive Federal Party the company which broke the UN restricted by the army. Journalists called it "a comprehensive indict- sanctions against Rhodesia by sup- and international relief workers ment of government inertia" and "a plying most of the oil that sustained were also restricted in their move- public crucifixion" of (he legal sys- the Ian Smith regime. ments. tem. Since then, the company has built Zimbabwe's Roman Catholic The government is not expected up an international organization bishops have presented the govern- to jump at the recommendations—it with 60 subsidiaries, including one ment a detailed list of human rights has often ignored calls for reform in nearly every African country, al- violations that they say took place from its own commissions—but this lowing South Africa to sell goods during the curfew. Government outspoken and widely-circulated in- while camouflaging their origins. spokesmen have denied the charges dictment of the South African legal With its British network, Pretoria and accused the churchmen with system will not be easily dismissed. has access to computer technology, acting in sympathy with the rebels heavy machinery, and communica- and opposition leader Joshua Sanctions-busting network tions equipment without directly Nkomo. compromising either the supplier According to several sources, Over five years, beginning in companies or the governments in- Zimbabwe lifted the curfew in re- 1978, a South African government- volved. • sponse to U.S. pressure. As a pre- controlled corporation established condition for the delivery o\' 30.000 a network of companies in Britain ZIMBABWE tons of corn. American officials in- through a series of clandestine ta- sisted that the Zimbabwean govern- keovers, according to the London Curfew lifted ment guarantee that the grain would (htanlian. After more than a year of allega- be distributed equitably throughout The company. Freight Services, tions in the international press that the country, including Matabele- gained control over freight forward- civil rights violations and atrocities land. which has been especially ing, procurement, and travel com- were being perpetrated by govern- hard-hit by drought. •

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 43 INTERVIEW

Ibrahim A. Gambari, Minister of External Affairs, Nigeria

NTERVIEWED BY MARGARET A. NOVICKI

AFRICA REPORT: Could you provide your assessment MPLA as the legitimate government of Angola and worked of Nigeria's foreign policy since independence, with par- hard to get it accepted as a member of the OAU [Organiza- ticular reference to the Murtala Muhamnied/Obasanjo and tion of African Unity). It was also during this time that Shagari governments? What were the foreign policy Nigeria nationalized BP [British Petroleum], and this defi- achievements and shortcomings of each era? nitely had something to da with the acceleration of the pro- GAMBARI: Since independence in terms of foreign pol- cess of independence for Zimbabwe under the truly nation- icy, there are not two major eras, but four, and now of alist government of Mugabe, rather than the '"internal solu- course five with the coming of the Muhammadu Buhari ad- tion" of Muzorewa. ministration. The first was the Balewa regime, for which By the time Shagari came into power, the basic structures foreign policy was an entirely new area of public policy. of a new foreign policy had emerged, with, first, a com- Therefore, the foreign policy of the Balewa regime can be mitment to the total liberation of Africa; second, a commit- characterized as one of hesitancy and uncertainty, and one ment to the eradication of apartheid and racism in South in which our government was very much pro-West in its Africa itself; third, support for regional and economic coop- foreign policy orientation. In fact, our first prime mininter. eration in our West African subregion; and fourth, a truly Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. was very pleased with the nonaligned foreign policy. Unfortunately, by the end of the British, whom he regarded very highly. He was very, very first term of President Shagari's administration, many peo- reluctant to open relations with the Soviet bloc, and even ple in this country telt that these structures were seriously when he was compelled to do so politically, he did not take eroded and that Nigeria was returning to the subservience to relations with the Soviet bloc very seriously. So our the West that characterized the Balewa regime. nonalignment policy was in name, but not in practice. AFRICA REPORT: Do you envision a return to the ac- With the coming of the Gowon regime, some tentative tivist foreign policy of the Murtala Muhammed/Obasanjo steps forward were taken. We repaired our relationships era? Will Nigeria's current economic difficulties limit your with our neighboring countries. We put Africa at an impor- government's ability to carry out an activist foreign policy? tant level in terms ol our foreign policy activities. We rec- GAMBARI: When Major General Muhammadu Buhari ognized China and began to move our foreign policy to a came into power in January of this year, he said among more nonaligned position. Unfortunately, the last year or so other things that Nigeria would pursue under his adminis- of Gowon's regime saw a losing of steam of his domestic tration a dynamic but realistic foreign policy. By that he policies, which had a corresponding impact on foreign pol- meant that as an offshoot of the Murtala/Obasanjo regime icy. the leaders of this new administration would emulate the The Murtala Muhammed/Obasanjo regime, which was dynamism in the foreign policy behavior of that previous the third, was regarded by most Nigerians as the most military regime, but that the new administration would be dynamic and the most purposeful government in the area of mindful of our economic resources and make such foreign foreign policy. This was the period when we recognized the policies realistic. That does not mean that we will return to

44 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 the subservience of the latter years of the Sliagari adminis- developments in Cameroon and maintain our interaction tration or of the First Republic. Rather we are going to take with that country. All issues that may appear to be dividing principled positions on foreign affairs, but at the same time us are thoroughly discussed at various bilateral and other pursue those policies that we can confidently implement. forums in which solutions to our problems arc looked for. AFRICA REPORT: What are the foreign policy priorities AFRICA REPORT: What kind of role should Nigeria of the Buhari government'.' In what specific areas do you play in ECOWAS? What are the prospects and obstacles in think your government can improve Nigeria's foreign policy ECOWAS' efforts to promote regional economic integra- performance'.* tion and development? Can the political differences and GAMBARI: We believe that Africa must remain the cen- domestic policy imperatives in the member countries that terpiece of our diplomatic acti\ities because Africa is our jeopardize the attainment of economic union be overcome? primary environment. But within that priority, there is GAMBARI: Nigeria will play a role in ECOWAS com- likely to be another focus and that is on the outstanding de- mensurate with its size and population. We believe that it is colonization issues in Africa—Namibia and self-determina- in our long-term interest to support ECOWAS for economic tion ol the people of the Western Sahara. Also, we will pay as well as political and security reasons. We believe that greater attention to the problems of our neighbors. there are still a lot of obstacles in ECOWAS1 efforts to pro- HCOWAS [Economic Community of West African States], mote regional economic integration and development. and good relationships toward all our neighboring countries. These are the result of years o\' division that are also per- In other words, we will try to define those areas within Af- petrated by the former colonial powers between the various rica that demand urgent attention and on which we can make countries in the subregion of Anglophones and Fran- an impact. cophones. Another obstacle is the reluctance of member AFRICA REPORT: Nigeria is viewed as playing a lead- states to leave the known for the unknown, in other words, ership role in foreign affairs in the continent by virtue of its leave the benefits of bilateral relations or membership in an size and relative economic wealth. How can it better trans- exclusive economic community like CEAO [Communaute late il.s resources into an effective foreign policy1.' How can Economique de l'Afrique de I'Ouest] for an ECOWAS that Nigeria bring its weight to bear in the regional, continental, is still a promise for the future. and international arenas? We believe, however, that ECOWAS can move forward GAMBARI: 1 believe that what we ha\e to do is to take if members will implement the protocols and agreements principled positions, and also sharpen the instruments of that have already been reached in very many summit meet- foreign policy, in other words, our foreign service, in which ings of the heads of state and government of ECOWAS, be- we have made extensive changes in terms til the quality and cause ultimately nations have to see their national interest in numbers of our overseas representation; and the military, so as to safeguard our territorial integrity and also to make it quite clear to our neighboring countries what we are prepared to accept and what is not acceptable. Thirdly, we will try and manage our economy in such a way that in spite of the present economic difficulties, we still have resources that we can put into supporting African liberation, in southern Africa in particular. AFRICA RKPORT: What are your government's regional policy objectives? How would you assess your government's relations with your neighbors? Are there any outstanding problem areas? GAMBARI: Our regional policy objectives are as follows: first, to promote the prosperity of all the states in the region. We believe that Nigeria can never be a secure island of relative prosperity surrounded by a sea of abject poverty. Sec- ond, we have to strengthen the security of the region so that collectively we will be able to resist external aggression. Thirdly, we must strengthen the internal security of our countries so that by cooperation and taking collective efforts, we can check religious disturbances, armed robberies, and the menace created by aliens illegally residing in our respective countries. Our relations with our neighbors are generally very good. We have no outstanding problems with Niger, for example. Indeed, the head of state has just come to pay an official visit to Nigeria, which was cordial and very successful. We Major General Muhammadu Buhari: are in close contact and close collaboration with Benin on a "Under his administration, Nigeria will number of bilateral issues. We are closely monitoring the pursue a dynamic but realistic foreign policy'

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 45 peace in Chad. Therefore, there should be a new attempt to bring the various parties together for a political discussion. The third principle is that this national reconciliation, this national political discussion, will not take place and will not have a successful outcome unless all non-Chadian troops leave Chad, because as long as each of the major parties can rely on support from outside, they will not be inclined to go to the conference table. Four, all political talks about disengagement of troops should be done under the auspices of the OAU as our only continental organization, which is also the most neutral in terms of helping us to find a solution to the Chadian problem. The issue of the international force has to do with the third principle that I mentioned before, which is the exit of non-Chadian troops. Before such an exit might take place, some kind of an arrangement has to be made in terms of supervising the withdrawal and interposing, perhaps, a neutral force. What this will be exactly, who will finance it, what will be its very clearly stated objectives—these are subjects for further negotiations and discussions. AFRICA REPORT: What is the Nigerian government's position on the war in the Western Sahara and the disputed OAU membership of the Saharan Arab Democratic Repuh- lic? Are there any signs of progress toward the implementation of the Addis Ababa summit resolutions on this issue, or do you expect it to disrupt the upcoming heads of state Polisario leader Mohamed Abdelaziz (center) after the SADR withdrew from the19th OAU summit in Addis Ababa: summit? "It will be morally wrong to demand that they should GAMBARI: Our position is as follows: Polisario has with- voluntarily withdraw again" drawn from participation in two OAU meetings, the 19th summit and the last OAU Council of Ministers meeting. It will be morally wrong to demand that they should voluntar- a wider focus—that the more prosperous ECOWAS, an ily withdraw again from forthcoming OAU summit meet- ECOWAS that promotes trade between members, an ings, unless we have something to offer them in return. ECOWAS that tries to modify the direction of trade from Without their voluntary withdrawal and without some intercontinental to intraregional. will really be of more progress toward the solution of the issue of Western Sahara, lasting benefit to their countries. I believe that this point will the next OAU summit meeting will seriously be threatened. be gradually registered in the leadership of the member We want to avoid Tripoli I and Tripoli II situations, which states. could have the effect of really destroying our organization; AFRICA REPORT: You recently held discussions with as for us, the primary thing is the survival of the OAU. Ev- the French foreign minister and at the OAU Council of erything else and the interests of each individual member Ministers meeting on the organization of an international state have to be subordinated. force under OAU auspices to intervene in the Chad crisis. We believe that the next step forward is to have the This was attempted before and failed. What new approaches chairman of the OAU convene a meeting of the implemen- are being considered to resolve the Chad issue and how can tation committee. But in order for him to do so, and in order the past failures be avoided? Will Nigeria play an active role to have a successful meeting of such a committee, of which in finding a solution to the situation? Nigeria is a member, there has to be something to imple- GAMBARJ: Nigeria has taken a lot of initiatives already in ment. We have called on the king of Morocco to show trying to find a solution to the Chadian crisis. We have greater flexibility in his position, such that we can begin to made extensive consultations with all the major parties to implement the various aspects ol the OAU 19th summit res- the dispute. We have talked to the Libyans, we have talked olutions regarding direct negotiations, cease-fire, and re- to the French, we've talked to the various groups in Chad. ferendum. Not all these issues can be resolved at once. We We sent two special messages to the chairman of the OAU, believe that Morocco can give us enough flexibility to have the head of state of Ethiopia. something to implement because there is the danger that if Our immediate task is to get a general consensus behind a there is nothing to implement and the implementation com- set of principles that we believe will govern a solution to the mittee does not meet, and no further progress is registered Chadian problem. The first principle is to accept the fact on the issue of Western Sahara, the OAU will really have that much as other interested parties can assist, the problem problems when the 20th summit is actually convened. of Chad can only be resolved by the Chadians themselves. AFRICA REPORT: Recent developments in southern Secondly, only a political solution can bring about lasting Africa, particularly the agreements between South Africa

46 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 and Angola and Mozambique, have been characterized as We understand very well that the last civilian administra- evidence of the success of the Reagan administration's pol- tion in Nigeria was often regarded as a model of American icy of constructive engagement. Would you agree with that democracy and the democratic system. That may have been assessment? What is the Nigerian government's view of so in terms of our hopes and aspirations in 1979, but by the U.S. policy in southern Africa? end of the first term of the Shagari administration, what we GAMBARI: Our position is that whatever the United had in Nigeria was not a model of American democracy, but States can do to help stop South Africa from destabilizing a caricature of it. So what (he new military administration the countries of southern Africa, and to prevent South Af- terminated was not a true democratic system, but a carica- rica from killing our African brothers and sisters in these ture of such a system. Nonetheless, if you take one look at countries and from trying to support rebel lorces in Angola the newspapers in our country, you will see that the demo- and Mozambique, is a welcome change. I will also recog- cratic spirit and tradition is not dead and free enterprise is in nize the right of Mozambique and Angola to enter into any the blood of our people. I think what Nigeria and the U.S. kind of diplomatic contract that is designed to safeguard should do is to build on these more fundamental common their individual nations' security and territorial integrity. In interests and 1 look forward to the next round of bilateral fact, it is in this same vein that we have no quarrel with An- trade talks that are expected to take place at the vice-presi- gola asking Cuban troops to come to its territory to help in dential level between Nigeria and the U.S.. so as to consoli- the light against UNITA and South African forces, and to date the gains we have made in trade, agriculture, and in- consolidate its national security. Our reservation is that dustrial promotion in (he two countries in terms of their ex- nothing that Angola or Mozambique does, nothing that Af- change. rican countries, Frontline or not, do should be seen as com- I am confident that the relations between our two coun- promising the commitment to African liberation in general, tries can be strengthened and 1 am encouraged by the very the termination of apartheid in South Africa in particular. warm reception that the minister of defense. General Bali, and the independence of Namibia at the earliest possible and myself received in Washington recently when we met date. our counterparts: Secretary of State George Shultz and AFRICA REPORT: Nigeria has played an active role in Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger. We were warmly southern African diplomacy in the past. Will your govern- received and we had extensive and very positive talks, ment play a similar role, and if so, what kinds of specific which will make the contacts between our two governments measures could your government take vis-a-vis the situa- continue at the constructive level. tions in Namibia and South Africa? AFRICA REPORT: Is there anything we have not cov- GAMBARI: Yes, we have played an active role in the past ered that you would like to convey to the readers of Africa and we intend to continue to do so. We are going to work Report ? hard with all peace-loving countries of the world and in Af- GAMBARI: There is really not much more to say other rica and with the Frontline states to try to support African than that the readers of Africa Report, in Africa. North liberation, to support SWAPO. to support the ANC. and to America, Western Europe, and elsewhere, should rest as- support all the progressive lorces that are aligned in favor o\ sured that the new administration in Nigeria is a progressive Namibian independence and against the continuation of one, is a nationalistic one, is a committed one, and, before apartheid in South Africa. We are at the moment in serious very long, we are going to overcome the present economic economic difficulties, but those problems notwithstanding, difficulties, which we consider to be temporary in nature. we are going to make all efforts, together with other like- and we are going to resume a truly activist foreign policy minded countries, to see that we shore up the spirit of those and a truly nonaligned one. • who are fighting for their freedom in southern Africa and to encourage them to intensify their struggles and support them in any way we can within our resources. AFRICA REPORT: How are your relations with the U.S. at present, considering that the U.S. was a strong supporter of the previous political system and government in Nigeria? What is your assessment of the level and need lor U.S. aid, trade, and investment in Nigeria? GAMBARI: There are many things that hind the people of Nigeria and the people of the United States together. We have an economic system that is basically based on free enterprise. We speak the same language. We share similar democratic spirits and traditions. Between us, we have the largest concentration of African people. We need American technology and investment in Nigeria. At the moment, we have a fairly large volume of trade between the two countries. These are of such fundamental importance that they French troops with Chadian army commander: 'National cannot be pushed aside by a change of regime, either in the reconciliation will not be successful unless all non-Chadian United States or in Nitieria. troops leave the country"

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 47 BLACK AMERICA AND AFRICA

The Sullivan Principles and Change in South Africa

BY THE REVEREND LEON H. SULLIVAN

he so-called Sullivan Principles system, or they have no moral justifi- T that I initiated seven years ago, in cation for remaining in South Africa, March of 1977. were intended to bring and should be compelled to leave the the actions and influence of American country. companies in South Africa to bear The principles were never intended againsl the racist practices, customs, to be a camoullage for corporations to and apartheid laws of that country. It hide behind. They were meant to assist, was further my hope that the principles along with other thrusts, to help end would cause the initiation at similar race discrimination and apartheid in efforts by multinational companies in South Africa hopefully by peaceful South Africa from other parts of the means, without the need for a devas- world, thereby, hopefully, creating a tating war, the loss of millions of lives, global multinational campaign in South and the predictable involvement of Africa against the racial injustices that most of the rest of the world, particu- have existed there for 300 years. It was larly the superpowers, that could lead to also my intent that the principles would a nuclear confrontation. serve as a catalyst to help change racial Though progress is still limited in segregation practices in other private Reverend Leon Sullivan: Launching a campaign to get global multinational comparison to the enormity of the and public places throughout the coun- compliance with the Sullivan problems, the fact is that the principles try. Principles are beginning to work. Starting from I have attempted to make it clear where we began seven years ago, at a from the beginning in speeches and near zero base where blacks were not writings that the principles are not the even legally considered as "em- total solution to the South African most racist society. In order for apart- ployees" in that country, some signifi- problem, and that even it they were im- heid to be completely eradicated, it re- cant changes are occurring in industrial plemented to (he optimum, the princi- quires the combined efforts of many relations in South Africa as a result of ples alone could not end apartheid. The forces, including governments, com- the principles — changes that seven principles are limited in what they alone panies, churches, unions, the United years ago were considered impossible. can accomplish. Apartheid is a ruth- Nations, the courageous efforts of those Throughout South Africa, plants are less, inhumane system of practices and who believe in justice within the coun- being desegregated in spite of the laws. laws deeply embedded in the world's try, and world public opinion. But it is Blacks and other non-whites are being also my firm opinion that the multi- upgraded, for (he first time, to admin- national corporations have a major role istrative and supervisory jobs. Blacks lo play in the struggle against apartheid, are supervising whites for the first time The Reverend Leon H. Sullivan is pastor because in the past the companies have in South Africa. Blacks and non-whites of the Zion Baptist Church ot Philadelphia. An American civil rights activist, he is the been the main beneficiaries of cheap are being trained for skilled jobs in initiator of the Sullivan Principles, an equal labor and profits from this evil and un- ever-increasing numbers. Black repre- rights code of conduct for American com- just system and among its main sup- sentative registered and unregistered panies doing business in South Africa. porters, ll should be the responsibility trade unions are now beginning to be of these companies to help change that recognized for the first time. Technical

48 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 schools, training blacks and other tary support of the principles has been there should be immediate divestment non-whites, are being built and devel- effective, but it is not getting the de- actions by stockholders, institutions, oped. Black businesses in ever-in- sired results quickly enough. More en- pension funds, government bodies, and creasing numbers are being initiated forcement is needed. As I have testified other fiduciaries. Although I am aware and supported. Equal pay Tor equal bet ore congressional committees on that these 150 nonsignatory companies work is beginning to be instituted more several occasions, "the full compliance represent only 20 percent of all invest- and more. Companies are beginning to with the Sullivan Principles of all ments of American companies in South improve the quality of life lor blacks American companies with operations in Africa, it is still my opinion that all and other non-whites outside the work- the Republic of South Africa should be American companies should be mea- place — in housing, health care, edu- made mandatory by the United States sured by the same exacting standards cation, and other areas. Recent changes in racial labor laws would not have oc- curred without the impact of the principles. For the first time, some company executives are beginning to lobby the South African government for an end to all racial discriminatory laws, and the apartheid system. The principles have also led the way in the initiation of similar multinational codes of conduct tor companies operating in South Africa from around the world, including a group of companies in South Africa who were inspired by the principles to develop their own code. These South African companies employ nearly one million workers, most of whom are black. In conjunction with the principles, the Arthur D. Little Company has formulated the most stringent and comprehensive measurement requirements for fair employment and social responsibility practices ever developed tor multinational corporations operating in a foreign country. Pace vocational school in Soweto, supported by Western corporations: "Corporations have a responsibility to help change the system or they have no As a result of the principles, the last moral justification for remaining in South Africa" seven years have marked the beginning of a revolution in industrial race relations in South Africa. Unfortunately, even considering government, and backed up with em- alike, or they should leave South Af- these beginnings, the vast changes nec- bargos, tax penalties, sanctions, loss of rica. And even signatory companies essary are not happening fast enough. government contracts, and any other must be constantly evaluated and The necessity for greater changes — effective means." The strength of the pressed to making "passing grades" or visibly, broadly, effectively, and United States government behind the face divestment and government en- quickly — is imperative. No one is principles is needed for enforcing forcement actions. more aware than I that the principles greater efforts by the companies, along I realize that American companies and other codes must be pushed harder with the use of "targeted" stock di- employ less than 1 percent of the work- for greater and faster results. It is my vestment actions. ers in South Africa and that in order for view that if the principles and codes of My views on mandatory enforce- these kinds of efforts on the part of the other nations are enforced and vigor- ment are opposed by the U.S. State De- multinational companies in South Af- ously implemented and monitored, partment and the companies, but I con- rica to be broadly visible and effective, they can and will be a formidable influ- tinue to hold to m\ position. Mandatory the participation will have to be global. ence for significant change in that ra- enforcement and monitoring are vital to Towards this end, I have just completed cially beleaguered society. But in order get the companies to more more a tour to a number of nations in Europe to bring this about, more pressure is broadly and effectively ahead. — West Germany, France, Great Bri- needed on the companies tor fuller and There are 150 American companies tain, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland swifter compliance. who have not as yet signed the Sullivan — in a campaign to get 1,000 multina- In a word, in my opinion, the volun- Principles. Against those companies. tional companies from all parts of the

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 49 world to practice equal rights in South incredible homeland policy, and full • Equal pay for equal work for mil- Africa, to provide equal pay for equal political equality for the black popula- lions of black and non-white work- work, to recognize representative black tion. Therefore, beyond the principles. ers, increasing their purchasing power by billions of rand a year, will tree trade unions, to support massive it is my position that there should be no have to make a difference. programs of education for blacks, and new expansion in South Africa by to take a stand against the apartheid • Thousands of black businesses being American companies until apartheid initiated, sponsored, and supported laws in that country. ends, including full political equality by the companies, developing their As a result of the trip, progress was for blacks, and that no new bank loans own stores, factories, and mines, made. In meetings with leaders of gov- should be made to the South African will have to make a difference. ernment, industry, and churches, the government or its agencies, nor any • A thousand "adopted schools" by beginning of a network of interests has sales made to the South African police companies, improving education for been established that can assist in or its military until all South Africa's large numbers of black and non- bringing about this 1,000-company racial discriminatory regulations and white youth, until all education is world multinational effort. The U.S. apartheid laws are rescinded. unified, will have to make a differ- State Department and business leaders ence. in America can be of great assistance in • Hundreds of thousands helped by companies with literacy and basic helping to make this global effort a re- education will have to make a differ- ality. "The Sullivan Principles are ence. During the European journey. I also not the total solution to the • Hundreds of black and non-white urged that compliance with codes of South African problem. Even representative trade unions being conduct in the various countries be if they were implemented to recognized by companies, strength- raised for debate in the various parlia- the optimum, they alone could ening workers" rights, will have to ments, and that action be taken to make make a difference. the codes binding and mandatory for not end apartheid." • Hundreds of executives iii multina- the companies by the respective coun- tional companies and South African tries, with heavy financial penalties for businesses, lobbying the govern- noncompliance. ment for an end to all discriminatory laws and the apartheid system, will Foremost in all of these efforts, 1 see Perhaps the Sullivan Principles and have to make a difference. the necessity for the recognition of the the other codes in the world will only do • Large numbers of blacks and whites rights of association of black workers, so much, and only go so far. Perhaps for the first time coming into contact and the recognition of their representa- the only way South Africa can be fun- with each other in plants, mines, and tive registered and nonrcgistered trade damentally changed is by massive con- other places in new human relation- unions, thereby empowering black flict and a devastating war. But I be- ships will have to make a difference. workers to speak out for their rights on lieve that attempts must be made to find the job. as they will one day also ^peak peaceful means for change if it is still None of us can be sure that the total out for their rights in society. The possible, and that is what 1 am trying to goals o[' the principles will ultimately growing strengtli of the black worker is do along with others. be attained, but things are beginning to one of the greatest hopes for peaceful It these world multinational com- happen in South Africa as a result of the change in South Africa. pany efforts are aggressively initiated, principles. The principles are a catalyst The principles continue to evolve, broadly and effectively applied, and for social change in South Africa. and arc now calling for companies to closely monitored, and it we can get In this endeavor, powerful support support the right of workers to seek jobs 1,000 companies practicing equal will be needed beyond the companies, with freedom of mobility, to sell their rights and taking a stand against apart- including unrelenting and much, much labor anywhere in South Africa ac- heid laws, it will have to make a differ- clearer commitments to racial justice in cording to their ability to find work, and ence in South Africa. South Africa from the president of the to have the right to live with their United States, the Congress, and other families where they are employed. • One thousand companies in South government leaders and nations of the Also, U.S. signatories are being asked Africa desegregating their facilities world. I have faith, in spite of all the to urge companies with whom they do and ending all vestiges of discrimi- problems and doubts, that with God's business, and others in South Africa, to nation among workers will have to help and with all the forces for human follow the principles in their own labor make a difference. justice within and without South Africa relations. • Hundreds of thousands oi newly aggressively pursuing their aims, there trained black and other non-white is still hope for a nonviolent solution to Also, it is clear to me that the main technicians will have to make a dif- the elimination of apartheid in South problem in South Africa is not just fair ference. Africa. Considering the awesome con- employment practices or equal oppor- • Hundreds of technical schools, in- tunity or better schools — as important itiated and supported tor training sequences and magnitude of death, de- as all these needs are. The main prob- skilled black and other non-white struction, and international upheaval lem in South Africa is freedom, in- workers, will have to make a differ- should these efforts fail, somehow . . . cluding an end to influx control and the ence. somehow ... we must succeed. D

50 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 BLACK AMERICA AND AFRICA

What Role for the Black Press?

BY LOUIS E. MARTIN

n order to assess the role ot the black The first black newspaper. Free- way those 'terrible Africans.'" The I press in providing information on dom's Journal, began publication in stereotype of the savage swinging on African issues and in influencing black New York City on March 16, 1827, tree limbs or slinging poisoned spears, attitudes toward Africa, it is useful to under the leadership of Jamaican-born so popular with Hollywood film- make a distinction between editorial John B. Russwurm, the first black makers, had an impact on American commentary and stories on breaking graduate of a U.S. college. During this blacks. news events. Historically, the black period, many public figures in the In a speech at Howard University in press — over 200 newspapers with an United States were involved in a con- 1970. Dr. John Hope Franklin, the dis- estimated 12 million readers — has troversy over colonization. Through tinguished historian, said, "Even Dr. been much longer on commentary than the efforts of the American Coloniza- W.E.B. Du Bois, in his autobiography. on ongoing news coverage. Indeed, tion Society, freed slaves were encour- Dusk of Dawn, wrote of blacks 'who until comparatively recently, the aged to return to Africa, and Liberia had inherited a fierce repugnance to- majority of black newspapers, almost was founded in 1847 by freed slaves ward anything African, which was the wholly engrossed in domestic strug- from the United States. The coloniza- natural result of the overcoloni/ation gles, provided little of either. In this re- tion efforts were opposed by blacks and schemes. They felt themselves Ameri- spect, the press has reflected the inter- whites who fought for the abolition of cans, not Africans. They resented and ests and attitudes of the black American slavery, but others took the position feared any coupling with Africa." " Dr. leadership. that the most humane, expedient way to Franklin added, "These sentiments, The black newspapers have operated solve the "race problem" was simply uttered at various times during the last under severe financial constraints that to ship blacks back to Africa. After three quarters of a century by careful have limited their expansion and made initially opposing colonization, and thoroughly responsible observers, costly foreign correspondents almost Russwurm finally concluded that Af- are in marked contrast to some views impossible. Even efforts to pool re- rica offered a brighter future; in 1829, that Negro Americans have expressed sources for regular African news cover- he left for Liberia where he was to be- in recent years." age have proven too costly, although come the first superintendent of public- Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, the editor ol reporters have been sent abroad for spe- schools and the editor of the Liberia Crisis magazine, the official publica- cial events such as independence cere- Herald, tion of the NAACP, and a few pioneer monies. The interest and enthusiasm of the black historians, including Dr. Wood- rank and file of black Americans today son and Dr. Ray ford Logan of Howard for their African roots and their concern University, began to promote a more Louis E. Martin is assistant vice-president with African issues represent a com- enlightened view of Africa early in this for communications at Howard University paratively recent phenomenon. As late century. Dr. Du Bois' efforts in or- in Washington, D.C. A former newspaper as 1937, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the ganizing the Pan-African Congress publisher and editor with Ihe Michigan Chronicle and the Chicago Daily Defen- noted black historian, said, '"Negroes were reported in magazines and special der, he also spent a year m Nigeria as themselves accept as a compliment the papers, but they received limited editorial adviser with Amalgamated Pub- lishers, Ltd. theory of a complete cultural break with coverage in the black press. Better cov- Africa, for above all things, they do not ered were some of the missionary ac- care to be known as resembling in any tivities in Africa of the African Meth-

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 51 odist Episcopal Church and other de- vided profiles on African leaders who for "redemption of Africa" stirred his nominations. were virtually unknown in the United followers and raised the consciousness Perhaps the most important source of States. of millions of black Americans on Afri- spot news and commentary on African One of the most skilled writers on can affairs. The dynamic Garvey was affairs available to the black newspa- African affairs, whose work appeared jailed for mail fraud, and his movement pers in the first hall'of this century was in ANP releases and in a special weekly fell apart when he was deported to his Associated Negro Press (ANP), estab- column in the national edition of the native Jamaica. But unlike the efforts of lished in 1919 by Claude Barnett of Defender, was George Padmore. Based Dr. Du Bois and the black intellectuals, Chicago. The ANP releases were in London. Padmore was an archfoe of Garvey's stimulated the rank and file;

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mailed twice a week to the subscribing British colonialism and was credited he poured scorn on the black middle papers, most of which were weeklies, with persuading Kwame Nkrumah to class, whom he charged with having and the only two dailies — the Atlanta return to Ghana to take a political post turned their backs on their African Daily World and the Chicago Daily that landed him first in jail and later in heritage. Opposed by black newspaper Defender. the presidency of the republic. publishers, notably Robert S. Abbott of Barnett had a lifelong interest in Af- The Black World, a newspaper first the Defender, Garvey claimed they rica and frequently traveled there. In published shortly after World War 1 by distorted the facts and did not under- addition to reports on his travels and the Universal Negro Improvement As- stand his vision. At the last conference those of his friends, Barnett culled sociation (UNIA) under the direction of of UNIA at which Garvey appeared, in items for his news service from African the famed black nationalist Marcus a public meeting on the closing night of and European publications. ANP car- Garvey, merits mention here. The the meeting, he restated his philosophy ried stories of the cultural and political UNIA became known as the "Back to and urged his followers to keep the developments in the colonies and pro- Africa" movement, and Garvey's call faith. In his hotel room in an interview.

52 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 he said among other things that he could that black American leaders have names were not on a list of invitees. not understand how Negroes could trust shown in African affairs. The rise and Carter protested that they had press cre- [he black NAACP head, Walter White. fall of their interest has been reflected in dentials, and could not understand why who was fair-skinned and had blue the amount til'space and attention given they were not permitted to attend. eyes. by black newspapers to African issues. The week following the incident. Nkrumah's ascendancy and the win- Recently, I made an informal survey of Carter wrote an editorial in which he as- ning ol independence from Great Bri- African coverage in four major black sailed the State Department and the Af- tain by its former colonies represented newspapers over a one-week period. ricans for the insult. The flap was fi- perhaps the most significant turning The papers surveyed were the New nally resolved when the Ambassador points in black American attitudes to- York Amsterdam News, the Los from Zimbabwe apologized for the ward Africa. Ghanaian independence Angeles Sentinel, the Michigan treatment accorded the two journalists ceremonies in 1957 were witnessed by Chronicle, and the Chicago Dailx De- and promised to recognize them there- black American journalists, and the fender. My findings? Eirst, there was after. Carter's lead editorial in the Sep- stories and photographs that appeared not a single story with an African date- tember 27, 1983 issue of the Afro- in the general, as well as the black, line in the March 1. 19S4 edition of the American sets forth views that arc media captured the imagination of Los Angeles Sentinel. Second, in the shared by many other black editors and black America. Nkrumah*s name be- February 25, 1984 issue of the Michi- publishers. The editorial is reprinted came a household word in black com- gan Chronicle there was no story with here: munities all over the nation. an African dateline, although there was Ethel Payne of the Defender and a three-inch story on emergency food ZIMBABWE FORGETS TOO QLICK1.Y other journalists writing about Africa for Africa with a New York dateline. began to develop a national audience. Third, in the Amsterdam News of It is ironic (hat black Africans wlio The editors and publishers of the Na- March 3. 1984, there was no story with constantly seek international help, espe- tional Newspaper Publishers Associa- an African dateline, although there was cially from black Americans, in their tion (NNPA), founded in Chicago in a 10-inch story assailing Mayor Edward frantic fight for governmental independence and economic freedom, re- 1940. recognized the dramatic rise in Koch for accepting campaign contribu- peatedly overlook the black press when popular interest in African affairs and tions from South Africa. Fourth, in five they come running to the United States sought ways and means to increase Af- issues of the Defender for the week be- tor aid. rican coverage. Efforts were made to ginning February 27, 1984. there were An incident typical of what we are work out an exchange of corre- two United Press International stories concerned about took place this week with African datelines, one from South with the visit of Prime Minister Robert spondents with some African newspa- Mugabe of Zimbabwe to Washington pers and to pool limited resources to fi- Africa and one from Lagos, Nigeria. and the White House. It is not unusual nance roving journalists on the conti- The March 1 issued carried 12 inches of lor officials of the Reagan administra- nent. Some editors used stringers and commentary on African issues. tion to conveniently ignore the black press when invitations are given out tor part-time correspondents from among For about 16 years following World state dinners and other White House African students in the United States. War II. the Afro-American newspaper functions involving black African dig- The economics of newspaper pub- chain carried regular reports from the nitaries, but for the black Africans them- lishing, however, grew more and more late Ollie Stewart, who was based in selves to do so is hard to understand, and from some aspects, unbelievable. Yet it difficult, as revenue from circulation Paris and covered some African issues. happens and happens fairly regularly. proved inadequate and success in at- The Washington Afro-American tradi- The history of the black African tracting national advertising was lim- tionally does the best job of covering countries representatives' visits to the ited. The "majority" newspapers in the the African embassies and social United States will reveal that they have major cities, under pressure from civil events, but like other black newspapers come virtually begging lor support from rights activists and in recognition of the has severely limited spot news cover- the black press and politically influential importance of the black market, began age. And it has even had difficulties in black organizations in their quest for economic aid. But once they reach the high to open their columns to black news and covering local news with an African pinnacle and get an audience with the hired a few black reporters. angle. Art Carter, editor of the Afro- powers-that-be. somehow they forget A handful of black publishers were American, relates an interesting story of the black press and never dream of able to afford the United Press Interna- an incident involving the visit last fall spending any of the millions they spend for advertising, services, and supplies tional wire service, which carried of Prime Minister Robert Mugabe of with black businesses, including the coverage of major African news Zimbabwe to the White House. Read- black press. And when there are press breaks. Despite the efforts of the ing a notice of a press conference to be conferences, interviews, and photo ses- NNPA. however, there was no substi- held at the Madison Hotel. Carter and sions, they. too. somehow forget to tute for the kind of coverage provided Ethel Payne, now a columnist lor the notify the black press. by the ANP, which went out of business Afro-American, decided to attend, al- A good deal of this, of course, comes in 1964. though neither had been invited. Ac- from the "advice" they get from State Department officials and special public In the past few decades, there have cording to Carter, they were barred relations agents or companies they em- been peaks and valleys in the inlercsl from the conference because their ploy. These agents pressure them into

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 53 deals with their friends and either from of NNPA, and at most of the meetings magazines, notably Jet and Ebony of ignorance or non-concern, simply steer of the association the subject of ex- Johnson Publications, have done a bet- them away from the black press. Oddly, panding news coverage in the face of ter job of coverage, especially with they also steer them away from visits to predominantly black institutions and limited financial resources is discussed. feature stories and photographs, than shrewdly pare the guest lists for social Unfortunately, very little action has the newspapers. BothJe/ and Ebony are functions down to the "politically safe" followed. circulated in many of the African coun- guests. When questioned about some of From time to time, black reporters, tries and are, therefore, better known these incidents, the black African repre- throughout the continent. sentatives put the blame on the State De- editors, and publishers have been in- partment, which, of course, must share vited to participate in conferences in The impact and influence among some of it, but we think not all. Africa sponsored by private or govern- U.S. blacks of Alex Haley's book If the black African ambassadors and mental agencies. The African-Ameri- Roots and the television film that fol- press officials know where the black can Institute has been most helpful in lowed have been enormous. Haley's press is when they need their help, they underwriting trips and tours to Africa work stimulated a new interest in the surely should know where to find the black press on other occasions. for members of the black press. The cultural and biological links between The Ambassador from Zimbabwe is stories that How from these occasional Afro-Americans and Africans, which one of those black African representa- sojourns are published in most of the has manifested itself in fashions, life- tives guilty of this odd kind of behavior. papers and arc well received by their styles, and social ceremonies, particu- When it was pointed out to him this week readers. larly among the younger generation of that he had forgotten to advise the black press of the Prime Minister's visit and U.S. blacks. The book has helped to schedule, he merely said, "Toobad, but stimulate a remarkable growth in travel call me and we'll talk about it." He to African countries over the last de- added that it was "too late" to do any- cade. thing about it and literally put the two re- "Black newspaper publishers Interest and concern among black porters out of his hotel suite. To put a lit- have not been very innovative tle trosty icing on the cake, the ambas- Americans in African affairs has led to sador refused to lell the reporters his or aggressive in developing a the formation of national organizations name. system of news coverage of such as Trans Africa, headed by Randall This was really strange because all the African affairs." Robinson, and Africare, led by C. reporters were trying to do was to get the Payne Lucas. These Washington-based correct spelling of his name, which they organizations are growing in influence, already knew. This should have been the correct way to do it for any good jour- and their programs and projects have nalist, so it was doubly surprising that he News and features on African leaders been well publicized in the black press. took this tack. who are well known in America, espe- TransAfrica has done significant work We think this is a strange kind of be- cially those who have studied at black in uncovering abuses in foreign policy havior for an ambassador from a country and in bringing them to the attention of struggling for its freedom and seeking colleges in the U.S., have always at- the help of the black press. While it may tracted the greatest readership. Former blacks in this country, as well as in act- be a little extreme from the general at- and current African heads of state al- ing as a prod to the State Department. titude of black African ambassadors, it is ways create excitement when they visit Historically, no African issue has somewhat typical of what happens all the United States. The black press ex- been treated more extensively in the too frequently. We think it is time for the African countries to rethink their posi- tols them as heroes without much commentaries and news in the black tion and change their tactics. analysis of their views. The leaders press than apartheid in South Africa. represent "black power"; and in view Editorials on this issue generally ex- This editorial was well received by of the fact that most of this century the press the outrage and anger of black black newspapermen who share the black press has been protesting black Americans toward South Africa's racist concerns expressed over their treatment powerlessness at home and abroad, system and toward all those who are by African leaders. This situation rep- stories about the African leaders are perceived to be supportive of that gov- resents a dilemma to many of the pub- considered excellent copy by the ernment, including those in the U.S. lishers who want to be helpful in cov- editors. private and public sectors. ering African developments but also re- It is fair to say that the newspaper From my interviews with black sent the attitudes of some African lead- publishers have not been very innova- editors and publishers, I believe there is ers toward the black press. tive or aggressive in developing a sys- a recognition of the desirability of Over the years, black newspaper tem of news coverage of African af- greater news coverage of the African editors and publishers have recognized fairs. Most of their efforts have cen- continent as well as of the countries of the need for more African and interna- tered on problems of domestic cover- the Caribbean. Nevertheless, the inten- tional news coverage. The participants age, and they are unable to get financial sity of their engagement in the domestic in the midwinter workshop of the Na- support for expansion abroad. Very few struggles in the United States and the tional Newspaper Publishers Associa- of the newspapers are circulated in Af- financial constraints within which they tion, in January 1984, discussed this rica, and it is not surprising that they are operate will serve to impede significant subject. There are 132 member papers not better known there. The black changes in the near future. •

54 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 THE AFRICA LOBBY

Building a Constituency Against Apartheid

BY MICHAEL MAREN

outh Africa has recently shown in- in the three states — Massachusetts, vestment in South Africa (CAISA). S creased concern about attempts Connecticut, Michigan — that have CAISA is made up of the American that are being made to isolate it eco- passed binding divestment legislation Committee on Africa (ACOA), the nomically and politically. Ted Pavitt, and in the 26 states and 20 cities that are Southern Africa Program of the Ameri- president of the South Africa Founda- considering it. Last year, Congressman can Friends Service Committee tion, a group that promotes South Af- Julian Dixon's (D-Calif.) amendment (AFSC), Clergy and Laity Concerned, rica's image and seeks foreign invest- to the International Monetary Fund the Connecticut Anti-Apartheid Com- ment, told a group of South African funding bill was passed, restricting mittee, the Interfaith Center on Corpo- businessmen and diplomats in March South Africa's ability to draw from the rate Responsibility (ICCR), Trans Af- that the country is "not the citadel of Fund. And last October. Congressman rica, the United Methodist Church of- self-sufficiency that many think it is." William Gray's (D-Pa.) amendment to fice for the UN, and the Washington He continued: "We are a trading na- the Export Administration Act, which Office on Africa (WOA). The CAISA tion, and there is no longer any place for would prohibit new U.S. investment in coalition has benefited each of the romantic notions of a courageous peo- South Africa, passed by voice vote on member organizations since all of them ple carving their destiny in isolation the floor of the House of Representa- are handicapped by severely limited from a malevolent world." tives. It was the first time that such a bill funds and small staffs. What concerns the South Africans had reached the floor from committee. Because of these limitations, an all- about their relations with the United The Reagan administration, however, out national campaign to cultivate sup- States, despite the Reagan administra- has threatened to veto the Export Ad- port for antiapartheid legislation is out tion's stated opposition to any form of ministration Act if the Gray amendment of the question. The coalition has economic sanctions, is the string of di- and two other antiapartheid provisions worked only on state and local cam- vestment measures that have been ap- emerge intact from the House-Senate paigns, which gives the members an proved in state legislatures and city conference, and despite bipartisan sup- opportunity to concentrate their full council chambers. The movement to port for the measures in the House, a energies in a small area, complete a divest public funds from corporations veto override is unlikely. project, gather supporters, and move on operating in South Africa is being pro- The picture is quite different on the to another area. Outgunned by South pelled by a growing public awareness state level. In 1982, the Massachusetts Africa's supporters in the administra- about apartheid. The South Africans legislature, backed by unions, tion, the antiapartheid forces have re- fear that this movement may become so churches, and popular opinion, force- lied on tactics that amount to a kind of strong that a candidate's stand on South fully overrode outgoing Governor Ed- guerrilla war. Africa could eventually influence the ward King's veto of the nation's most "Our feeling right now is that you outcome of an election. comprehensive divestment legislation. can't change policy in Washington with It is clear that a popular constituency The local divestment group, the Reagan administration there," says is being cultivated for African issues in MassDivest, was joined by a national ACOA's Gail Hovey. '•Although we general and for the antiapartheid coalition of lobbying groups working can work on passing some bills, the movement in particular. It is evidenced together in the Campaign Against In- basic thrust of U.S. policy is pretty

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 55 horrific. The way to change that is a blacks have often been thought of as the issues of foreign affairs," said a con- hard long-term process of building up a natural constituency for U.S. Africa gressional aide to the CBC. constituency across the country that policy, until the creation of TransAfrica Congressman William Gray, the will demand a different kind of policy. in 1977, the antiaparthcid movement head of the CBC's "foreign policy That's why the state and local initia- did not have a large black following. brain trust," believes that foreign pol- tives arc so important." Black groups were involved in Afri- icy questions are becoming more im- Any group that seeks to influence can issues as early as the turn of the portant to black Americans. "The policy must have either access to power century when the NAACP (National domestic agenda has invariably been or a large enough constituency to de- Association for the Advancement of the major agenda of the black caucus," mand that access. When the Reagan Colored People) and Marcus Garvey's he said, pointing to the economic administration came to Washington, Universal Negro Improvement Asso- hardships that disproportionately affect the groups lost their connections in the ciation spoke out against colonial blacks. "But foreign issues are in- White House and State Department and policies in Africa and racism in South creasingly having a significant effect on found that they lacked the constituency. Africa. For obvious reasons, however, blacks in this country." As an example, "I personally participated in three or the energies of these organizations were the CBC points out that U.S. military tour meetings with President Carter, always directed toward the immediate expenditures use resources that they but we haven't had one with Reagan," goals of civil rights for blacks in the would prefer to apply to domestic social said Trans Africa executive director United States. programs. Military spending consti- Randall Robinson. "We've yet to have Black involvement in foreign affairs tutes a major portion of the projected a black leadership meeting with the has evolved as the number of black $200 billion budget deficit, and to the secretary of state — Haig or Shultz — members in the House of Representa- extent that the deficit raises interest and we had them on a quarterly basis tives has slowly but steadily increased rates and effects the economy, the poor with Vance and Muskie." The loss of to 21, and individual black members will be the first to suffer. A third con- access to the power in Washington un- have risen to powerful positions on cern is that if the United States does go derlines the necessity for the lobbyists committees. The increased visibility of to war, the disproportionate number of to concentrate on the task of building the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) blacks in the military means that they and expanding their constituencies. and its individual members is a key would fight and be killed in relatively Robinson's TransAfrica is credited factor in the recent surge of antiapart- higher numbers. with raising interest among black heid bills. "The caucus is definitely A more subtle and perhaps more im- Americans in African issues. Though moving to become more involved in the portant consideration is that many black

UN press conference launching Artists and Athletes Against Apartheid: From left, Gregory Hines, Tony Randall, Arthur Ashe, Rose Elder, TransAfrica director Randall Robinson, Phelps Stokes Fund president Franklin Williams, Harry Belafonte, and Joel Grey

56 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 Americans see the administration's ACOA's activities moved slowly U.S. Support for Apartheid," which South Africa policies as a mirror of its southward to Guinea-Bissau, Mozam- includes tips for organizers and pro- attitude about blacks in the United bique, Angola, and Zimbabwe. Now vides questions about U.S. South Af- States. Gray has criticized U.S. policy the group's efforts are focused on rica policy for voters to pose to the can- lor being "insensitive to the aspirations Namibia and South Africa, though didates. of Third World people in general and ACOA still provides some support to A key participant in the effort to blacks in southern Africa in particu- Polisario in the Western Sahara. make South Africa an issue in the 19S4 lar. . . . Isn't it time to do as we have Through its educational arm, the Af- race has been the Southern Africa Pro- done in 20 other countries in the world rica Fund, ACOA has provided most of gram of the Quaker-backed American — Iran, Poland, Cuba, Vietnam, Af- the literature used in state and local di- Friends Service Committee. Spokes- ghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and others — vestment campaigns. The committee is men for the committee emphatically impose some restrictions, to say to the the only Africa lobby with a full-time point out that AFSC is an educational South Africans that we will not be a staff person working exclusively on the group, not a lobby. The important dif- party to financing this horrendous sys- ference is that as an educational institu- tem of oppression?" tion, it is tax exempt. (Each ol the lob- The feeling that U.S. foreign policy bies has a tax-exempt educational arm; did not adequately reflect the views of TransAfrica has the TransAfrica black Americans on Africa and the "The lesson, perhaps a cynical Forum. ACOA the Africa Fund, and Caribbean was what led the members of one learned from years of WOA the Educational Fund.) Jerry the CBC to create the TransAfrica Herman, who directs the Southern Af- lobby. Through its local chapters and campaigning, is that appeals rica Program, targeted the Iowa cau- connections with influential blacks. based on morality and human cuses as the best opportunity to try to TransAl'rica has become a crucial ele- compassion won't work.'* bring the issue into the presidential ment in the antiapartheid movement. In race. only six years, Randall Robinson has With a total of 18 people, including become the best-known Africa lobbyist exiled South African poet Dennis on Capitol Hill. The depth and strength Brutus, Herman divided the state into of TransAfrica's connections in the divestment campaign. In 1981, ACOA five regions and set out to educate peo- black community are illustrated by the sponsored a forum in New York for ple on the South Africa issue so that tact that Robinson is often asked to act state legislators on the divestment they could then ask the right questions as a political emissary and powerbroker issue. "'Twenty legislators came, and of the candidates. "We tried to develop when deals are struck involving Afri- when they went home, 20 divestment a constituency that was knowledgeable, ca-related legislation. Because of this bills were introduced," said Dumisani but more importantly wanted to do position, TransAfrica has been suc- Kumalo, who heads the divestment something about South Africa," Her- cessful in enlisting the support of black project. man said. "After we'd been through, leadership whenever appeals are sent A third lobbying group is the church the people in Iowa felt that they had this out for support on a particular issue. and trade union-backed Washington issue under control and that the candi- Blacks are only one part of the larger Office on Africa. Founded in 1969 as dates, for the most part, did not." Her- constituency that will have to be formed ACOA's Washington office, it became man estimated that when the Demo- il the antiapartheid forces are to suc- an independent organization in 1972. cratic candidates addressed the Black ceed. Robinson, like activists from all The two organizations continue to work and Brown Forum in Des Moines. 50 of the other organizations, emphasizes closely together and each executive di- percent of the questions from the floor the need to work in coalition with other rector sits on the other's board. From its were on South Africa, Herman and his antiapartheid groups. '"We're not office on Capitol Hill, WOA. along group also met with Democratic con- strong in some states where others with TransAfrica, handles the bulk of tender Gary Hart tor an hour and are," he said. "We take on the states the direct lobbying effort. Ken Zinn of "urged him in a different direction." where there are substantial black con- WOA described his organization and "In the debates that followed, Hart centrations, where we can have some TransAfrica as "the catalysts that the moved away from the pack, with the real leverage." other organizations look to for leader- exception of Jesse Jackson," Herman TransAfrica therefore works closely ship, advice, and timing about what to said. "Our effort in Iowa had an impact with other organizations such as the do." that 1 didn't predict. People really came New York-based American Committee WOA has pledged to make South alive on it, which, to be quite frank, on Africa. ACOA, the oldest of the Af- Africa an issue in the 1984 presidential surprised me. 1 had anticipated a mini- rica lobbies, was started in 1953 by election. In a February news release, mal success with the key objective churches as an American support group executive director Jean Sindab called being to try to get the candidates to talk for African liberation movements. The the election a "watershed in determin- about southern Africa publicly, and Algerian independence movement was ing U.S. policy toward southern Africa they've been doing it." an early cause, and as African nations in the eighties." WOA has published a In order to cultivate a constituency, gained their independence, the focus of pamphlet entitled "Election 1984: Stop the antiapartheid organizations have

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 57 had lo address the concerns of Ameri- panding their constituencies to include unions are educated as to how jobs are cans and relate those concerns to South anyone who will listen. Randall Robin- lost as American industries are utilizing Africa issues. In fact, many Ameri- son discussed some of the changes in cheap labor in South Africa. Physicians cans have long been interested in these attitude that have taken place: "There is are told that in South Africa, black issues, but only recently have the lobby a growing appreciation of the need to doctors can't treat white patients, and groups sought to galvanize those inter- raise money, of the cost of building a farmers are told that 17 percent of the ests into a coherent antiapartheld constituency and an organization, and people in South Africa own more than movement. "The early state divest- of the need to reduce the dream to pro- 80 percent of the land. ment initiatives came from the areas ject proportions. A compromise of tac- Antiapartheid activists have also themselves and were not the result of tic is not a compromise of principle. sought to make connections with other lobbying by national groups," re- There is no special virtue in knowing mass movements such as the nuclear marked Jean Sindab. Though one might more about these issues than most peo- freeze movement. In the January expect divestment legislation from ple do. The idea is to get more people to Freeze Newsletter, Jean Sindab wrote traditionally liberal states like Mas- know more than you do." the lead article which announced that sachusetts and Michigan, the first di- Jean Sindab discussed the same sub- "the National Freeze Campaign ap- vestment bill was actually a nonbinding ject as il related to WOA. "1 think that proved a resolution to do educational resolution passed in Nebraska in 1980. Washington Notes on Africa (WOA's work around the issue of stopping The lesson for the activists is that South publication) is one of the finest pieces U.S.-South Africa nuclear collabora- Africa is an issue that can be discussed of writing that this community pro- tion." Sindab later commented, "The outside ol the traditional bounds of lib- duces, but 1 would not use it to organize freeze movement needs a Third World eral-conservative politics once it is people who have never heard about handle on the issue that they can use to made relevant to the constituency that is South Africa. When 1 took this job, that mobilize people other than white mid- being addressed. "I won't even try to was one thing I was very concerned dle-class activists. They're not going to talk to unemployed people about what about: there were no mobilizing re- make this their top priority, but when is happening 10,000 miles away unless sources. . . . We can't approach some- there's a critical vote coming on, we I can make it truly relevant to what is one who has been working on an as- can call on them and ask them to pull going on in their lives," said Sindab. sembly line all day the same way we out some people to do some work for During the earlier years of the anti- talk to someone who spends the whole us." apartheid campaign, the movement was day studying these issues." The lesson, perhaps a cynical one confined to a relatively small circle — a The divestment campaign has learned from years of campaigning, is case of what one activist called a therefore sought to make connections. that appeals based on morality and "snobbery of the left, a smugness that In some western, predominantly human compassion won't work. "Peo- came with being insiders." All of the Lutheran states, people are informed ple don't want to hear about racism," groups are now committed to breaking that many of the Africans oppressed in said Dumisani Kumalo. "The divest- away from insular politics and ex- Namibia are also Lutherans. Trade ment issue has moved into the mainstream because we're talking about money. We're not moralizing; we're looking at the balance sheets. In America, they listen to you when you talk about money." "Though apartheid is a moral question, that's not the angle we use," commented Gail Hovey. "We approach it from a self-interest point of \iew in the sense that if you are talking about pension funds you can't afford to lose money if you divest. The whole question about prudent investments has become a central part of the campaign, and we've had to become more sophisticated in the economic side of those issues." In Massachusetts, the divestment campaign's slogan was "Make it in Massachusetts, not in South Africa." The idea was to invest public funds in industries that are doing business in the Dumisani Kumalo of the American Committee on Africa addressing college students on apartheid: "The divestment movement has moved into the state. Similar appeals were made in ec- mainstream because we're talking about money" onomically depressed Michigan and in

58 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 Illinois, which is now considering di- The South Africans' letter then goes on tently available through the popular vestment legislation. to call divestment a "hollow, symbolic media. In an effort to attract some The antiapartheid movement's case gesture." media attention, TransAfrica has has been helped by the economic argu- launched Artists and Athletes Against ments for divestment that arc as sound Apartheid. Well-known athletes like as the moral ones. Investment bankers, Arthur Ashe and Kareem Abdul- who might have been considered as al- Jabbar, and performers such as Harry lies of South Africa, have recently been Belalonte, Sidney Poitier, and Tony giving evidence on the side of divest- Randall have recorded public service ment. Testifying before the New York radio messages and appeared at press State Assembly, which is considering conferences where they have pledged what could be the largest divestment not to perform in South Africa until ever, Robert Schwartz and David Sand apartheid is abolished. of Shearson/American Express posed Still, the press, like the constituency and answered the following question: that the activists are trying to educate, "Would laws barring investment of must learn to ask the right questions. state funds or state pension fund assets An example of the press' lack of inter- in U.S. corporations that do business in est in Africa was shown during a recent South Africa prevent the state from television interview with Democratic earning the highest return possible on candidate Jesse Jackson. Asked about its investments? Our experience with his foreign policy positions, Jackson both our institutional and individual several times raised the issue of South clients is an unequivocal no." Though Africa, but reporters' follow-up ques- Schwartz and Sand were careful to tions were all about the Middle East and point out that Sherson/American Ex- Central America. press was not advocating divestment, "Press coverage is only one step," that firm and other investment houses said Randall Robinson. "In order to such as Dreyfus and smaller funds have change society we have to reach critical Jean Sindab (right) director of the facilitated divestment by providing Washington Office on Africa, mass. That means moving people from ready portfolios of apartheid-free protesting South African policies: feeling to applied feeling — a letter, a stocks. Though banks are by no means Trying to make South Africa an issue in phone call, a visit, a concern expressed, the '84 election taking the lead in the divestment tight, an outrage articulated to a state legis- they can be counted on to respond when lator or a congressman. That's difficult they see an opportunity to make a pro- to organize. Very little of it is sell-di- fit. The availability of these portfolios rected. The prod has to come from testifies to the viability and acceptance Why, then, are the South Africans somewhere and that's what we're paid of the idea of socially conscious in- worried? They are concerned that a to do. vestment among a new and influential widespread divestment campaign in "We must tear down the walls of constituency. local communities will raise the South isolated activity and make sure that the Carl Penn, who is a stockbroker with Africa issue to thousands more peo- movement is broadened beyond the the minority-owned New York firm of ple. The South Africans are correct believers talking to the believers. We Daniels and Bell, has travelled the when they say that divestment is sym- must bring in other people, and that is country testifying on behalf of divest- bolic —- the activists don't really expect beginning to happen." ment legislation. He estimates that re- that American industry will walk away In half the states and in many cities turn on investment has been 15-25 per- from the profits to be made in South there are now legislators who are com- cent higher from the ""sanitized" Africa — but it is not hollow as indi- mitted to introducing divestment bills portfolios. cated by the South Africans' efforts to every year until the measures are In a 12-page letter to Michigan stop it. enacted. The antiapartheid movement's legislators, the South African consulate Dumisani Kumalo even feels that the victories have been hard fought and rel- presented the case against divestment. South Africans' attempt to promote atively few, but each time that a state or The letter documented the state's eco- their own cause helps the antiapartheid local divestment bill is introduced, nomic troubles and said, "There is little campaign. "Every time they go some- people who know little or nothing about evidence that the di vesture of university where to speak, we get calls from peo- South Africa examine the issue. Even if holdings would lead lo any outcome ple who want to know the other side," the legislation does not succeed, the other than having those stocks pur- he said. debate brings ihe movement more pub- chased by other investors. ... Ameri- Americans, to the extent that they licity and additional supporters. "Even can economic disengagement will ha\e know something about it, are antiapart- when we lose, we win," said Robin- little impact and divestment will not heid. But information on South Africa, son. "And we are losing by increas- wreck the South African economy." and Africa in general, is not consis- ingly smaller margins." D

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 59 SUDAN

Nimeiry Under Siege

BY RICK WELLS

udan's President Gaafar al- the radio station destroyed only part of "liberate Sudan inch by inch." Ni- S Nimeiry, one of Africa's most suc- an administrative building. Another meiry responded with a diatribe against cessful political survivors, is fast run- landed without exploding in the back Qaddafy and warned that Sudan would ning out of time. The enormous prob- garden of Sadiq el-Mahdi, a former beat him if he "opted for war." This lems currently facing the country 15 prime minister and leader of the pow- was now confirmation of the Libyan years after he seized power in a blood- erful Ansar movement, whom Presi- leader's aggressive intentions. less coup have not simply sprung up dent Nimeiry imprisoned last Sep- Western diplomats in Khartoum, overnight. Yel his ability to cope with tember. Nimeiry's subsequent remark backed up by U.S. intelligence reports, them appears to be failing. that this should be seen as a lesson to seemed prepared to accept the official II the current political climate in the those who allied with Libyan leader version of events. The distance be- capital. Khartoum, is a reliable gauge, Muammar Qaddafy, was regarded by tween Al-Kufra and Khartoum and then the innate passivity and tolerance educated Sudanese as both tactless and back, some 1,800 miles, was within the of the Sudanese people is also running in extremely bad taste. bomber's tactical radius. Only two So- out. Few have any faith left in their More interesting perhaps than the viet satellite countries have ever been president's ability lo sort out these bizarre nature of the raid itself was the given such aircraft (Libya and Iraq), problems. Indeed, many hold him re- reaction it provoked from the Sudan- and Qaddafy had a motive of sorts. The sponsible for having caused them. ese. There was very little sense of panic radio station at Omdurman is used for The latest in a.series of body blows to or fear that it might happen again. The broadcasting vitriolic anti-Libyan have hit the Sudanese since last fall, one official version of the event identified propaganda. that left them completely stunned, the plane as a TU-22 (as Western air- However, not one of the Sudanese I was an air raid in broad daylight on craft experts had already agreed), and spoke to three days after the event was the national radio station in Omdur- therefore it must have come from the prepared to fully accept this version. man, just across the river from Khar- airbase at Al-Kufra oasis in southeast- Conspiracy theories were rife in Khar- toum. On March 16, as people were ern Libya. Three weeks earlier, Qad- toum. Was the plane in fact a Sudanese enjoying the quiet of the Muslim sab- dafy had proclaimed his intention to aircraft flown by dissident air force bath along the banks of the White Nile, a Soviet-built TU-22 bomber coasted up the Nile from the southwest at low altitude, dropped its load of five 500- pound bombs, and then disappeared as mysteriously as it had arrived. Despite the precision of the surprise attack both in its timing and accuracy, the damage done was miraculously minimal. That only five people were killed in such a crowded urban area was remarkable, and the one bomb that hit

Rick Wells is a British journalist based in Nairobi. He is currently East Africa correspondent for The Economist. Presidents Reagan and Nimeiry at the White House: "AWACs were dispatched to Egypt to bolster Egyptian and Sudanese air defenses after the Omdurman bombing"

60 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 being brought in to help fight the southern Sudanese rebels cast doubt on these SUDAN assertions. On the other hand, Egypt is wary of getting too involved in Nimeiry's internal problems. It disliked his bid to buy off the powerful Muslim Brotherhood by unexpectedly announcing the full implementation of Islamic Sharia law last September, and it is well aware of the danger of pursuing a military solution to the escalating guerrilla war in the south. The reaction of the southern rebels, the Sudan People's Liberation Move- ment (SPLM). to these events was predictable. Their spokesman in London viewed it as a deliberate move by Nimeiry to gain U.S. and Egyptian military support against them. The arrival of Egyptian troops only confirmed Central their feelings that he remained bent on African pursuing a military solution to the Rep problem. The rebels also speak from a position of considerable strength. The SPLM currently has an estimated 4,000 or more well-armed and disciplined guerrillas controlling several hundred miles of the Upper Nile. Operating from bases within Ethiopia and with Libyan backing, they are led by 38- men? Was it the prelude to a planned '' If they wanted us to believe there was year-old Colonel John Garang, a south- coup attempt? Perhaps Nimeiry had or- oil in the country. President Nimeiry ern Sudanese who has three American ganized it himself to serve as both a should have told us that there wasn't university degrees and attended the distraction from the other problems in any." West Point military academy. the country and to drum up support Whatever the truth of the matter, the Over the last six months, particularly from his closest allies, Egypt and the outcome did, for the time being at least, during the dry season, they have sur- United States, and further military as- strengthen Nimeiry's position. Egypt prised everyone with the strength and sistance? Why could it not have come responded quickly with the arrival of its audacity of their activities. Their at- from neighboring Ethiopia, with whom defense minister, Abu Ghazala. in tacks on sites belonging to an American relations are almost as bad as with Khartoum just six hours after the raid. oil company. Chevron (a subsidiary of Libya, where southern Sudanese rebels The 1976 joint defense pact between Socal), and a French building firm, fighting the Nimeiry regime are based? Egypt and Sudan was invoked and a Compagnie de Construction Interna- Apart from anything else, people felt team of Egyptian military experts was tionale (CCl), in February during strong resentment that the military had told to look into its provisions. which four people were killed and six been helpless to prevent such a thing Three days later, and for the third others taken hostage, came as a severe from occurring. However unlikely time in 13 months, American AWACs blow to the government and the morale these alternative explanations were, the reconnaissance aircraft arrived in Egypt of expatriates working in the region. point is that many simply refused to be- from the U.S. to "'bolster the capability Work on the $300 million Jonglei lieve what Nimeiry and the media were of Egyptian and Sudanese air defense canal project had in fact been halted last telling them. They are too used to Qad- systems. .. and to deter further sus- November as CCl withdrew all its tech- dafy being held up as the scapegoat for tained attacks." A week after the raid, nicians after raids and kidnappings by all Sudan's ills. Such is the lack of in- the U.S. began an airlift of Egyptian air the rebels. The 260-mile canal, jointly formation available to the people and defense equipment and personnel into financed by Egypt and Sudan with the consistency of blatant untruths fed Sudan. Although sources in the U.S. European Economic Community aid. to them by the state-controlled media. Embassy in Khartoum stressed the de- aims to provide 70 billion cubic meters They simply don't know what to be- fensive nature of these provisions, re- of urgently needed water a year to lieve any more. To illustrate this, one ports circulating that between 2,000 Egypt. Already half-completed, it is former lecturer at the university said. and 12,000 Egyptian troops were also designed to save evaporation losses by

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 61 shurtcutting the Nile swamps. The re- But how is that solution to be found? tians. But we do not accept that only a bels knew full well the impact the stop- Apart from stating their intention to northerner can lead Sudan." Clearly page would have on the Egyptians, and oust Nimeiry. the SPLM has come up there is an urgent need for more give sent to Cairo a list of conditions for al- with no specific proposals around on both sides. The government is ex- lowing work to restart on the canal. In which negotiations might take place. pecting an upsurge of rebel activity mid-February, after a meeting between Their grievances are real enough. De- with the start of the short rains in Chevron chairman George Keller and velopment in the southern region has April, a prospect that the already de- President Nimeiry, Chevron decided to been painfully slow in the 12 years moralized and ill-supported northern halt production and exploration since it was given semiautonomy by the troops cannot face with relish. "pending a resolution to the current se- 1972 Addis Ababa agreement ending From 1955 lo 1972 about a million curity problems in the operational 17 years of civil war. people died in the civil war between areas." Another major success for the Sadly, the blame rests almost as north and south. Largely through the rebels. much with the incompetence and greed efforts of Nimeiry after he seized power Since 1979. when it was first discov- of its own elected representatives as on in 1969, a political solution, albeit a ered in significant quantity by Chevron the intransigence of the northerners in compromise, was reached. A com- at Bentiu, oil has been regarded by recognizing its importance to the eco- promise is again needed to prevent a Sudan as the panacea to all of the coun- nomic development of the country as a full-scale civil war from reemergins — try's economic ills. Estimates of re- whole. Increasing dissatisfaction and something by no means beyond serves have varied between 10 billion Nimeiry's capability if the will is there. barrels and a substantially less impres- But he is a very different man, more sive 200 to 300 million barrels, but for alone now perhaps than ever before. as long as it lasts it means much needed "Not one of the Sudanese I Through his own machinations and in- hard currency for the country. The de- spoke to three days after the stinct to survive, he bears the full re- cision to pipe the oil 900 miles to the bombing was prepared to fully sponsibility of government on his own Red Sea coast instead of going ahead shoulders. Neither the creation of his with plans to build a refinery at the oil accept the government's party, the Sudanese Socialist Union fields in the south was a major source of version of the events." (SSU) — modeled on Nasser's single grievance to southerners who sought party in Egypt — nor the successive some direct benefit from the oil. reconciliations with the various opposition groups have altered the reality of Chevron has tried hard to remain dissent over the past two years over one-man rule. The country, in effect, is motivaled by economic, not political, such issues as oil, previously men- bereft of institutions. considerations — a difficult task given tioned, eventually provoked Nimeiry the worsening political climate since it into decreeing the division of the one Signs that the Sudanese, in particular began work, and its obvious link by as- region into three — a move that the professional classes, are losing sociation with U.S. strategic interests smacked of "divide and rule" and patience with Nimeiry are emerging. A in the country. Having invested nearly which most southerners saw as a be- week after the bombing raid, the $K00 million in Sudan since starting trayal of the Addis Ababa treaty. majority of the country's doctors — operations, it will certainly think twice The introduction of Sharia law, de- more than 3,000 in all — quit their jobs before leaving. The effect of the shut- spite the fact that 25 percent of Sudan's for good after months of remonstrating down has been to cut its expenditures 20 million population is non-Muslim, and a 10-day strike over pay and hospi- by roughly one-third to $6 million a gave the largely Christian and animist tal conditions that failed to produce any month, and, as of now, the whole pro- south even more incentive to fight. As adequate response from the govern- ject has been set back about nine if oblivious to the sensitivities of south- ment. They had the sympathy of a months. A hold has been put on pro- erners at the time, Nimeiry has since number of student bodies at the univer- duction of the pipeline and, under- retracted somewhat and said that Sharia sity, and there was talk of the powerful standably, banks financing the project law does not apply to non-Muslims. engineers' union adding its weight to are having second thoughts about their He, however, missed a golden oppor- the fray. It will be remembered that it investment. tunity of extending an olive branch to was widespread discontent among students, workers, and the professional Chevron has tried to remain optimis- the southern rebels in his March 3 Unity classes merging into open revolt that tic. President Nimeiry has expressed Day speech, choosing to concentrate brought down the military regime of his feeling that Chevron has betrayed more on the latest round of verbal fisti- General Ibrahim Abboud in October him. But as one Chevron spokesman cuffs with Qaddafy. 1964. As Nimeiry the man has become said in Khartoum. "Killing three of our The SPLM says it supports unity more remote from these people, so the people is a pretty powerful statement by rather than succession. Its political myths and superstitions surrounding the rebels." While at present they have leader. Joseph Oduho, a former re- him and his ability to survive have no contingency plans to pull out, if a gional minister and one-time member multiplied. The myth, however, ap- solution isn't found in the next few of Nimeiry's political bureau, said re- pears to be dying, if it is not already months, on purely economic grounds, cently; "We are ready to cooperate dead. • they may be forced to give up. with the Arabs, and with the Egyp-

62 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 SPECIAL REVIEW

Looking Back at South Africa: Time Running Out

BY MILFRED C. FIERCE

n May of 1981, following two years liberties, and its relations with the rest one examines the southern Africa poli- I ol' intensive study, the 500-page re- of Africa and the international commu- cies that have been pursued. port. South Africa: Time Running On!, nity. These background chapters were Recent legislation in the House of was issued by the Study Commission overlaid by a set of vignettes that gave a Representatives, on the other hand, ap- on U.S. Policy Toward Southern Af- flavor of life in South Africa for all of pears to have been influenced by the rica. A central feature of the commis- its people and brought alive the hard work of the commission. Two amend- sion's work was the sophisticated pol- facts of the situation in the Republic. ments in particular, sponsored by Con- icy framework it advanced for analyz- The commission has now disbanded. gressmen William Gray (D-Pa.) and ing U.S. foreign policy in southern Af- The interest of the former commission- Howard Wolpe (D-Mich.). attached to rica. The commission stressed the im- ers in the subject, however, remains the Export Administration Act, are portance of the integrated nature of four strong. Many businesses and others in cases in point. The Gray amendment ingredients in policy analysis: U.S. the private sector, and their policies in would allow no new investment in interests, the situation in the country, a southern Africa, have been swayed by South Africa, a recommendation of the set of clearly articulated policy objec- [he work of the commission. Letters commission. The Wolpe amendment tives, and u series of recommended ac- and other testimonials continue to come would expand controls on the transfer tions flowing from the objectives. in, affirming the soundness, quality, of nuclear technology to countries like South Africa that have not signed the The commission presented all sides and usefulness of the report. Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and of the hest arguments in the thorniest is- The extent to which the findings and that have refused International Atomic sues in the U.S.-southern Africa policy recommendations o\' the commission Energy Agency safeguards for their nu- debate. This was preceded by substan- figured in the deliberations of the Rea- clear facilities. The commission rec- tial background on South Africa's his- gan administration when determining ommended a broadening of the nuclear tory, people, economy, labor scene. its southern Africa policies is not clear. embargo. system of apartheid, status of civil Copies of the report were sent to all of the key people in the administration, It may be helpful to reexamine the including the president, and many of reasons why the U.S. government and them were briefed individually, notably people should be concerned about Vice-President George Bush and As- Milfred C. Fierce is professor and chair- South Africa and developments there, man, Department of Africana Studies, sistant Secretary of State for African and to look again at the key findings and Brooklyn College. He was research di- Affairs Chester Crocker. However. recommendations of the commission in rector of the Study Commission on U.S. three years hence, it is apparent that the Policy Toward Southern Africa. light of Reagan administration policy administration has not followed the and developments in southern Africa recommendations of the commission if over the past three years. j

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 63 Advancing political freedom and tained, large-scale violence is still pos- with a minimum of violence by sys- civil liberties, maintaining satisfactory sible, time is running out. tematically exerting influence on the diplomatic and commercial relations Both blacks and whites hold non- South African government. with other African countries as well as negotiable positions that are not neces- Recommendations: The specific ac- commercial relations with South Af- sarily irreconcilable and therefore may tions in pursuit of this objective are the rica, ensuring adequate supplies of key be the key to the solution {blacks must so-called push-pull, carrot-stick, in- minerals, protecting U.S. military and have a genuine share in political power ducement-pressure ones, designed to strategic interests, and minimi/ing So- and whites cannot accept a winner- encourage positive and discourage viet influence collectively represent the take-all form of majority rule). The negative initiatives by the South Afri- U.S. national interest in southern Af- choice for South Africa is not between can government. Diplomatic moves rica. There is no priority among these "slow peaceful change" and "quick such as reducing the levels of U.S. interests. Each has a constituency, and violent change" but between a slow, representation in South Africa and vice too often these interests seem to be in uneven, sporadically violent evolu- versa or barring the export of particular competition, but Ihcy all appear to have tionary process and a slow, but much categories of U.S. goods, services, and the same objective, albeit for different more violent descent into civil war. technology would follow if South Af- reasons—reduced violence, stability, Both these paths could lead to gen- rica implemented more repressive and peace. uine power sharing. The United States policies. If the government showed should encourage the less violent path signs of making genuine attempts to FINDINGS because it is more likely to protect the share power with blacks and at ending One of the commission's major full range of U.S. interests. In the final the system of apartheid, the U.S. findings was that the active collabora- analysis, black and white South Afri- should recognize such efforts and take tion of the South African government cans must make their own choices, and commensurate steps. was not an important factor in protect- whatever system they freely and fairly ing the Cape Sea route, exploding a choose should be respected by the myth that had gained some currency in United States and the international Objective 3: To support organizations the debate over U.S. policy. A greater community. inside South Africa working for source of danger to the West, the com- The specific actions for the U.S. change, to assist the development of mission found, was the growth of So- government and American business black leadership, and to promote black viet influence in the region, promoted proposed by the commission in pursuit welfare. by white intransigence in South Africa, of its five policy objectives were: Recommendations: Public interest or- growing political instability, rising ganizations working for change should levels of racial violence, and armed be supported. Antiapartheid activities Objective I: To make clear the funda- conflict. by private groups in South Africa mental and continuing opposition of the Another major conclusion was that should be encouraged by U.S. counter- U.S. government and people to the halts in the supply of key minerals ex- parts. Research efforts of South African system of apartheid, with particular ported from South Africa, should they organizations and individuals working emphasis on the exclusion of blacks occur, are likely to be partial, intermit- for change should be supported. Afri- from an effective share in political tent, and short-term in duration. Medi- can and multiracial unions should be power. um-term (five to 10 years) and long- aided. Black economic and social de- Recommendations: The arms and nu- term (more than 10 years) interruptions velopment should be supported through clear embargoes should be broadened are unlikely. investments and loans, and a social de- to cover foreign subsidiaries of U.S. In addition, the commission also velopment expenditure standard and companies, and diplomatic recognition found the following: black forces inside the Sullivan Principles should be and economic aid should be withheld the country would not accept the status adopted and implemented. Leadership from the so-called independent home- quo and would eventually alter it; there exchange programs should be con- lands. U.S. corporations should not ex- was much ferment and many continued. The monitoring of South Afri- pand their operations in South Africa tradictory forces at work in South Afri- can government repression by private and those companies not already there can society; whites were not yet ready U.S. organizations should be con- should stay out. Companies should to accept blacks as equals or to share tinued. commit a generous proportion of their power with them, and blacks did not yet corporate resources—determined in possess sufficient leverage to compel accordance with a specific "social de- whites to share power; many black and Objective 4: To assist the economic velopment expenditure standard"—to white leaders inside the country recog- development of the other states in improving the lives of black South Af- nized the need for real reforms; and southern Africa, including a reduction ricans, and they should subscribe to and fundamental change would not come in the imbalance in their economic re- implement the Sullivan Principles. quickly and compromises would have lations with South Africa. to be made. Although the final battle Recommendations: The private sector lines have not yet been drawn, and fun- Objective 2: To promote genuine po- should be encouraged to expand trade damental political change without sus- litical power sharing in South Africa and industrial development in the re-

64 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 gion and to the Southern African De- criticized for railing against South Af- one. The evidence is as follows: The velopment Coordination Conference, rica and delivering nothing. South Af- system of racial separation in South especially for the development of ag- rica for Ronald Reagan was "a friend Africa is essentially status quo ante. riculture, transport, communications, and ally." There have been at best only chinks in and energy resources. Increased aid tor Top priority for the administration the solid armor of apartheid. The new Zimbabwe wus urged in recognition of has been the search for a solution to the constitution, overwhelmingly ap- its vital role in southern Africa. Namibia conundrum. The system of proved b\ whites six months ago, pro- apartheid, the exclusion of Africans vides for the nominal and meaningless Objective 5: To reduce the impact of from an opportunity to share political inclusion of Coloureds and Indians in a stoppages of imports of key minerals power in South Africa, and human reorganized Parliament. The 22 mil- from South Africa. rights violations have been relegated to lion Alncans will simply continue to Recommendations: U.S. stockpiles of the back burner. It is unfortunate that be excluded, which prevents the pro- these minerals (chromium-ferro- the Reagan State Department intro- posals from being taken seriously as a chrome, manganese- ferromanganese, duced a device in the Namibia negotia- long-term solution. platinum, and vanadium) should be in- tions called '"linkage," which as- There are reports that licenses have creased; a national minerals policy and sociates Namibian independence with been made available for the sale of U.S. contingency plans developed; sources the removal of Cuban troops from An- enriched uranium and helium-3, both of of supply diversified; and transport gola, and it has even been suggested which are used to make thermonuclear systems in the other mineral-supplying that this tactic, quickly embraced by the weapons. Sales of high-tech nuclear states in southern Africa developed. South African government, now estab- equipment to South Africa have in- lishes a condition for Namibian inde- creased and the Reagan administration In addition, there were three general pendence. The linkage idea has been has facilitated the shipment of enriched recommendations for the U.S. gov- forcefully and repeatedly condemned uranium from Europe to South Africa. ernment. First, it should encourage by African leadership, who insist that Even though the Gulf Oil Company U.S. allies to adopt similar approaches. the presence of Cubans in Angola and is turning handsome profits from which Second, it should issue a white paper Namibian independence are two wholly the Angolan government derives defining U.S. interests in South and separate issues, and should be treated as needed foreign exchange to help pay southern Africa, describing the overall such. The South Africans have taken the approximately $6 million per month framework for policy. And third, it lull advantage of this "window of op- cost of keeping the Cuban troops on its should establish a high-level inter- portunity," outmaneuvered the U.S., soil, the Reagan administration stead- departmental committee to coordinate and prolonged the negotiations, buying fastly refuses to establish diplomatic policy toward South Africa. needed time along the way. Although relations with Angola until the Cubans The principal findings and recom- there has been a flurry of media en- leave, firmly establishing the prover- mendations of the Study Commission thusiasm recently about a new possibil- bial "Catch-22" situation. are still valid even though they were ity for a Namibia settlement, careful Shock batons have been sold to the made almost three years ago. The pol- observers are not optimistic and many South African government; it has re- icy framework—the mechanism pro- suspect that another stalemate has de- ceived a $1.1 billion loan from the posed by the commission for analyzing veloped because the South-West Africa International Monetary Fund; and the U.S. policy in southern Africa—is still People's Organization (SWAPO) has ban on "gray-area" goods, such as the best way to think about policy and to rejected the "disengagement" propos- computers, airplanes, and helicopters, appreciate how all of the crucial ingre- als. to the South African military and police dients (interests, realities, objectives, The Reagan "constructive engage- has been relaxed. The South African and actions) arc mechanically linked. ment" approach has inspired an inten- government has not reciprocated for The framework can accommodate dis- sification of the dcstabilization policies these incentives by comparable move- agreement on the specific actions pre- of the South African government, ment away from apartheid, nor toward sented by the commission and remain which over the past three years has Namibian independence. It has, it an effective tool for policy analysis. stepped up its military adventures into seems, had things pretty much its way Angola, Mozambique, and Lesotho, since January 1981. There have been REAGAN ADMINISTRATION and aggressively agitated the new gov- many carrots and few sticks. Recog- POLICY ernment in Zimbabwe. Their objective, nizing this and that time may be running The Reagan administration assumed they assert, has been search and destroy out for the Reagan administration as the office in early I9S1 with an announced missions against African National presidential elections approach, the intention of changing the style of U.S. Congress (ANC) sanctuaries. Their South Africans have recently been southern Africa policy in order to have efforts have netted them primarily ci- angling to impress outsiders with their greater influence with the South Afri- vilian casualties, property destruction, attempts at disengagement with An- can government. The policy orientation and U.S. vetoes of UN resolutions con- gola, to be followed by a cease-tire in shifted from an emphasis on human demning the attacks. Namibia/ Angola. rights issues to regional security con- The three-year report card on Reagan They have, in addition, released cerns. The Carter administration was southern African policy is not a good SWAPO founder Herman Toivo Ja

AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 65 Toivo after 16 years in prison, possibly goes on. Some observers are no more Robert McNamara has referred to to sow some seeds of division within optimistic now about Namibian inde- southern Africa as the Middle East of SWAPO, and signed an unprecedented pendence and the implementation of the 1990s. Indeed the prospects for a nonaggression pact with Mozambique UN Resolution 435 than at any other negotiated resolution of the problems in that has provoked heated debate and time during the tenure of the Reagan southern Africa—Namibian indepen- mixed reaction in and out of South Af- administration. The Cubans and An- dence and the elimination of apart- rica. These developments, however, golans supplied their own conditions heid—appear as intractable as they are will not make it any easier lor the Rea- for troop withdrawal, assuring a con- susceptible to escalation. At the same gan administration to defend its inef- tinuation of the diplomatic impasse that time, surprisingly, the possibility for fective and anachronistic policies in even the best efforts of Zambian Presi- negotiation still exists, although, as the southern Africa. South African troops dent Kenneth Kaunda and others may commission so perceptively noted three are still on Namibian soil and the war not be able to break. years ago. time is running out. •

FOUR NEW PERSPECTIVES ON SOUTHERN AFRICA Afrikaner Political Thought Soldiers Without Politics Analysis and Documents, Volume 1: 1780 1850 Blacks in fhe South African Armed Forces by Andre du Toit and Hermann Giliomee by Kenneth W. Grundy This is the first volume in a major effort to gather and Despite their axiom that blacks shsuld not be armed, present in English the essential documents of Afrikaner South Africa's white government has been forced to open political thought. The editors here assemble and analyze the armed services to blacks. In this first book-lengih study politically significant discussions and disputes among early of the South African Defence Force and of non-white service Afrikaner settlers, and between them and colonial author- in the South African military and police, Grundy probes ities, over slavery, labor, trade, frontier conflicts, law and relations between military leaders and Nationalist Party order, and independence from colonial rule. Volume 22. politicians, race relations in a racially stratified military, $37.50 and the impact on society of black military service. Volume 33. $24.50 The House of Phalo A History of the Xhosa People in the Days of Education, Race, and Social Their Independence Change in South Africa by J. B. Peires Edited by John A. Ma re urn In this first modern history of the Xhosa, Peires relates the A shortage of skilled manpower has forced whites to story of one of the most numerous and important indigen- expand education for South African blacks. As black ous peoples in contemporary South Africa. He covers their enrollments grow, so do opposing clusters of hopes and consolidation, an interlude of cooperation and conflict anxieties about the social and political impact of this with whites, and the frontier wars that led to their subor- change. To gain knowledge of these developments Amer- dination in the modern South African state. He incorpor- ican educators, sponsored by the U.S. South Africa Leader ates the Xhosa oral and written testimony into a modern Exchange Program, interviewed South African educators, historical and ethnographic framework. Volume 32. $27.50 students, and civic leaders. This book presents their finding. Volume 34- $25.00 Available at bookstores or order from r\r\ University of California Press y\J Berkeley 94720 Ninety years of scholarly excellence

66 AFRICA REPORT • May-June 1984 •Ill

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