Page 156 - Afrika Must Unite

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

S O M E A T T E M P T S A T U N I F I C A T I O N

T h e f i r s t step towards African political union was taken on
23 November 1958, when G hana and the Republic of Guinea
united to form a nucleus for a Union of African States. We
established a system of exchange of resident ministers, who were
recognized as members of both the government of G hana and the
government of Guinea.
The following year, in July 1959, the Presidents of Liberia and
Guinea, and I, met at Sanniquellie to discuss the whole question
of African emancipation and unity. At the end of our talks we
issued a Declaration of Principles, in which we stated that the
name of our organization would be the Community of In ­
dependent African States. Members of the Community would
m aintain their own national identity and constitutional
structure; and each member of the Community would agree not
to interfere in the internal affairs of any other member. The
general policy of the Community would be to build up a free and
prosperous African Community for the benefit of its peoples,
and the peoples of the world. The policy would be founded on the
maintenance of diplomatic, economic and cultural relations, on
a basis of equality and reciprocity, with all the states of the world
which adopted positions compatible with African interests. One
of its main objectives would be to help African territories not yet
free to gain their independence.
Membership of the Community was declared open to all
independent African states and federations, and any non­
independent country of Africa was given the right to join the
Community on attainm ent of independence. The motto adopted
for the Community was i n d e p e n d e n c e a n d u n i t y .
O n 24 December i9 6 0 1 met President Sekou Toure of Guinea
and President M odibo Keita of M ali at Conakry, with the result