Page 158 - Afrika Must Unite

SOME ATTEMPTS AT UNIFICATION 143
The Charter also provides for regular conferences between the
Heads of State of the Union. In fact the supreme executive organ
of the Union is the Conference, which meets once a quarter in
Accra, Bamako and Conakry, respectively, and is presided over
by the Head of State of the host country. At these conferences we
exchange views on African and world problems, and see how we
can best strengthen and widen our Union.
After the second summit conference of U.A.S. held at Bamako
on 26 June 1961, we issued a joint communique in which we
reaffirmed our determination to continue to support the African
peoples in their struggle for national liberation, particularly in
Algeria, the Congo, and Angola. O n the problem of the Euro­
pean Common M arket we agreed on a common policy, and
decided to take joint action in order to establish an African
Common M arket.
O ur conferences have been characterized by an identity of
view on most of the problems examined and an atmosphere of
perfect understanding. They have been followed by meetings of
official representatives from our different countries to examine
ways and means for giving effective realization to our decisions,
out of which recommendations are being made and action
endorsed. This shows clearly the workability of union between
African states. It is my great hope that the U.A.S. may prove to
be the successful pilot scheme which will lead eventually to full
continental unity.
The ultimate goal of a United States of Africa must be kept
constantly in sight amidst all the perplexities, pressures and
cajoleries with which we shall find ourselves confronted, so that
we do not permit ourselves to be distracted or discouraged by the
difficulties and pitfalls which undoubtedly lie ahead.
During 1961 sharp differences appeared between the so-called
Casablanca and M onrovia groups of states. The Casablanca
states, comprising Ghana, Guinea, M ali, Libya, Egypt, Morocco
and the Algerian F.L.N. m et from 3 to 7 January 1961 in the
M oroccan capital. The delegations of Ghana, Guinea, M ali
and Egypt were led by their Heads of State, the Algerian
Provisional Government by Ferhat Abbas, and Libya by her
Foreign Minister. Ceylon sent their ambassador in Cairo, M r
A. C. Pereira, as an observer. The conference was convened by