Page 217 - Afrika Must Unite

202 AFRICA MUST UNITE
prevent the extension of the colonial revolt to its own and its
neighbours’ borders.
The freedom fighters of Africa must prepare themselves for
this danger, which also threatens the independent states, who can
meet it effectively by unifying their m ilitary command and
foreign policy, and uniting with the liberation movements
through a concerted strategy. The dangerous potentials herein
envisaged are a graphic illustration of the direct bearing of im­
perialism on international affairs through its instruments,
colonialism and neo-colonialism. It can be readily seen that
imperialism is a fundam ental cause of war. An iniquitous system
which has generated intense rivalries and conflicts between
nations that erupted into open warfare on a major scale in the
scramble to secure £a place in the sun’ of colonial supremacy, it
has today spawned the neo-colonialism which is as busy as ever in
creating clashes among the nations. In their eagerness to exploit
the resources of the overseas territories, they engage in wicked
policies that bring a serious threat to the peace of the world.
Their grabbing involves them in a constant scramble, like crabs
in a pot, climbing over each other’s backs in order to get the
biggest helping. More often than not this scramble ends in
physical fighting, with the loss of countless innocent lives.
W hen we in Africa denounce imperialism and the recent off­
shoot, neo-colonialism, we do it not only because we believe that
Africa belongs to the Africans and should be governed by them,
but also in the interest of world peace which is so essential to our
development and freedom. By abolishing imperialism in all its
forms, the world will be rid of many of the present areas of
conflict.
It is in the same interest of world peace that we also advocate
unity. A united Africa would be able to make a greater con­
tribution towards the peace and progress of mankind. For one
thing, it would resolve the problems of those arbitrary frontiers
erected by the colonial powers, and so eliminate irredentist
dissensions. There would be no foreign military bases on African
soil. W ith a united foreign policy and a common defence plan,
there would be no need for them. In the concourse of African
union, no African country would be left in a position of solitary
weakness in which it could be bullied into allowing them. Any