Bitter wrangle in O.A.U.

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33563, 18 June 1974, Page 17

Bitter wrangle in O.A.U.

(New Zealand Press Association) MOGADISHU (Somalia), June 17. African Heads of State headed home yesterday after a bitter wrangle over filling a bureaucratic post split the continent into pro-Arab and black African camps.

Many in the Organisation of African Unity (0.A.U.), saw the election of Mr William Eteki of Cameroon as Secretary-General, as a check to the growing influence of oil-rich North Africa and fellow members of the Arab League. The Somali Foreign Minister (Mr Omar Arteh), a defeated candidate, had strong Arab backing. Despite last-minute protestations of African brotherhood, observers pictured the O.A.U. as deeply divided, its secretariat in Addis Ababa admittedly tom by regional feuds and nearly powerless

to meet problems of continental development. So much for African unity, an East African delegate commented. The eleventh annual O.A.U. summit meeting failed in some 20 secret votes to decide between Mr Arteh and the Zambian Foreign Minister (Mr Vernon Mwaanga). Eventually Mr Arteh withdrew in favour of Mr Eteki. who was elected unanimously to end a 15-hour week-end marathon. The summit meeting spent more time electing its top administrative officer than it did adopting resolutions on political and economic issues.

The Heads of State declared:—

They are ready for diplomatic relations with Portugal, if Lisbon recognises the state of Guinea-Bissau carved out of ■ Portuguese Guinea by African guerrillas, and negotiates with guerrilla leaders for total independence of Mozambique and Angola. The O.A.U. will set up a committee to studyways of meeting possible future drought emergencies. An eight-member committee should continue efforts to ease a dispute between Ethiopia and Somalia over control of the Ogaden Desert in eastern Ethiopia. Economic sanctions against white minority-ruled southern Africa should -be intensified. Independent Africa should continue negotiations toward economic partnership with the European Common Market. Africans should take a united stand at the Caracas "law-of-the-sea" conference next month in seeking territorial waters extending 320 kilometres from shore.