The Role of Africa in the United Nations

The image of Africa in the United Nations in the first twelve years of the life of that organization was an image of Trust Territories and colonially dominated areas. This was drastically altered by the emergence of African states to independence and membership in the world community. As they have gained increased membership in the United Nations, the African states have sought to co-ordinate their efforts on issues of self-determination, the independence of colonial areas, the elimination of racial discrimination policies. To this end, caucusing groups have developed. There is presently dis cernible a tendency toward unity even on non-African issues. Within the United Nations itself, the African states are con cerned with obtaining seats on the Security Council, the Eco nomic and Social Council, and on other committees that include less than the full membership of the United Nations. On sub stantive issues, they are concerned with eliminating Portuguese domination in Angola and Mozambique, with achieving inde pendence for South West Africa, and with ending apartheid in South Africa, with priorities assigned in that order for reasons of strategy. The impact of Africa in the United Nations has been to shift emphasis from East-West to North-South differ ences, with particular stress on moral-political issues, basic so cial and economic problems. Over-all, African states have conducted themselves in a politically responsible manner and can be expected to continue to do so.—Ed.