Conference Paper/Report

The 14th OAU Summit Conference at Libreville, Gabon June/July 1977

This conference summary provides a Charter for the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and then states some actual and potential conflict issues such as containing disputes between its member states and preventing them from splitting the organization. Compromise steps were taken at Libreville to resolve the conflict issues, while others were not dealt with. One of the few decisions emanating from the summit was for the setting up of a mediation commission to deal with inter-African disputes. They also announced the establishment of an ad hoc committee which would act as a defence commission for Southern Africa. Other discussions relating to Southern Africa were the usual condemnation of apartheid and a call for tougher sanctions, a condemnation of the Smith government and demands for more Western aid for struggling Black African Member states.