Africans Decry Lack of S. Africa Blockade
A summit of seven African leaders ended Tuesday with strong condemnation of South African apartheid and a swipe at the United States and other Western nations for refusing to join an economic blockade against Pretoria.
A communique issued by the leaders from East and Central Africa said that equality for blacks in South Africa is a “historic imperative” and assailed governments that oppose economic sanctions and provide military aid despite Pretoria’s racial discrimination policies.
None was named, but they were understood to be principally the United States, Britain, West Germany and Israel.
“The people of Africa will not forget those that deliberately failed to join them at the crucial moment in their fight against the evil and oppressive system of apartheid,” said the statement signed by the leaders of Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zaire, Burundi, Tanzania and Sudan.
‘Will Be No Peace’
“There will be no peace in southern Africa until apartheid has been completely dismantled and all the people of South Africa and (South African-occupied) Namibia enjoy undiluted democracy,” said the declaration after a two-day summit in the Kenyan capital hosted by President Daniel Arap Moi.
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