IMPACT OF REVOLUTTONS |
By. ue Nde1é
BANGUI, Central African Republic -- The ‘Congolese Revolution and thé: imperialist intervention have had immense repercussions here. This ‘country (the former French. colony of Ubangi-Shari), located to the north of both Léopoldville and Stanleyville, has been one of. the "calmest" countries in Africa up to now, and the stability of the govefnment of President David Dacko has never.been threatened, Supported ‘bya one-party system, the MESAN [Mouvement pour 1!Evolution Sociale de -LtaAfrique Noire], Dacko has leaned toward the capitalist. . powers and ruled the country (which has a rather limited economy ) with an at times severe paternalism, :
The - revolutionary convulsions in Black ‘Africa, -above all in .Léopoldville and. Brazzaville, have broken the "calm." In face of. the radicalization of various groups, even within his own party, Dacko is being forced to take one road or the other. Leftist currents have appeared even at the government level,
The fearful poverty. of the overwhelming majority of.the population (a poverty in striking contrast to the opulence of the Europeans and some of the African officials), the steady rise.in the cost of living, Dackots discredited foreign policy---2all this, coupled ‘with’ the influence of the revolutions in the neighboring countries;: have stirred things up and brought politics: here to a crossroads. eek,
The government has been obliged to take measures against businessmen and foreign enterprises (taxes, etc.). As a result they are either leaving or displaying resistance. HALL measures have failed to provide satisfying results. And so talk has begun to be heard about "Chinese socialism," about following the examples of °° Mali, Guinea, Congo-Brazzaville, |
While American prestige has dropped. (Dacko had placed great hopes in Washington’), the: Chinese are being welcomed. With the "left" turn, the government recognized the People's Republic of China and kicked out the representative’ of Chiang. Kai-shek. A little later the USSR also set up an embassy in Bangui. te
Tt is, however, necessary to note the difference-in greetings accorded by the government and by the trade-union and political . organizations to the Chinese and Soviets, A month ago, when a Chinese delegation arrived headed by the vice-minister of Foreign Trade, a real popular demonstration took place at the airport. Around 2,000 people, mostly youth, hailed the Chinese.: This completely unexpected (and most unusual) occurrence greatly surprised the European colonists and functionaries, not to mention the’ American ambassador Ross, whose ‘policy of small “eifts" ended in failure...
On the other hand, when the Soviet ambassador arrived two
weeks later, it.was-scarcely noticed. It can be said that no one expects much from Moscow. In addition, the policy of the Soviet bureaucracy in relation to the. revolutionary African movements is under ‘Strong criticism. a Leftists here do not. ‘count on any serious aid being granted by: the USSR. .Government circles similarly no. longer believe~that Mosc ow: wiil grant effective, long-time aid in developing the economy.
a In a general way, it can be said that in the Central African Republic the Soviet bureaucracy has lost all the prestige it had at . the time the new countries began winning their independence. .
The failure (or lack) of Soviet policy in relation to the countries of central Africa is all the more stinging for the Kremlin since the Chinese ‘have been gaining ground:very rapidly both among the most leftist groups as well as among the’ “neutralist" governments,
CHE GUEVARA