Yugoslavia and the Organisation of African Unity

Yugoslavia and the Organisation of African Unity

Organisation of African Unity	Yugoslavia

During the Cold War period former Southeast European country of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia established and maintained significant political, cultural and economic exchanges and relations with newly independent African states. While majority of multilateral exchanges were organized via Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations, significant cooperation developed with the Organisation of African Unity as well, predecessor to contemporary African Union. Yugoslavia was the only non-African country which participated in funding of the Liberation Committee of the Organisation of African Unity.^[1][2] While being a uniquely involved in the workings of the body the country nevertheless preferred bilateral relations with individual liberation movements.^[3] The Organisation of African Unity included the Non-Alignment principle in its charter while Yugoslavia consider the organisation to be the only legitimate representative for the entire African continent throughout the Cold War era.^[4] Yugoslavia therefore followed common OAU line in its own policies towards issues in Africa.^[4]