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African State Boundaries: Oau Resolution

Volume 447: debated on Tuesday 31 January 1984

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asked Her Majesty's Government:What boundaries in Africa had not been agreed by the colonial powers and independent states concerned at the time of the resolution AHG/res 17 {1} adopted by the OAU summit meeting held in Cairo in July 1964, and whether they understood that resolution as not applying to such boundaries.

We are of course aware of a number of differences of opinion before 1964 between colonial powers and other states about the precise boundaries of some of their dependencies. However, as other governments were and still are involved, we have no standing to produce an authoritative list.As to the OAU Resolution, I assume that the noble Lord meant to refer to Resolution AHG/Res 16(I) of 1964, which states, "all Member States pledge themselves to respect the borders existing on their achievement of national independence". The interpretation of OAU resolutions is a matter for that organisation.