could be gravely affected if the international community does not energetically face on the economic level the major challenges which confront humanity with regard to its development. We have noted -with satisfaction, let it be said -that the decade of the 1980s was marked by great technological and scientific progress in various fields. However, the evolution of the world economy during that decade brought out an intolerable paradox: unlike the the 1960s and 1970s, the 1980s were characterized by an appreciable slow-down in the growth of the world economy, by greater inequality in the distribution of .wealth and by a concentration of wealth in the hands of the rich accompanied by a greater marginalization of the poor countries. No part of the South was spared. As for Africa, its situation is particularly serious. The continuing and increasing drop in commodity prices has led to a serious decrease in revenues for the African countries. The increased difficulties in qaining access to international markets, due to the growth of Protectionism, has contributed to a sharp reduction in Africa • s share of world trade. A:J_onq with the movement towards falling prices and revenues for the African countries, we are witnessing an unprecedented increase in the prices of equiDment and other industrialized products of the developed countries. The negative RM/25 A/S-18/PV. 8 118 (Mr. Monqbe, Benin) consequences of this twofold and contradictory movement have endanqered the investment capabilities of the developinq countries. Repeated increases in interest rates and frequent variations in trade and monetary rates, in addition to their unsettl inq effect on the international financial market, are exerting a financial stranglehold on most African countries. The situation is even more tragic in the least developed countries, where the reqression of the 1980s has been much more acutely felt. Almost all of them have 
**Analysis**
The text discusses the economic challenges faced by humanity, specifically the slow-down in the growth of the world economy, increasing inequality, and the difficulties faced by developing countries, particularly those in Africa. The text highlights the impact of protectionism, fluctuating interest rates, and variations in trade and monetary rates on the investment capabilities of developing countries.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade