region. Theregimehasalready shownitselftobeanenemyofpeacewithin and beyonditsfrontiers. Allpossible material andfinancial assistance should therefore begiventothecountries oftheregiontostrengthen theirdefensive capabilities andtocarryouttheireconomic development projects. Itisincumbent uponthisOrganization torejecttheattempt bySouthAfrica anditsalliestoportraythearmed:.Janditsasapoliticaloppositioninour countries. Toaccept thesemanoeuvres means,inthefinalanalysis, toconniveA'40Iw.9 19-20 (President !!achel) withthedestabilization policyoftheracistregimeandtogiveitmoralsUl?port initsactsofaggression against oureountriea andpeoples. TheroleoftheUnitedNationsonbehalfofthetotalliberationofpeoplesis not'limited tothepolitical sphere, !,~extendsalsototheeconomic sphere. We havebeenfollowing withappr:ecb tionourOrganiza tion'spositiveroleinthe economic andsociai -Ivelopmemt ofeo©hofou!:countries, through thespecialized agencies, bodies· andinstitutions thatmakeuptheUnitedNations family. Inthis context wecongratulate ourOrganization anditsSecreary-General ontheir commitment tothepursuitofsolutions tothecritical economic difficulties Africa isgoingthrough.JP/rd A/40/PV.9 21(President Machel) Thatcommitment hasbeencomplemented bytheindividual an~jointactionof Africancountries,whicharedoingalltheycantofindtherightandappropriate pro9ra~ toresolve thedifficulties affQcting them. TheworldisinClserious economic situation. Thecontinent ofAfrica, however, isfacingaparticularly acutecrisis, astheunitedNations hasrightly noted. Theserious economic situation facedbymanycountries ofourcontinent has mu:ttiple c~uses, andwemustdealprimarilywiththem,overandabOl7etheemergency programmes neededtosavelivesthreatened bythescourge offamine. oureconomies areweak,despite thefactthatourcontinent hasmuchpotential. Thecolonial legacy, manifested inilliteracy, weakdevelopment ofproductive forcesandlackof economic infrastructures, denying usthefullbenefitofexisting resources, continues tobedeeplyfelt. Ifirecentyearstheeconomic situation ofourcontinent hasbecome particularly critical asaresultofpersistent drought andothernatural disasters, suchascyclones andfloods. Faminehasalready takenthelivesof hundreds ofthousands ofpeopleandthreatens millions ofAfricans. External factors aretheprincipal causesofthatsituation. Amongthem,one muststresstheworsening ofthetermsoftrade,andtheconsequent fallinexport earnings. Theunprecedented riseinrealinterest ~Gtesandthedramatic increase inexternal debtcombine withotherfactors todrainthemeagreforeign exchange reserves oftheAfrican continent. Atthesametime,weareaffected bytheprofound international economic recession andareburdened withtheeffects ofaninternational economic system that isneitherjustnorequitable. Ourcountry, besides SUffering theimpactoftheproblems Ihavejust mentioned, isfurther facedwiththeeffects oftheeconomic aggression, destabil!zation andundeclared warwagedagainst usbythesouthAfrican r~gime.JP/I'dA/4O/PV.9 22(Presidvlt Machel) Oureconomy hasbeendisrupted andinsomeareasparalysed. Theeconomic infrastructure, factories, bridges, roads,railways, powerlinesandvehicles carrying passengers, medicines, milkandotherbasicnecessities havebeen destroyed, sabotaged andpillaged. Theefforts thatourStateandthe international community aremakingtosavehundreds ofthousands ofMozambicans affected bydroughtarecriminally sabotaged. Thetwenty-first summitmeetingoftheHeadsofStateandGovernment ofthe Organization ofAfrican Unity(OAU),convened mainlytodealwitheconomic matters, established apriority programme forthenextfiveyearsaimedatcreating conditions fornational andcollective self-SUfficiency andfortheeconomic developmen tofourcontinent. TheAfricancountriesshowedonceagaintheir determination toovercome hunger, poverty, illiteracy anddisease -inshort, backwardness andunderdevelopment. Ourcountries needaboveallanimmediate solution totheproblems thatthecolonial past,external debtandnatural disasters haveimposed. Webelievethattheinternational community needstotakeurgentandeffective measures inordertofacathecritical situation inAfrica. Theexternal debtof Africancountrieshanbeengrowingatanalarming rate.Exceptional measures are neededtoreducetheenormous burdenofdebtandtopromote thegrowthofthe African economies. Although werecognise ourobligations inrespectof~heexternal debt,we thinkthatcreditor anddebtorcountries alikecanonlygainthrough theadoption ofcourageous measures 1:0re7iveoureconomies. Takingintoaccount thediversity ofthefinancial capacities ofdebtorcountries, waysandmeansshouldbefoundto reschedule, onmorefavourable terms,partofthedebtandconvert therestinto
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a speech or statement from a high-ranking official, likely the President of Mozambique, addressing the economic crisis in Africa. The speech highlights the colonial legacy, external debt, and natural disasters as major causes of the crisis. The speaker emphasizes the need for international assistance, debt relief, and economic development to overcome the challenges faced by African countries.

**Category**
Economic development, Humanitarian aid and relief