measures to adjust their economies to the new global economic realities. This adjustment has however shown many inadequacies as it has not been growth-oriented. The structural-adjustment programme in many instances has exacerbated social inequality, often without restoring growth and development. For Africa, the debt burden continues to mount faster than that of other regions of the world, and the region's overall ratio of debt to gross national product and exports continues to worsen. This is the case despite measures towards debt reduction agreed upon at the Toronto summit, as well as debt cancellations by some of the major donors. Recognition of the crisis in Africa was reflected in the adoption in June 1986 of the United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development. It will be recalled that the Programme embodied a commitment by the international community to suppart those efforts. The mid-term review of the Programme, however, reflected the fact that the Programme's implementation was being seriously handicapped by external financial constraints and that the economic stagnation and decline of many African countries was continuing. Another major concern of the. developing countries has been the change in their external financial position. In the early 1980s international bank lending ceased abruptly, so that debt payments resulted in financial transfers from the developing to the developed countries. While the official development aid and other official BCT/dl A/S-18/PV. 4 144 (Mr. Thoahlane, Lesotho) flows have become the only source of positive financial transfers to developing countries, the target of 0.7 per cent of the gross national product of the developed countries has not been met. Suffice it to recognize that while some countries in the developed world have long exceeded the target -and we are grateful for this -the majority of the developed countries have not met the target. 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic challenges faced by African countries, including debt burden, structural adjustment programs, and the impact on economic growth and development. The text also touches on the topic of international financial aid and the target of 0.7% of gross national product for developed countries. This suggests that the text is primarily focused on economic development and international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade