The least developed, land-locked and island countries which constituted the majority of African States were in desperate need of financial and technical assistance, but the developed countries had failed to honour pledges made at various international gatherings including the 1981 United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries which had adopted the Substantial New Programme of Action. 162. The current crisis in Africa could be attributed to a defective world economic system with in-built imbalances. In the face of declining export prices and earnings, a heavy debt burden, reduced import capacity, inadequate external assistance, widespread trade protectionism, high interest rates and excessive currency fluctuations, the developing countries must unify - 46 - their efforts to introduce a new international economic order. Collective self-reliance and intra-African co-operation were most important. Africa's aim should be to rely entirely upon itself; meanwhile it should mobilize and make effective use of all possible external assistance. 163. The Executive Secretary read out a message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations which said that African Governments must take the lead in defining the action and international support required to alleviate their difficulties. 164. The Secretary-General was aware that African countries could not, by themselves, overcome all their problems; sustained international co­ operation in support of their present efforts was needed. In December 1983, he had taken the initiative to alert the international community to the rapidly deteriorating economic and social plight of African countries. In December 1983, he had created an office for emergency operations in Africa to co-ordinate the flow of assistance to affected countries and provide a framework for international action. An International Conference on the Emergency Situation in Africa had been held in Geneva in March 1985, to raise funds to cover the emergency requirements, estimated at $US 1.7 billion, of seriously affected African countries. 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses the economic situation of African countries, specifically the need for financial and technical assistance, and the importance of collective self-reliance and international cooperation to overcome the crisis. It also mentions the role of the United Nations and international conferences in addressing the issue. Given the focus on economic development and international cooperation, it is likely that the text belongs to one or both of the categories related to economic development and international trade.

**Category**
Economic development, International trade