Third Largest

Although Africa is full of talk about mergers and federations of new nations, often the unity schemes are no more firm than maps drawn in the sand. But in Kenya last week, a serious, sensible and long-considered plan took shape.

In Nairobi, newly elected Prime Minister Jomo Kenyatta presided over a meeting of his neighbors. On one side sat Uganda's Prime Minister Milton Apollo Obote, grinning cheerfully be neath his toothbrush mustache; on the other, Tanganyika's high-spirited President Julius Nyerere. Present as an observer: Somalia's Foreign Minister Abdullahi Issa. From three hours of talk emerged the decision to work for a federation of Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika and Zanzibar, with Somalia, Rwanda and Burundi also invited.

"We have a common history, culture and customs which make our unity both logical and natural," declared Kenyatta, thereby seeming to refute old charges that he was parochially interested only in pushing the fortunes of his Kikuyu tribe, the most numerous in Kenya. "We reject tribalism, racialism or inward-looking policies." The East African Federation, which may be launched when Kenya gains full independence, probably later this year, could eventually become a nation of 25 million people, the third largest in Africa. There is no clear notion yet as to who will run the federation or how tight it will be, but a joint committee will spend the next two months drafting a program for joint economic planning, the establishment of common defense, foreign and diplomatic representation, and a central bank. Federation, said the three leaders, will create "a formidable force and a vast market."

Among many critical problems facing the proposed federation are Kenya's occasionally bloody dispute with Somalia, probable opposition from Buganda's Frederick Mutesa II ("King Freddie"), and resistance from Kenya's 55,000 remaining European settlers, who may be apprehensive of submersion in even more millions of Africans. But the federation scheme was off to a remarkably resolute start. When a newsman in Nai robi complimented President Nyerere on how quickly the plan had been launched, Nyerere smiled broadly. "What do you mean, quick?" said he. "This is something we've been thinking about for 40 years."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.