Chapter 3 Africa's immediate task is to fight imperialism, not capitalism[1]

(February 21, 1959) The task of Africa as a whole is to oppose imperialism and those who follow imperialism, not to oppose capitalism, not to build socialism.Proposing the establishment of a socialist society in Africa must make mistakes.The fact is that imperialism is relying on its lackeys to unite with some people in Africa to oppress Africa.The nature of the present revolution in Africa is a bourgeois-democratic revolution, not a proletarian socialist revolution.Generally speaking, the struggle in Africa as a whole is protracted.First, don't think that you can win right away, you will win tomorrow morning, and you must prepare for a long-term struggle.If you don't make mental preparations for a long-term struggle, and imperialism is so powerful, you will be disappointed.Second, we must rely mainly on our own strength, supplemented by seeking foreign aid.I have these two suggestions for your consideration.I'm not familiar with the situation in Africa, and I'm not African.I will tell you my opinion for your reference.

The current revolution in Africa is to oppose imperialism and engage in national liberation movements. It is not about communism, but about national liberation.We agree on this point.There are two other points: one is the speed and slowness of victory.The victory may be fast, or the victory may be slow, nothing more than these two.Be prepared for both and you won't be disappointed.The second is the question of what strength to rely on.Should we rely on foreign countries to liberate Africa, or should we rely on Africans to liberate Africa? We should rely on Africans to liberate Africa.The affairs of Africa are handled by Africans themselves, relying on the strength of Africans themselves.At the same time, we must also find friends in the world, including China.As for China, I will definitely support you.Whether these two points are correct, please consider.

It appears that Africa today is different from Africa in the past.After the Second World War, the African anti-imperialist movement in 1958 made great progress.It can be expected that the anti-imperialist movement in Africa will develop faster in the future than in the past.As for countries wanting to help you, that's no problem.People of all countries, especially socialist countries and countries that have become independent, must help and support you.You need support, we need support, and all socialist countries need support.Who will support us? It is not the national liberation movements in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which are the most important force supporting us.Also supporting us is the working class of Western Europe.So it's mutual support.Your anti-imperialist movement is supporting us.If the Soviet Union and China do a better job, that is to support you.You can consider that China can be regarded as a friend of yours.We can contain imperialism and disperse its forces so that it cannot concentrate its forces on oppressing Africa.

According to the "Mao Zedong Diplomatic Anthology" published by Central Literature Publishing House and World Knowledge Publishing House in 1994, the original title was "The Mission of Africa is to Oppose Imperialism." -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ note [1] This is an excerpt from the conversation between Mao Zedong and the representatives of the Cameroon People's League and the youth representatives of Guinea, Kenya and Madagascar.