Africa Today. This item is unavailable.Africa Today

This volume offers a wealth of background knowledge about Africa's political, economic and social development and the people and leading personalities of the past and present. The book includes basic documents and information on the activities of Africa's continental organizations such as the OAU, ECA and the ADB as well as regional bodies such as ECOWAS and SADCC, African Trade Unions and political movements. The information on inter-African economic cooperation, trade statistics and relations with non-African countries complement the surveys of individual countries. The Africa essays section is an in-depth analysis of 26 selected topics by eminent Africans and Africanists, internationally renowned experts in their various fields. Each country section begins with a map and a selection of basic facts such as population, important towns and cities, currency, main mineral resources, main export and trading partners, official languages, leading educational and other important national institutions, political parties, principal trade unions, military esatblishments and major newspapers. This is followed by an abridged account of the country's pre-colonial, colonial and post-independence history and politics. Statistical tables provide information on land use, population and labour force, gross domestic product, agricultural and industrial production, central government revenue and expenditure, balance of payments, capital flows, external trade, education and health. The composition of the government, diplomatic missions abroad and missions in the host country are items on a comprehensive list of varying interests and institutions covered.