Wednesday, July 30th 1975.

Footage of President Idi Amin of Uganda, bidding farewell to five African leaders departing the 12th conference of the Organisation of African Unity (O.A.U.) held in Kampala. The O.A.U. Secretariat stressed that the early departures from the conference which still had two days to run, was not connected to the previous day's overthrow of Nigeria's General Yakubu Gowon while he was attending the conference.

The five early departures were President Ahmadou Ahidjo of Cameroon, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, LieutenantColonel Seyni Kountche of Niger, President Marien Ngouabi of the Congo and President Omar Bongo of Gabon.

Reuters Text:

Five African heads of state left the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) summit in Kampala on Wednesday (30 July), secretariat said the departure rate was about normal and should not be connected with the military coup in Nigeria in which General Yakubu Gowon was deposed. Some leaders had originally planned to leave early.

General Gowon was attending the summit when he was told of the coup. But, despite the OAU secretariat statement, reports from Kampala say that some conference sources suggested the coup had generated a "certain nervousness" among the 19 heads of state who came to the summit.

President Ahmadou Ahidjo of Cameroon left Kampala on Wednesday morning. He was followed by President Anwar Sadat of Egypt who, according to reports from Cairo, has ordered his security service to increase surveillance on groups opposed to his proUnited States line in the Middle East peace talks.

Next to leave was LieutenantColonel Seyni Kountche of Niger followed by President Marien Ngouabi of the Congo ...and, finally, President Omar Bongo of Gabon.

The conference host, President Idi Amin wearing a charcoal grey suit and sober neckerchief, instead of his Field Marshal's uniform to see of his guests at the airport is, according to reports from Kampala, making a great effort to live up to his new position as the head of the OAU for the ensuing year.

Synopsis:

Kampala, scene of this year's Organisation of African Unity (OAU) conference....and the conference host Ugandan President Idi Amin saying goodbye to President Ahmadou Ahidjo of Cameroon. President Ahidjo was one of five heads of state to leave Kampala two days before the summit ends. But OAU secretariat officials said the departure rate was about normal....and should not be connected with the military coup in Nigeria in which General Yakubu Gowon was deposed....while attending the conference. But reports from Kampala say some conference sources have suggested the coup had generated a certain unease among the heads of state.

President Anwar Sadat of Egypt was another early departure seen off by President Amin....who arranged for each head of state to be feted with a military parade. According to reports from Cairo, President Sadat has ordered his security services to increase surveillance of groups opposed to his proUnited States line in Middle East peace talks.

The summit has almost entirely been overshadowed by the fate of General Gowon. Many delegates were said to be shocked by the news of the Nigerian coup. Only nineteen heads of states attended the 46membernation summit. Twentyfour states sent other top delegates.

Next to leave was LieutenantColonel Seyni Kountche of Niger also seen off at the airport by President Amin, who has just been voted OAU chairman for this year by the summit conference. Each time one of the heads of state left the International Conference Centre in Kampala, his national anthem and the national anthem of Uganda was played. According to observers, President Amin had individual talks with each head of state before their departure from Uganda. Meanwhile, the deposed Nigerian leader, General Gowon, has remained in Kampala. It is still unclear what his next moves will be. Some reports suggested he would join his wife and children, currently on holiday in Britain.

President Marien Ngouabi of the Congo (on the left) and President Omar Bongo of Gabon (on the right, wearing glasses) also left Kampala early. Meanwhile the conference continued although business had been held up after news of the Nigerian coup. It was the first time in the twelve year history of the OAU that an African leader had been deposed while attending a summit. Main issues dominating the summit include the Middle East, the possibility of blackwhite confrontation in Southern Africa and an OAU peacekeeping force to deal with the increasingly serious situation in Angola.

Source: Reuters News Archive.