invasion had failed.
\i about 4 p.m. the barracks of Samory was recaptured and
passed back into the hands of the Guinean army. Other strategic points were retaken the electricity station, the barracks
of Boiro, etc. the combat lasted three days in all, until the
24th of November. The invaders suffered 157 killed and 125
prisoners were taken, amongst whom 28 were wounded.
Koundara, a town in the northern part of the Republic of
Guinea near the border with Guinea-Bissau had also been attacked. But there the Portuguese forces were annihilated within a few hours.
riuis ended one of the biggest acts of international gangsterism  in recorded history;   Portugal had suffered a major
defeat.
The invasion of the Republic of Guinea was an operation that
had been long in preparation. For a long time one of Portugal's main aims has been to eliminate the external supports of
the national liberation movements from the Portuguese colonies; as represented by the progressive governments of the
neighbouring African countries. On many occasions Portugal
mined roads, destroyed bridges, bombed villages and violated
the land and air space of Senegal, Guinea, Tanzania, Zambia,
Congo-Brazzaville and Congo-Kinshasa. Many times Portugal
has tried to institutionalise the «droit de suite», as the French
tried during the Algerian war. The intention lying behind
these activities is to intimidate the African countries'and lead
them to withdraw their support from the national liberation
movements. All such Portuguese efforts failed. Yet she did
not give up. Instead a new idea was born, worked out in cooperation with certain other imperialist powers: to liquidate
the progressive governments of the African countries neighbouring upon the Portuguese colonies through military intervention!
It was in the context of this imperialist political orientation
that Portugal sought and succeeded in obtaining the cooperation of certain reactionary citizens of the Republic of
Guinea, enemies of the Revolution and of the Guinean people
who were living abroad (particularly in France). Once having
established such an alliance, the Portuguese secret services
drew up their plans. Certain imperialist powers were involved
in these plans. Training camps were established in Guinea-Bissau
and finally, on the 22nd of November, 1970, the invasion took
place.
In brief, thc converging interests of Portuguese colonialism and
African counter-revolutionaries generated an alliance that, with
thc discrete but nonetheless concrete and firm support of
some imperialist powers, aimed at stiffling nationalist movements   and   at   rccolonising  independent  African  countries.
Thc aggression against  the Republic of Guinea failed. The
Guinean   people   united,   their  militia,   their  army  and   the
CO-Operation of thc fighters of PAIGC, defeated the Portuguese  invasion.    Despite the very limited material means o\
defence available to the Republic of Guinea, and despite the
highly  sophisticated   level of preparation o( thc aggression,
colonialism and imperialism  failed to breach the people's wall.
This  victory   against   Portuguese   colonialism   and   African
counter-revolutionaries supported by imperialism dignifies Africa.
This event is therefore most instructive, in fact the Portuguese
aggression against the Republic of Guinea suggests the following
comments :
1 President Sekou Toure had several times in the past publicly
denounced  the  existence  of Portuguese  training camps in
Guinea-Bissau  aimed at  training mercenaries  to attack the
Republic of Guinea.   In spile of that, the news of the invasion
took the world by surprise.   This can only suggest that the
spirit of revolutionary vigilance was regrettably weak.   Why?
it is because there is not a firm and militant conviction as
to the criminal and aggressive nature of colonialism and imperialism.    There is the example of the Anglo-French-Israeli
aggression in Suez.   There is thc experience of the American
invasion of Cuba, and of the mercenary invasion against Congo-
Kinshasa.   Yet even in the face of those examples, there remains a certain liberalism, a certain lack of courage, which
falsifies the judgement, and leads one to hope - even to believe - that imperialismwill finally change itself, will become
less dangerous.
2 This military intervention is surely a new escalation in the
modern history of imperialist intervention in Africa. But what
is really important to notice is that the fundamental principle
contained in this invasion, the principle which colonialism and
imperialism now tries to impose and make legitimate, is that of
military intervention.
The aggression against the Republic of Guinea took the form
of an alliance between colonialism and the African counterrevolution; this was the formula that the specific context
favoured. And this formula is not exhausted it can be tried
against other countries. However, the basic feature is military intervention per se, and considering that imperialism
will never give up, it is therefore imperative that we remain
vigilant. We must understand that colonialism and imperialism
seeks new forms of intervention - and that increasingly these
forms will include open and direct intervention.
3 The victory of the Guinean people was due to their high
level of mobilisation, and to the effectiveness of their political and military organisation. Thus the Guinean experience
has reminded us that these are the basic conditions for victory.
4 The development of the armed struggle of the peoples under
colonial domination for their independence, and the development of the struggle of the African independent countries for
the  defence  and  consolidation of their independence, has
determined new relations of co-operation between the nationalist movements and the African states.   Close co-operation, a
joint discussion of the problems arising from thc struggle
against colonialism for the liberation of the African continent,
is an imperative for today's Africa and a precondition for the
defence of the interests of the African peoples, considered
individually and collectively.
5 The world condemned Portugal and supported the Republic of Guinea. Africa condemned unanimously Portugal, supported the Republic of Guinea and hailed the victory of the
Guinean people and thc action of PAIGC. Now it is necessary
to continue the fight, to sustain the armed struggle against
Portuguese colonialism and to ensure the defence of the independent African countries. There are many problems, many
obstacles, to be overcome. What is most necessary is to be
realistic, to concentrate efforts where the enemy is weakest,