UN General Assembly
1967

16. The use of mercenaries to invade foreign lands is a new and brutal feature in another scramble for Africa. These mercenaries are encouraged by some Governments whose policies are racial. It is important that the General Assembly consider this problem and find an effective remedy before it is too late. We know from where these mercenaries are recruited: they are being recruited from countries most of which are Member States of this Organization. We appeal to the Member States concerned to make it illegal for their nationals to be recruited as mercenaries. This is important and urgent and we will support measures requiring Member States to ban the recruitment of these soldiers of fortune and make it illegal for their citizens to be hired as mercenaries. The activities of mercenaries are against the Charter of the United Nations because they threaten the very existence of certain States of Africa. They undermine the territorial integrity of Member States of this Organization. It is because of this that we feel very strongly that this matter must be taken up by the United Nations. The United Nations must stop this new wave of mercenary activity which, if it continued, would poison racial relationships and erode the principles enshrined in the Charter, and would indeed make a mockery of international relationships and democracy.