CAIRO last week wore the synthetic festive air peculiar to Nasserism. In English, Arabic and Swahili, signs and pennants screamed: "Death to Lumumba's Murderers"; "French Killers, Hands Off Algiers"; "Freedom. Freedom to Kenyatta." As the smiling U.A.R. President arrived at Cairo University auditorium to welcome delegates to the grandiosely named third All-Africa People's Conference, phalanxes of young Arabs clapped rhythmically and shouted "Nas-ser." Framed against a huge black map of Africa with a red flaming torch thrust into its Congo heart, Nasser told the assembled delegates: "Nothing is more touching or close to the heart than meetings at intervals of brothers in arms, partners in the same fight, soldiers with one aim."
The words, coming from a man who aspires to the leadership of Africa, sounded somewhat hollow—and with good reason. The 100-odd delegates from 31 African countries were largely second-string (the exception: Kenya's Tom Mboya, who goes everywhere). And the "brothers in arms" were soon at one another's throats. Somali delegates tried to denounce Ethiopian border attacks, and had to be ejected.
The Dilemma. The Pan-African conference pointed up Nasser's curious dilemma today. Only 43, still the idol of Arab masses wherever he goes, he is a man with his ambitions unsated, a fading hero in search of a solid triumph. At home, his record is at best mixed. The Aswan Dam is under construction; Egypt's staple product, cotton, was bought up on world markets in record quantities last year. Russia has provided $170 million for industrial development, as well as $377 million for the dam (v. the U.S.'s $120 million). The Suez Canal is doing better business than ever: revenues are up $50 million over 1955 to some $150 million. Even so, in a nation whose population has grown by 3,500,000 since Nasser came to power, the birth rate wipes out economic gains: the per capita income remains about $100 a year—one of the world's lowest—and there has been an actual fall in the standard of living. But abroad, in the "three circles" Nasser has marked out as his self-appointed spheres of destiny, triumph eludes him. The circles: 1) the Arab world, 2) the Moslem world, 3) Africa.