Afro-Asia

Afro-Asia is a term describing the combination of Africa and Asia. The term is often used to describe the solidarity between African and Asian nations when they were acting against European colonialism and later also remaining nonaligned during the Cold War.

Together with Europe, Africa and Asia form the landmass of Afro-Eurasia.

Ancient era
Africa and Asia had trade links in pre-colonial times, particularly through East Africa trading with Asian regions as far east as China.

Post-war era
The major impetus for Afro-Asian solidarity was the 1955 Bandung Conference. This solidarity was sometimes frustrating for the West when votes were taken at the United Nations. However, the solidarity declined due to the 1962 Sino-Indian War, weakening the relationship between the two Asian giants; the division of the African nations into groups such as the Monrovia Group and Casablanca Group, as well as the Sino-Soviet split were other major issues that further split Afro-Asia into competing blocs in the 1960s.