 Complete the following phrase:  The same principle was applied to Africa and Asia after the withdrawal of European powers from those continents and in locations such as the Soviet Union whose former central governments fell and constituent states gained independence. In 1964, the Organisation of African Unity passed a resolution stating that the principle of stability of borders, the key principle of uti possidetis, would be applied across the continent. Most of Africa was already independent and so the resolution was principally a political directive to settle disputes by treaty based on pre-existing borders, rather than by resorting to force. To date, adherence to the principle has allowed African countries to avoid border wars; the notable exception, the 