The African continent marks the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on 25 May. The day is marked annually as Africa Day.
This year’s celebrations include a special virtual broadcast featuring speeches by the President of South Africa and chair of the African Union, Cyril Ramaphosa; the AU Commission chair, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat; the President of the Pan African Women’s Association, Eunice Ipinge, and the AU Youth Envoy, Aya Chebbi.
The OAU was established on 25 May 1963 with the aim of promoting political, economic and social integration among the family of African states, and to eradicate colonialism, apartheid and neo-colonialism from the African continent. The organisation was transformed into the African Union on 9 July 2002 in Durban to achieve greater unity, cohesion and solidarity between African countries and nations.
This year’s celebration coincides with South Africa’s one-year tenure as chair of the African Union. It also takes place amid the continent’s advancing efforts to combat the spread of Covid-19.
South Africa is celebrating Africa Month under the theme: Silencing the guns, creating conducive conditions for Africa’s development and intensifying the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ipinge explained during the virtual broadcast that Africa continues to work toward unity and pays homage to forefathers and foremothers for who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the continent. “It is because of their farsightedness and visionary leadership that today we celebrate the 57th anniversary of the African Union.”
She said that at the union’s recent congress in February, they identified priorities such as adopting an annual grant to the Pan African Women’s Association. She also paid tribute to all the people fighting against the coronavirus.
Dr Kenneth Kaunda, a founding father of the AU and former president of Zambia said that there is a long list of known and unknown heroes who had the dream of a united Africa and many died for this cause. “Our colonial borders have long separated us, now a truly united Africa should rise and reach the dreams like the African Continental Free Trade Area are a step in the right direction.
“Now it is up to you, your colleagues on the continent and in the diaspora, to push ahead and fight for our people’s dignity and freedom. Freedom from poverty, hunger and disease.”
Ramaphosa said that from the bringing, the AU was committed to the idea that only through unity could Africa safeguard its independence and unlock its potential. He paid tribute to all the women and men who worked to liberate the continent from colonial oppressors, restore the continents fortunes and the dignity of every African person.
“They taught us the power of perseverance and sacrifice, dedication to an ideal and that an Africa united can overcome even the greatest challenge.”
He highlighted that the day is celebrated under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Almost 96 000 people on the continent have been infected and almost 3 000 have lost their lives. “This will have a lasting impact on our ability to meet the aspiration of the African Unions Agenda 2063 of a peaceful, united and prosperous continent. ”
He said that the virus has exposed the deep inequalities that continue to exists on the continent and across the world and how far they are from meeting their developmental goals. “This crisis should enable a new Africa to come to the fore. It should be an Africa of heroic acts and solitary and an Afirc of cross-border collaboration and sharing of knowledge and resources…an Africa that is united by a common goal.”
He said that the pandemic has shown how the continent is able to work together to solve its own problems. “Day by day, across our continent, we are seeing the unity that is our strength being put to the service of saving lives and supporting the vulnerable.
“The African Union has shown leadership and acted with speed to address the crisis.”
He thanked Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organisation for his leadership during the crisis.
“We know that no country can overcome this challenge alone… we repeat our call for a comprehensive, robust economic stimulus package for Africa that includes debt relief and other support measures for the continents immediate humanitarian support needs and necessary economic recovery.”
He also called for the immediate lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe and Sudan.
“As Africans, we have taken firm charge of managing this pandemic. We have a comprehensive strategy formulated bu the African Union and have appointed special envoys to mobilise the financial and other resources necessary for its implementation.”
Ramaphosa said that they need to ensure the pandemic does not reverse the union’s development goals and forge ahead to meet the aspirations of Agenda 2063.
One of the most ambitious goals of this agenda is the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. “We must not let up on our efforts to drive the African agenda of security, peace and stability, democracy and human rights, of women’s emancipation and the protection of the environment.”
He highlighted that the tragic conflicts on the continent exact a heavy toll on human life and need to end. “We must continue to affirm the supremacy of dialogue over military intervention.
“Africa has known much turmoil and hardship throughout history. We have endured the worst excesses of humankind from slavery to colonialism, to apartheid and prolonged military conflict. Just as our ancestors were able to overcome the horror of their time so too will our faith, our courage and our resilience as Africans see us through this time of difficulty.”
He concluded, “We will recover and restore our economies, uplift the conditions of our people and we will be worthy inheritors of the legacy of the great Africans who met in Addis Ababa in 1963 to form the OAU… we shall prevail.”
