https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230524/african-officials-call-for-renewed-commitment-to-united-and-integrated-continent-1059447646.html
African Officials Call For Renewed Commitment to United and Integrated Continent
African Officials Call For Renewed Commitment to United and Integrated Continent
Sputnik Africa
As Africans are celebrating the legacy of their predecessors, who fought for the liberation of the continent, it is necessary to advance their vision of African unity and create a more integrated Africa, said Misganu Arga.
2023-05-24T16:24+0200
2023-05-24T16:24+0200
2023-05-24T16:24+0200
sub-saharan africa
east africa
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pan-african parliament (pap)
african union (au)
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As Africans are celebrating the legacy of their predecessors who fought for the liberation of the continent, it is necessary to advance a vision of African unity and create a stronger, more integrated Africa for the sake of its people, said Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Misganu Arga.The minister delivered his remarks during the African Day panel discussion organized by the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He recalled that 60 years ago, the founding members of the OAU, now the African Union (AU), came together to establish a continental organization based on the Pan-African vision with the aim of combating colonialism, apartheid and defending the main principle of African nations' sovereignty, independence and self-determination.According to the minister, Africa's leaders of that period included Emperor Haile Selassie, Julius Niyerere, Kwame Nkrumah and many others advocated for an idea that Africa can be as strong as ever when it is united. He reiterated that they committed themselves to this vision in order to ensure a better future for younger generations. While praising their contribution to the promotion of Pan-African ideas and the creation of the platform that allows Africans to defend their common interests, he said it is important to carry forward their vision. However, he stressed, there is still a long way to go. He also noted that Africans should be united in order to effectively address various internal and external challenges that the continent is facing. Speaking at the panel discussion, South Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia James Morgan stated that the OUA completed its main task by liberating and uniting the enslaved and divided continent. According to the ambassador, the next step is to integrate Africa in a way that people of all African nations enjoy the benefits of their unity.Chief of AFLEX Mehret Debebe, for his part, highlighted that in pursuit of an Africa that the founding members had envisioned, countries across the continent should continue to pass on their values, push boundaries and dismantle barriers, creating a brighter future for the generations to come. This year, the Africa Union is celebrating the historical commemoration of the OAU/AU 60th anniversary under the slogan of "Our Africa Our Future".
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african union, unity, colonialism, east africa, ethiopia, addis ababa, integration, africa day
african union, unity, colonialism, east africa, ethiopia, addis ababa, integration, africa day
African Officials Call For Renewed Commitment to United and Integrated Continent
Africa is set to mark the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on May 25. The countries across the continent join efforts to raise global awareness of their achievements and highlight that Africa's main strength lies in its unity.
As Africans are celebrating the legacy of their predecessors who fought for the liberation of the continent, it is necessary to advance a vision of African unity and create a stronger, more integrated Africa for the sake of its people, said Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs Misganu Arga.
The minister delivered his remarks during the African Day panel discussion organized by the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He recalled that 60 years ago, the founding members of the OAU, now the
African Union (AU), came together to establish a continental organization based on the Pan-African vision with the aim of combating colonialism, apartheid and defending the main principle of African nations' sovereignty, independence and self-determination.
According to the minister, Africa's leaders of that period included Emperor Haile Selassie, Julius Niyerere, Kwame Nkrumah and many others advocated for an idea that Africa can be as strong as ever when
it is united. He reiterated that they committed themselves to this vision in order to ensure a better future for younger generations.
While praising their contribution to the promotion of Pan-African ideas and the creation of the platform that allows Africans to defend their common interests, he said it is important to carry forward their vision. However, he stressed, there is still a long way to go.
"Our action needs to be guided by a strong sense of urgency and strong desire to leave behind our dark history of violence, poverty, backwardness and deficit in democracy and human rights. We need to realize that we have to go a long way to achieve a truly united, prosperous and integrated Africa," he said.
He also noted that Africans should be united in order to
effectively address various internal and external challenges that the continent is facing.
Speaking at the panel discussion, South Sudan's Ambassador to Ethiopia James Morgan stated that the OUA completed its main task by liberating and uniting the enslaved and divided continent. According to the ambassador, the next step is to integrate Africa in a way that people of all African nations enjoy the benefits of their unity.
"We, here in the Horn of Africa, have a responsibility to bring the Horn of Africa together, one of it is to make sure that we have a freedom of movement of our people. We don’t want to be stuck in one place, our people in this continent must move freely," Morgan underlined.
Chief of AFLEX Mehret Debebe, for his part, highlighted that in pursuit of an Africa that the founding members had envisioned, countries across the continent should continue to pass on their values, push boundaries and
dismantle barriers, creating a brighter future for the generations to come.
"In this celebration of African Day [...] let us use this occasion to lift Africa and connect our respective nations towards our role in the upcoming global change," he said.
This year, the Africa Union is celebrating the historical commemoration of the OAU/AU 60th anniversary under the slogan of "Our Africa Our Future".
