Minister Seyoum Speaks at the 46th African Day Celeberation

Minister Seyoum speaks at the 46^th Africa Day celebration

Africa Day was celebrated here in Addis Ababa on Monday [25^th May]. It was the 46^th anniversary of the foundation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) which was established on 25^th May 1963 in Addis Ababa. The OAU, of course, became the African Union (AU) in 2002 at the meeting in Durban, South Africa. This year the day was marked under the theme “Towards a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Africa”, and the celebration was attended by the African Union's Deputy Chairperson and Commissioner of AU, Erastus Mwencha, who described Africa Day as “an occasion to reaffirm our collective determination to strengthen our commitment”. The AU's Commissioner of Political Affairs, Julia Dolly Joiner, noted that “May 25 is our special day as it gathered us under the banner of Unity, Peace and Prosperity”. The gathering was also addressed by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Seyoum who emphasized that the OAU had not appeared out of the blue in 1963; it arose out of the struggle for political liberation and economic emancipation of the African people, whose struggle began long before Africa could carry on the fight for liberation in a structured and institutionalized manner within the framework of the OAU. This refers to the fight against slavery outside of Africa and against Apartheid in the African continent. Much had been achieved, the Minister noted, but Africa should also feel deep anxiety and urgency with respect to the tasks still to be achieved. Certainly Africa could celebrate its achievement, including political liberation, and the OAU's historic role was to contribute in a major way to the independence of Africa and to the broadening of political space. The AU was established, said Minister Seyoum, because of the realization that we needed to do more to strengthen unity and expand cooperation. The move from the Charter of the OAU to the Constitutive Act of the AU was because of the awareness of the need for stronger foundation and the necessity to end the marginalization of Africa, so vivid in the 1980s. Things have now changed, Minister Seyoum stressed, but the situation does not justify complacency. Africa's capacity to achieve uninterrupted growth has been demonstrated in recent years, though the present global crisis underlines just why international co-operation and the readiness of partners to join in the spirit of NEPAD is so critical. And indeed, there can be little doubt that Africa is developing the capacity to make such partnerships equally rewarding to others as well. By the same token, Africa can only be a worthwhile partner if African governments continue to strengthen their unity and jointly maintain and protect the peace and security of the continent. This is why the theme of the day was so appropriate: “Towards Unity, Peace and Prosperity.” In other words, Africa has no option, no alternative, but to encourage the unity of the people of Africa and foster their solidarity.

Minister Seyoum underlined Ethiopia's commitment to this objective, and to the equally important necessity for peace and security, which needs the support of both Africa and the international community. Look at Somalia, he said, where Africa needs to focus on doing everything possible to help the people of Somalia achieve peace and security. This will also encourage the Horn of Africa region, and indeed Africa as a whole, to attain stability and a positive image. This must include helping the new Somali government to withstand the onslaught of terrorists and foreign fighters who have come to Somalia to spread chaos, mayhem and misunderstanding. Today, the AU is fulfilling its obligations to the people of Somalia through the deployment of AMISOM in which Uganda and Burundi are demonstrating true Pan-Africanism through a real and practical commitment, the Minister said. Moreover, Africa should condemn all those who wish to attack AMISOM and who try to demonize the troop-contributing countries. AMISOM is an African force, and a force which has the courage to demonstrate commitment and loyalty to the people of Somalia. This is why, Minister Seyoum said, there can be no substitute for the African Union and for African solidarity. It demonstrated quite clearly why Africa Day would always be a special day for the people of Africa.