BUJUMBURA May 29th (ABP) – The ministry in charge of foreign affairs in collaboration with the group of African ambassadors accredited to Burundi, organized the International Day of Africa. The day celebrated on May 25 of each year coincided, this year, with the 60th anniversary of the creation of the African Union Organization (OUA) which later became the African Union.
On that occasion, a round table, led by the group of African ambassadors to Burundi, was held around African unity. It was recalled that the OAU was created in 1963 in Addis Ababa with, at its inception, 32 newly independent States. The goals pursued were, among others, “to rid the continent of the last vestiges of colonization and apartheid, to promote unity and solidarity, to intensify cooperation for a better life for the African peoples and to defend sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence”.
From then on, other States joined the organization until reaching 53 at the time of the creation of the African Union in 2002. The objectives of the current 55 States within the Union are defined in the vision of a “Prosperous and peaceful integrated Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force on the international stage”.
Other related themes around the bodies include financial institutions and key instruments of the African Union which have been developed
In his speech for the occasion, the Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, Albert Shingiro, returned to the theme of that celebration, “Our Africa, our future”. He noted Africa’s progress at all levels and in all sectors as well as its important position in the concert of nations. Unfortunately, he said, Africa continues to be absent from the United Nations Security Council despite its 1.3 billion inhabitants. This situation must come to the end, according to Mr. Shingiro. He also noted that Africa still faces several security and peace challenges that threaten the integrity of some Member States. Mr. Shingiro took the opportunity to make an appeal to favor tools for the peaceful resolution of conflicts. In international relations, he called on African countries to remain united to break the greed that is shown towards them. He called for a burst to win.
The High Representative of the African Union for the Great Lakes region, Ibrahima Fall, delivered the message of Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairman of the African Union Commission, on the occasion of the celebration of that day. After 60 years of the creation of the Organization of African Unity, Mr. Faki notes that some African countries are still in conflict, which causes considerable human losses. Added to this are constitutional changes, growing extremism, climate change and shrinking freedoms.
The Chairperson of the AU Commission expressed his solidarity with the suffering populations. All these negative effects weaken, according to him, the efforts made to achieve the 2063 agenda. He called on African countries to be vigilant regarding the current hegemonic struggle between the great powers which risks making Africa a geostrategic battleground. He asked to resist instrumentalization by remaining conditioned by the patient and methodical construction of unity.