International: Addis Ababa, May 25th, 2019: The African Union Commission (AUC) celebrated Africa Day on May 25th. In his welcoming remarks to the participanmts, H.E. Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the AUC, said that Africa Day day celebrates the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, by 32 independent African countries. He spoke about the need for the African continent to continue to support the achievement of the 7 Agenda 2063 aspirations. “Agenda 2063 is a shared responsibility in achieving the Africa we want if we invest in people, particularly in their health, education, access to basic services as well as growth in agriculture”.
On behalf of H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, the Deputy Chairperson of African Union Commission in his address said, there is an urgent need for the African continent to come together and forge a common front in order to promote the building of the Africa we want. “We celebrate this memorable day under the AU 2019 theme “Year of Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa”. He further said the theme in itself sufficiently demonstrates the acuteness of our challenges, and the urgent and imperative need to work together to ensure all African citizens have the inalienable right to live free, dignified and productive lives.
The celebrations featured the inauguration of the AU Memorial Wall in honour of the fallen gallant heroes and heroines of Africa, for their contributions to the wider Peace Support Operations (from Peace building to enforcement) as mandated or authorized by the AU’s Peace and Security Council. The memorial wall will immortalize the names of the continent’s heroes and heroines for future generations to know.