On Africa Day, the African Union highlighted the urgent need to be part of the G20 and the United Nations Security Council, highlighting the goals achieved in the history of the continent.
The African Union (AU) reiterated this Thursday, coinciding with the celebration of Africa Day, its demand that the continent have permanent seats in the G20 (group of industrialized and emerging countries) and in the UN Security Council.
“The time has come to allow the voice of Africa to resonate throughout the world”Azali Assoumani, head of state of Comoros and interim president of the AU in 2023, said at a ceremony at the organization’s headquarters in Addis Ababa to mark Africa Day.
In this sense, Assoumani stated that, during his tenure as head of the pan-African organization, he will try to “convince the G20 counterparts of the urgent need for the African Union to become a full member of this institution.”
“Through this permanent presence, our organization, the African Union, will have the opportunity to give your opinion on the big economic and financial decisions that concern him”, he observed.
“It is also in this direction that I reiterate the call for reforms that allow our continent to have one or more permanent seats in the United Nations Security Council,” lamented the AU leader.
This new representation, he added, would serve to “put an end to the injustice that has always been inflicted” on the African continent.
The chairman of the African Union (AU) Security Council spoke at an event to mark the 60th anniversary of his predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU).
The OAU, which was replaced by the African Union in 2002was founded on May 25, 1963 in the Ethiopian capital, the date on which Africa Day is celebrated every year.
At the ceremony, Azali Assoumani stressed that the OAU had achieved “two big goals in a particular historical context, namely: the conclusion of the decolonization of Africa and the end of racial segregation In South Africa.”
Despite these “positive and appreciable results”, Assoumani admitted that “some injustices still exist”, but called for seeking “ambitions for unity, peace and development”.
Assoumani also stressed that Africa continues to face “significant challenges”.
“Unconstitutional transfers of power have multiplied in recent years. Intra-African conflicts, but also terrorism, persist and, consequently, the peace, security, democracy and development of our continent are threatened in several of our regions, ”he warned.
Among the positive achievements, he highlighted the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to “become one of the largest markets in the world in the coming years.”
The Prime Minister of Ethiopia (the country that hosts the AU headquarters), Abiy Ahmed, participated in the same act and highlighted this Thursday that, 60 years later, “Africa is the second most populous continent” in the world, with “an estimated population of more than 1.4 billion people.”
“By 2050, more than half of the world’s population growth is expected to take place on our continent. Paying attention to Africa means paying attention to a continent that will be home to one in four people in 2050. In fact, this is an opportunity that we must seize,” Abiy stressed.
As in previous years, the continent was congratulated on Africa Day by international personalities, such as the Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres.
“EITHER The dynamism of Africa is unstoppable and its potential is impressive. On this Africa Day, I urge the international community to stand with the continent. With cooperation and solidarity, this can be Africa’s century,” he said, in his account of the twitter.
Africa’s dynamism is unstoppable and its potential impressive.
This #AfricaDayI urge the international community to support the continent.
With cooperation and solidarity, this could be Africa’s century.
—Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) May 25, 2023
The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, among others, also wished Africans a “Happy Africa Day”.
“This vibrant continent and its wonderful people are very close to me. We share the same ambitions: to build together a common area of peace, security, prosperity and progress. This is our common duty towards the young generations of Africa and Europe”, added Michel at the twitter.
happy #AfricaDay
This vibrant continent and its wonderful people are close to my heart.
We share the same ambitions: to build together a common area of peace, security, prosperity and progress. This is our shared duty with the younger generations of Africa and Europe. pic.twitter.com/JToV6q9Cy0—Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) May 25, 2023
Source: Observadora
