Africa Day: How can Africa build on its gains?

As we mark today the 44th anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), we would like to reflect on the odyssey made by the continental governing body since May 25, 1963. What was then an initiative of some 30 African nations meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia would over the years be the foundations of a united Africa that would act as a symbol of pan africanism and hold promises of a United States of Africa a common currency and greater integration across the continent.

The 1963 conference epitomized the maxim ‘where there is a will, there is a way’. African nations participated despite regional, political, and linguistic differences, managed to come together on many issues. In fact, the founding of the OAU was a culmination of years of struggle and series of attempts at establishing a Pan African organization.

the path towards the founding of the Oau was understandably not an easy one where much of Africa was making its first steps towards independence with hopes and fears in the horizons. But with perseverance came results such as ending colonialism, doing away with apartheid, achieving unity and solidarity of the African States and a collective voice for the continent. The OAU is a testament to the vision of the then founding fathers of Africa that withstood cynicism and skepticism dished out by their detractors calling the OAU as a ‘Dictators’ Club’, ‘Dictators’ Trade Union’ or a bureaucratic “talking shop” with little power.

These seeds of African unity during 38 years evolved to what we know as the African Union (AU). The first four years of the AU were turbulent and to a certain degree continue to be so with contentious issues rising up and roles of the AU and the extent of the AU’s intervention in the affairs of member states coming to the fore. The AU, like its predecessor,does have challenges that include pushing for permanent seats in the UN’s Security council, greater economic cohesion within the continent, promoting good governance, respect for human rights, fighting diseases, poverty and resolving conflicts.

Paramount among the challenges seems to be the need to build the capacity of the African Union and garnering sufficient commitment towards seeing the promises laid out through. One thing here is clear: the AU will be strong to the extent that the member states want it to be. If the AU comes second or third or even way down the list of priorities of member states, then the Union exists only in name. we should not let 44 years of history continue with chapters of hope of a one continent or assignments for future generations. We need to get the ball rolling today in the present. We cannot continue passing on the bucket to future generations and continue with the rhetoric we all become tired of- our only option is action.

When one asks for action it is not with the assumption that nothing so far has happened but is asking for more positive changes in Africa such as President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf being the first female African president, the civil war in Sudan ending, the uninterrupted transfer of one elected president to another elected president in Nigeria and others that are few and far in between. We cannot continue at this pace and need to get inspiration from these milestones to work harder towards including more such chapters in Africa’s historical annals.

Africa’s guiding principle should be that together we can achieve anything, divided we remain in a quagmire. We should not commemorate Africa Day only with celebrations and merriment but also with contemplating our past and mapping out our future as one family determined to prove our detractors wrong as we once did 44 years ago. Happy Africa Day!!!

May 25, 2007