PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Dlamini-Zuma says AU jubilee is chance for reflection on Africa’s progress
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) – Celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of the African Union (AU) will be the opportunity for all Africans to take stock of what the continent has achieved, where it stands and what its goals are for the next half century, AU Commission Chairperson, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said here Monday.
“It’s a very important occasion for any institution or person to attain 50 years. Many organisations fall apart before that date and that is why we have decided to make it a year-long celebration until 24 May, 2014,” Zuma said at a luncheon organised by the Commission for Addis Ababa-based foreign correspondents.
She said: “The whole year will be marked with celebrations at the AU seat and in all 54 member states so that people can reflect on where we have come from, what we have achieved and what can be improved for the future.
“We hope that all events taking place here and in our countries will provide a framework that will take Africa and our institutions forward and enable the civil society to have a prosperous Africa.”
On 25 May, 2013, Africa will reflect on the road the continent’s people have travelled towards unity after leaders of 32 independent states on that day in 1963 met here to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner to the AU.
Ahead of the jubilee celebrations, AU leaders declared 2013 the Year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.
“It is our view that this year has the potential of being a watershed year, since never before has so much been in our favour. Never before have we had so much potential and growth. Never before has the continent been favoured with such a young, vibrant and relatively more educated population,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
In the Chairperson’s view, these comparative advantages must be turned into meaningful opportunities for a shared prosperity and lasting peace.
Responding to a question on recent coups d’état in some African countries including Mali and Central African Republic, Dlamini-Zuma explained that despite having the AU peace architecture in place, there were a few steps that should be taken to stop unconstitutional change of government.
“These coups don’t happen overnight. We must have a rapid response mechanism that can deal with such situations immediately. That’s what we are looking at but discussions take a bit of time,” she said without indicating what steps were being considered by African leaders.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 15April2013
“It’s a very important occasion for any institution or person to attain 50 years. Many organisations fall apart before that date and that is why we have decided to make it a year-long celebration until 24 May, 2014,” Zuma said at a luncheon organised by the Commission for Addis Ababa-based foreign correspondents.
She said: “The whole year will be marked with celebrations at the AU seat and in all 54 member states so that people can reflect on where we have come from, what we have achieved and what can be improved for the future.
“We hope that all events taking place here and in our countries will provide a framework that will take Africa and our institutions forward and enable the civil society to have a prosperous Africa.”
On 25 May, 2013, Africa will reflect on the road the continent’s people have travelled towards unity after leaders of 32 independent states on that day in 1963 met here to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the forerunner to the AU.
Ahead of the jubilee celebrations, AU leaders declared 2013 the Year of Pan-Africanism and the African Renaissance.
“It is our view that this year has the potential of being a watershed year, since never before has so much been in our favour. Never before have we had so much potential and growth. Never before has the continent been favoured with such a young, vibrant and relatively more educated population,” Dlamini-Zuma said.
In the Chairperson’s view, these comparative advantages must be turned into meaningful opportunities for a shared prosperity and lasting peace.
Responding to a question on recent coups d’état in some African countries including Mali and Central African Republic, Dlamini-Zuma explained that despite having the AU peace architecture in place, there were a few steps that should be taken to stop unconstitutional change of government.
“These coups don’t happen overnight. We must have a rapid response mechanism that can deal with such situations immediately. That’s what we are looking at but discussions take a bit of time,” she said without indicating what steps were being considered by African leaders.
-0- PANA AR/VAO 15April2013
